ABSTRACT
Dendrimers acclaimed its fascinating position in the nanoworld. Its unique polymeric architecture, it exhibits precise compositional and constitutional properties. The combination of a discrete number of functionalities and their high local densities make dendrimers as multifunctional platforms for amplified substrate binding. As a result of their unique architecture and construction, dendrimers possess inherently valuable physical, chemical and biological properties. Versatility of dendrimers, showing promise in the therapeutics arena, and there is a great deal of commercial activity, with a few products hitting the market. Together with recent progress in the design of biodegradable chemistries, has enabled the application of these branched polymers as antiviral drugs, tissue repair scaffolds, targeted carriers of chemotherapeutics and optical oxygen sensors. Pattering other functional groups, will facilitate further development of this system for novel applications. It is beginning to make significant inroads into the commercial world. Several products using dendrimers as platform have been developed and commercialized upon the approval of the FDA. There are also some others applications like: for cellular transport, as artificial cells, for diagnostics and analysis, as protein/enzyme mimics or modeling, for manufacture of artificial bones, for development of topical microbicide creams; antimicrobial, antiviral (e.g., for use against HIV) and antiparasitic agents, for biomedical coatings (e.g., for artificial joints), as artificial antibodies and biomolecular binding agents, for carbon fiber coatings and ultra thin films, as polymer and plastics additives (e.g., for lowering viscosity, increasing stiffness, incorporating dyes, compatibilizers, etc.) for creation of foams (i.e., synthetic zeolites or insulating material), as building blocks for nanostructured materials, as dyes and paints, as industrial adhesives, for manufacture of nanoscale batteries and lubricants, as decontamination agents (trapping metal ions), for ultrafiltration, molecular electronics for data storage, 3D optical materials, for light-harvesting systems, quantum dots, liquid crystals, printed wire boards, etc.
