Revolutionizing drug delivery: The promise of surface functionalized dendrimers in overcoming conventional limitations

IF 5.8 2区化学 Q1 POLYMER SCIENCE

European Polymer Journal Pub Date : 2025-06-18 DOI:10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114079

Calvin A. Omolo , Eman A. Ismail , Edith K. Amuhaya , Victoria Fasiku , Joshua C. Nwabuife , Mahir Mohamed , Mohammed A. Gafar , Rahul Kalhapure , Thirumala Govender

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Dendrimers are well-defined hyperbranched macromolecules with characteristic globular structures for the larger systems. The recent strides in supramolecular synthetic approaches have brought to life the functionalization of dendrimers. The application of dendrimers in drug delivery has been one of the most important applications of dendrimers to be explored. Although dendrimers have been of great importance in drug delivery, they have encountered several side effects like toxicities, quick elimination by the body, instabilities, and lack of targeting. This has led to the design of functionalized dendrimers to overcome the conventional dendrimer macromolecules’ limitations. Functionalized dendritic structures potentially possess biomimicry properties, disease, enzyme, and receptor targeting. Here, we review recent findings using these promising novel surface-functionalized dendrimers in drug delivery. We discuss some of the techniques in surface functionalization, their applications, and future perspectives on these functionalized dendritic structures.

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彻底改变药物输送：表面功能化树突状分子在克服常规限制方面的前景

树状大分子是定义明确的超支化大分子，具有较大体系的球状结构特征。最近在超分子合成方法方面取得的进展使树状大分子的功能化成为可能。树状大分子在药物传递中的应用一直是树状大分子最重要的应用领域之一。尽管树状大分子在药物传递中具有重要作用，但它们也存在一些副作用，如毒性、被人体快速清除、不稳定性和缺乏靶向性。这导致了功能化树状大分子的设计，以克服传统的树状大分子的局限性。功能化的树突结构可能具有仿生学特性、疾病、酶和受体靶向性。在这里，我们回顾了最近在药物递送中使用这些有前途的新型表面功能化树状大分子的发现。我们讨论了一些表面功能化的技术，它们的应用，以及未来对这些功能化树突结构的展望。

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来源期刊

European Polymer Journal 化学-高分子科学

CiteScore

9.90

自引率

10.00%

发文量

691

审稿时长

23 days

期刊介绍： European Polymer Journal is dedicated to publishing work on fundamental and applied polymer chemistry and macromolecular materials. The journal covers all aspects of polymer synthesis, including polymerization mechanisms and chemical functional transformations, with a focus on novel polymers and the relationships between molecular structure and polymer properties. In addition, we welcome submissions on bio-based or renewable polymers, stimuli-responsive systems and polymer bio-hybrids. European Polymer Journal also publishes research on the biomedical application of polymers, including drug delivery and regenerative medicine. The main scope is covered but not limited to the following core research areas: Polymer synthesis and functionalization • Novel synthetic routes for polymerization, functional modification, controlled/living polymerization and precision polymers. Stimuli-responsive polymers • Including shape memory and self-healing polymers. Supramolecular polymers and self-assembly • Molecular recognition and higher order polymer structures. Renewable and sustainable polymers • Bio-based, biodegradable and anti-microbial polymers and polymeric bio-nanocomposites. Polymers at interfaces and surfaces • Chemistry and engineering of surfaces with biological relevance, including patterning, antifouling polymers and polymers for membrane applications. Biomedical applications and nanomedicine • Polymers for regenerative medicine, drug delivery molecular release and gene therapy The scope of European Polymer Journal no longer includes Polymer Physics.