A Glimpse into Dendrimers Integration in Cancer Imaging and Theranostics

Abstract

Cancer is a result of abnormal cell proliferation. This pathology is a serious health problem since it is a leading cause of death worldwide. Current anti-cancer therapies rely on surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. However, these treatments still present major associated problems, namely the absence of specificity. Thus, it is urgent to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Nanoparticles, particularly dendrimers, have been paving their way to the front line of cancer treatment, mostly for drug and gene delivery, diagnosis, and disease monitoring. This is mainly derived from their high versatility, which results from their ability to undergo distinct surface functionalization, leading to improved performance. In recent years, the anticancer and antimetastatic capacities of dendrimers have been discovered, opening new frontiers to dendrimer-based chemotherapeutics. In the present review, we summarize the intrinsic anticancer activity of different dendrimers as well as their use as nanocarriers in cancer diagnostics and treatment.

Polymer-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Cancer Therapeutics

“…Additionally, PEI and polyglycerol (PG) dendrimers exhibit a pH-dependent release pattern, favoring a faster release at pH 5-6 compared to pH 7, making them suitable for targeting anticancer drugs within the TME [ 155 , 156 ]. Moreover, dendrimers show promise in overcoming challenges in gene delivery, particularly for large hydrophilic molecules prone to enzymatic degradation with limited cell membrane penetration [ 156 , 157 ]. Dendrimers also play a significant role in the combined delivery of multiple chemotherapeutics, such as siRNA, to mitigate nonspecific toxicity and enhance specificity by surface functionalization with targeting ligands [ 158 ].…”

Molecular Ballet: Investigating the Complex Interaction between Self-Assembling Dendrimers and Human Serum Albumin via Computational and Experimental Methods

“…Their ability to encapsulate and deliver therapeutic agents with precision and efficiency has positioned dendrimers as promising candidates for the development of next-generation drug delivery systems. Additionally, their tunable surface chemistry enables the design of dendrimer-based materials for targeted imaging, sensing, and diagnostic applications [ 7 , 8 ].…”

Chemical Composition, In Vitro Antitumor Effect, and Toxicity in Zebrafish of the Essential Oil from Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist (Asteraceae)

“…Cancer is a relevant public health problem worldwide [1]. In 2020, approximately 19 million people were diagnosed with cancer and about 10 million deaths were recorded [2].…”