title: Dendrimers in gene transfection.
abstract: Dendrimers are a new class of nanocomposite materials. They are branching polymers whose structure is formed by monomeric subunit branches diverging to all sides from a central nucleus. The type of nucleus, attached monomers, and functional groups can be chosen during synthesis, which produces dendrimers of definite size, shape, density, polarity, branch mobility, and solubility. This review deals with problems of dendrimer molecular structures and capability of in vitro, in vivo, ex vivo, and in situ transfection of genetic material. Advantages and shortcomings of different types of dendrimers in this respect are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics and Cell Engineering, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, 220072, Belarus. d.shcharbin@mail.ru
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Shcharbin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klajnert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bryszewska
mesh_terms: D050091:Dendrimers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010316:Particle Size; D012995:Solubility; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D004337:Drug Carriers