Carbosilane dendritic nanostructures, highly versatile platforms for pharmaceutical applications

Abstract

Dendrimers are multifunctional molecules with well‐defined size and structure due to the step‐by‐step synthetic procedures required in their preparation. Dendritic constructs based on carbosilane scaffolds present carbon–carbon and carbon–silicon bonds, which results in stable, lipophilic, inert, and flexible structures. These properties are highly appreciated in different areas, including the pharmaceutical field, as they can increase the interaction with cell membranes and improve the therapeutic action. This article summarizes the most recent advances in the pharmaceutical applications of carbosilane dendritic molecules, from therapeutics to diagnostics and prevention tools. Dendrimers decorated with cationic, anionic, or other moieties, including metallodendrimers; supramolecular assemblies; dendronized nanoparticles and surfaces; as well as dendritic networks like hydrogels are described. The collected examples confirm the potential of carbosilane dendrimers and dendritic materials as antiviral or antibacterial agents; in therapy against cancer, neurodegenerative disease, or oxidative stress; or many other biomedical applications. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease

Effects of Dendrimer-microRNA Nanoformulations against Glioblastoma Stem Cells

“…As carriers, we have chosen polycationic phosphorus and carbosilane dendrimers that we had already proven to be efficient carriers of therapeutic nucleic acids into both tumor [ 38 , 67 ] and immunocompetent cells [ 25 , 31 , 33 , 41 , 67 ].…”

Amphiphilic dendrimers against antibiotic resistance: light at the end of the tunnel?

“…To date, most studies on antibacterial activity involve amphiphilic peptide dendrimers, PAMAM dendrimers and polyester dendrimers. Many other dendrimers with different scaffolds have been evaluated for use as antibacterial agents in recent years, including carbosilane dendrimers, [58][59][60] phos-…”

“…To date, most studies on antibacterial activity involve amphiphilic peptide dendrimers, PAMAM dendrimers and polyester dendrimers. Many other dendrimers with different scaffolds have been evaluated for use as antibacterial agents in recent years, including carbosilane dendrimers, [58][59][60] phos- phorus dendrimers 61 and glycodendrimers dendrimers 62 etc. More investigations are now needed on the antibacterial activity of amphiphilic dendrimers with these different dendrimer scaffolds for combatting AMR.…”

Amphiphilic Dendritic Hydrogels with Carbosilane Nanodomains: Preparation and Characterization as Drug Delivery Systems

“…Carbosilane dendrimers have been broadly explored in the biomedical field, exhibiting unique activities as antiviral and antibacterial agents as well as a high efficiency to carry drugs or nucleic acids. 13 , 14 Furthermore, Muzafarov et al explored their ability to form networks by cross-linking the alkene-decorated dendrimer G6(all) 256 with the smaller dendrimer G2(H) 12 or with tetramethyldisiloxane, both acting as difunctional cross-linkers due to the steric hindrance of the sixth-generation dendrimer. 15 Nevertheless, the non-degradable properties of carbosilane scaffolds can be a problem in the pharmaceutical field.…”

“…Beyond the advantages offered by all dendrimers (monodispersity and multivalency, which translate into synthetic control), carbosilane scaffolds appear attractive due to their highly stable, inert, and lipophilic nature, which can increase the compatibility with lipophilic cargo as well as boost hydrogel nanostructuring. Carbosilane dendrimers have been broadly explored in the biomedical field, exhibiting unique activities as antiviral and antibacterial agents as well as a high efficiency to carry drugs or nucleic acids. , Furthermore, Muzafarov et al explored their ability to form networks by cross-linking the alkene-decorated dendrimer G6­(all) 256 with the smaller dendrimer G2­(H) 12 or with tetramethyldisiloxane, both acting as difunctional cross-linkers due to the steric hindrance of the sixth-generation dendrimer . Nevertheless, the non-degradable properties of carbosilane scaffolds can be a problem in the pharmaceutical field.…”