Dendrimers as Versatile Platforms for Advanced Biosensor Development: A Review on Chemistry, Synthesis, and Performance Enhancements

Dendrimers, with their unique branched, tree-like structures, have emerged as promising materials for enhancing the performance of biosensors. These macromolecules consist of a central core surrounded by several generations of branching units and peripheral functional groups. These structural elements contribute to their exceptional characteristics, including high surface area and a diverse array of functional groups. By integrating various bioreceptors with dendrimers, innovative nanobiosensors can effectively detect low concentrations of target analytes, overcoming the limitations of traditional biosensing technologies. This review discusses the chemistry and synthesis of dendrimers, including divergent and convergent methods, and explores various types of dendrimers such as polyamidoamine (PAMAM), Polypropylene imine (PPI), Poly-I-lysine (PLL), phosphorus dendrimers, and DNA dendrimers. Each type is discussed in terms of its chemical structure, properties, and potential applications. The mechanisms through which dendrimers amplify signal transduction, improve biomolecule immobilization and minimize non-specific adsorption are examined, which result in reduced background noises and enhanced detection sensitivity and selectivity. Furthermore, the potential of combining dendrimers with other nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles (NPs) and carbon-based materials, is considered to further enhance biosensor performance. This work underscores the potential of dendrimers to revolutionize biosensors, paving the way for future research and development in the sensing field.