Bioapplications of PAMAM Dendrimers

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Allergy, Ann Arbor, Ml, USA 

Interest in dendritic polymers (dendrimers) has grown steadily over the past decade due to use of these molecules in numerous industrial and biomedical applications. One particular class of dendrimers, Starburst polyamidoamine (PAMAM) polymers, a new class of nanoscopic, spherical polymers that appears safe and nonimmunogenic for potential use in a variety of therapeutic applications for human diseases. This chapter will focus on investigations into PAMAM dendrimers for in vitro and in vivo nonviral gene delivery as these studies have progressed from initial discoveries to recent animal trials. In addition, we will review other applications of dendrimers where the polymers are surface modified. This allows the opportunity to target-deliver therapeutics or act as competitive inhibitors of viral or toxin attachment to cells. 

Dendrimers and Other Dendritic Polymers. Edited by Jean M. J. Frechet and Donald A. Tomalia 2001 John Wiley Sons Ltd 

Dendrimer generation Molecular weight Primary amino surface groups Diameter (A) 

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Eichman, J.D., Bielinska, A.U., Kukowska-Latallo, J.F., Donovan, B.W., and Baker Jr., J.R. (2001) Bioapplications of PAMAM dendrimers in dendrimers and other dendritic polymers. In Wiley Series in Polymer Science (M.J. Frechet, and D.A. Tomalia, eds.), pp. 441M61. John Wiley Sons, Ltd, West Sussex, UK. 

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