Dendrimer structures, polymeric drug

Figure 10.4 Structures of polymers and polymeric drug delivery systems sensitive to light and electric fields, (a) Light-sensitive polyamidoamine dendrimes conjugated with doxorubicin via photo-cleavable ortho-nitrobenxyl linkages (Choi et al., 2010). (b) Electric-field-sensitive (Wood et al., 2008).

The size and structure of the PAMAM dendrimer family can be controlled easily and carefully. Although it was reported that heat-induced solvolysis of the perfect dendritic structure of PAMAM dendrimers was helpful for the enhancement of transfection efficiency, probably due to the more flexible structure [94], the highly controlled core-shell structure of PAMAM dendrimers can be a very attractive backbone for the detailed study of stmcture-fimction relationships in the polymeric delivery of nucleic acid drugs. The easy modification of surface functionalities should also facilitate various biomedical applications for PAMAM dendrimer derivatives. 

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