Dextran, comprising a family of neutral polysaccharides consisting of an α-(1→6) linked d-glucose main chain with varying proportions of linkages and branches, depending on the bacteria used, is an interesting starting material for chemical modification reactions for the design of new functional polymers with promising properties. The review summarises recent results on structure characterisation of dextran including some comments on biosynthesis of this important class of biopolymers. Applications of dextran are discussed as well. Chemical modification reactions of dextran are increasingly studied for the structure and hence property design. The review highlights recent progress in esterification of dextran, both inorganic and organic polysaccharide esters, etherification reactions towards ionic and non-ionic ethers, and the huge variety of different conversions mainly developed for the binding of drugs. It summarises recent developments in the application of dextran derivatives with a focus on the chemical structures behind these materials such as prodrugs, bioactivity of inorganic dextran esters, heparin sulfate mimics, hydrogels, nanoparticles and self assembly structures for surface modification. Keywords Functionalised dextran • Structural analysis • Prodrugs • Nanostructures • Bioactivity Abbreviations AFM Atomic force microscopy AGU Anhydroglucose units AT Antithrombin AZT Azidothymidine BSH Na 2 B 12 H 11 SH BSA Bovine serum albumin CAC Critical association concentration CDI N,N -Carbonyldiimidazole CMC Critical micelle concentration CMD Carboxymethyl dextran CMDB Carboxymethyl dextran benzylamide CMDBSSu Carboxymethyl dextran benzylamidesulfonate sulfate CMDBSu Carboxymethyl dextran benzylamide sulfate CMDEE Carboxymethyl dextran ethyl ester CMDSu Carboxymethyl dextran sulfate COSY Two-dimensional correlated spectroscopy CsA Cyclosporin A 2D Two-dimensional Dach-Pt cis-Dihydroxo(cyclohexane-trans-l-1,2-diamine)platinum II DCC N,N -Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide T. Heinze et al.