title: Drug delivery using multifunctional dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The review presents the design strategy and synthesis of multifunctional dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers with the objective to develop effective drug delivery systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  Well-characterized, commercially available dendritic polymers were subjected to functionalization for preparing drug delivery systems of low toxicity, high loading capacity, ability to target specific cells and transport through their membranes. This has been achieved by surface targeting ligands, which render the carriers specific to certain cells and polyethylene glycol groups, securing water solubility, stability and prolonged circulation. Moreover, transport agents facilitate transport through cell membranes while fluorescent probes detect their intracellular localization. A common feature of surface groups is multivalency, which considerably enhances their binding strength with complementary cell receptors. To these properties, one should also add the property of attaining high loading of active ingredients coupled with controlled and/or triggered release.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Readers will be exposed to the strategy of synthesizing multifunctional polymers, aimed at the development of effective drug delivery systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multifunctional systems upgrade the therapeutic potential of drugs and, in certain cases, may even lead to the application of new bioactive compounds that would otherwise not be feasible.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physical Chemistry, NCSR Demokritos 15310, Aghia Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece. paleos@chem.demokritos.gr
authors.forename: Constantinos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Paleos
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsiourvas
authors.forename: Zili
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sideratou
authors.forename: Leto-Aikaterini
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Tziveleka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D015195:Drug Design; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D004337:Drug Carriers; D011108:Polymers