|
What Are Dendrimers?
What are Dendrimers?
Dendrimer structures represent a new class of macromolecular architecture and
precise construction modules in the emerging area of nanoscale science and
technology. The rapidly accelerating research and development activities in
dendrimers and dendritic materials provide critically needed nanoscale building
blocks suitable for the development of high performance materials. Dendrimers
are widely recognized as the most versatile, compositionally and structurally
controlled nanoscale building blocks available.
 Precisely Manufactured to Fit Specific Needs
Dendrimers are nanostructures that can be precisely designed and manufactured
for a wide variety of applications. Dendrimers are the first large, man-made
molecules with precise, nano-sized composition and well-defined
three-dimensional shapes. Current polymer molecules are long, spaghetti-like
strands that grow in only two directions. Dendrimer molecules grow
three-dimensionally by the addition of shells of branched molecules to a central
core. The cores are also spacious and have sticky points on the outside to
which various chemical units can be attached. By adjusting chemical properties
of the core, the shells, and especially the surface layer, dendrimers can be
tailored to fit the needs of specific applications.
The Ideal BioTech Delivery Vehicle
Dendrimer-based technologies provide exciting new interfaces between chemistry,
biology and advanced materials. Dendrimers have the ability to act as
appropriate containers for delivery vehicles in-vitro and in-vivo due to their
specific, precise and predictable custom designed dendritic polymer
architectures. As an enabling technology, dendrimers provide the vehicle the
targeting and delivery mechanisms for a vast array of diagnostic and
therapeutic products. Their precise and designable architecture, tunable
solubility, low toxicity and immunogenicity, and bioattachment capability make
dendrimers the ideal building blocks for biotechnology.
Because of their precise architecture and construction, dendrimers possess
inherently valuable physical, chemical and biological properties. These
properties include:
- Efficient membrane transport Dendrimers have demonstrated rapid transport
capabilities across biological membranes.
- High loading capacity Dendrimer structures can be used to carry and store a
wide range of metals, organic or inorganic molecules by encapsulation and
absorption.
- High uniformity and purity The synthetic process used produces dendrimers
with uniform sizes, precisely defined surface functionality, and very low impurity levels.
- Low toxicity Most dendrimer systems display very low cytotoxicity levels.
- Low immunogenicity Dendrimers commonly manifest a very low or negligible
immunogenic response when injected or used topically.
For more information regarding the National Dendrimer and Nanotechnology
Center, please visit
www.dendrimercenter.org.
|
|
CMURC BI FORUM: Using Analytics and
Predictive Modeling to Manage in Turbulent Times,
June 12, 8:30am to 5:00pm in Mt. Pleasant, MI
>>more
JOB POSTING: Receptionist/Office Assistant
>>more
|
