Work

Exploiting Dendrimer Multivalency To Combat Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases

Year: 2011

Type: review

Abstract: The emergence and re-emergence of bacterial strains that are resistant to current antibiotics reveal the clinical need for new agents that possess broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Furthermore, bacteriophobic coatings that repel bacteria are important for medical devices, as the lifetime, reliability, and performance of implant devices are hindered by bacterial adhesion and infection. Dendrimers, a specific class of monodisperse macromolecules, have recently shown potential to function as both antibacterial agents and antimicrobial surface coatings. This review discusses the limitations with currently used antibacterial agents and describes how various classes of dendrimers, including glycodendrimers, cationic dendrimers, anionic dendrimers, and peptide dendrimers, have the potential to improve upon or replace certain antibiotics. Furthermore, the unexplored areas in this field of research will be mentioned to present opportunities for additional studies regarding the use of dendrimers as antimicrobial agents.

Source: Molecular Pharmaceutics

DOI: 10.1021/mp2005033

Authors: Meredith A. Mintzer, Eric L. Dane, George A. O’Toole, Mark W. Grinstaff

Institutions: Boston University, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth Health

Language: English

Topic: Dendrimers and Hyperbranched Polymers

Subfield: Polymers and Plastics

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases