Dendrimers as Nanocarriers in Cancer Chemotherapy

Abstract

Cancer, considered as a deadly disease has seen a shift in the method of treatment since the advent of nanotechnology in the field of medicine and diagnostics. Nanoparticles have shown specific target drug delivery thus improving the chemotherapy for cancer patients. Various forms of nanoparticles and platforms used are quantum dots, organic and inorganic nanoclusters, liposomes, micelles. Dendrimer nanocomposites are also used now a days in the same line to construct therapeutic nanoreactors which can act as multifunctional smart materials various drugs simultaneously to cancer cells. In this review  dendrimers are discussed as nanocarriers for cancer chemotherapy, gene therapy,  paharmacokinetic principles for dendrimers as nanodrugs, their theranostic applications as diagnostic and therapeutic agents simultaneously, and the uniqueness of  Supramolecular dendritic polymers(SDPs) to act as efficient nanocarriers. Toxicity studies are also discussed briefly for nanodendrons used nanomedicine safety.

Keywords: Nanoparticles, dendrimers, nanocomposites, drug delivery, cancer, Theranostics.