• Trzepiński, Przemysław
• Klajnert-Maculewicz, Barbara

Abstract

Dendrimer science is a relatively new branch of nanotechnology focused on non-linear macromolecules called dendrimers.These hyperbranched polymers are characterized by monodispersity, highly defined structure and – depending on specifictype of dendrimer – good biocompatibility. Due to the possibility of encapsulation or surface conjugation of guest moleculeson a dendrimer it can serve as delivery agent in life sciences. For bioimaging based on fluorescence dendritic polymers wereextensively studied as conventional fluorophore carriers. Complexing of organic dyes with these macromolecules improvestheir solubility and enhances cellular uptake. Moreover, it helps overcome other limitations in using them for photobleaching,and their lack of specificity or cytotoxicity. Protective properties of dendrimers are especially valuable for use with quantumdots, which have great optical potential but contain heavy metals that can adversely affect biological objects. Dendrimer basedfluorescent probes have been widely appliedin vitroandin vivobioimaging. An interesting phenomenon is non-traditionalintrinsic fluorescence (NTIF) of dendrimers. Some of them show pH- and oxygen-dependent fluorescence without conjugationwith other particles. NTIF is not fully understood, but attempts to take advantage of it for bioimaging have been made. Thisphenomenon has great potential since it enables dendrimers to serve simultaneously as delivery and diagnostic tool.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• surface
• polymer
• Oxygen
• dendrimer
• biocompatibility