Dendrimers

dendrimerDendrimers are tree-like nanostructured polymers, synthesized with a well-defined size. Even though there are a wide range of dendrimers with differing building blocks,  PAMAM dendrimers are the most widely studied dendrimers, and can be model systems for understanding interactions between nanoscale materials and tissues. At the Center for Nanomedicine at Wilmer, our goal is to develop translational applications for dendrimer-based drug delivery approaches. Our research focuses on three aspects, to build tailored dendrimer nanodevices for specific clinical applications: (1) understanding the intrinsic biodistribution properties of dendrimers, to learn about the cells types and disease processes that are natural targets for dendrimers; (2) understanding and tailoring drug release profiles from dendrimer-drug nanodevices, to suit specific applications; (3) develop platform technologies focused on neuroinflammatory disorders such as retinal degeneration, cerebral palsy, and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Selected Publications

  • Mastorakos P, Kambhampati SP, Mishra MK, Wu TT, Song E, Hanes JS, Kannan RM. (2015) Hydroxyl PAMAM dendrimer-based gene vectors for transgene delivery to human retinal pigment epithelial cells, Nanoscale, 7:3845.
  • Zhang F, Mastorakos P, Mishra MK, Mangraviti A, Hwang L, Zhou J, Hanes J, Brem H, Olivi A, Tyler B, Kannan RM. (2015) Uniform brain tumor distribution and tumor associated macrophage targeting of systemically administered dendrimers, Biomaterials, 52:507-16.
  • S Kannan, H Dai, RS Navath, B Balakrishnan, A Jyoti, J Janisse, R Romero, RM Kannan (2012). ‘Dendrimer-based postnatal therapy for neuroinflammation and cerebral palsy in a rabbit model’. Science Translational Medicine, 4(130), p. 130ra46. Highlighted in Nature, Science, Nature Review Drug Discovery, C & EN. Faculty of 1000 selection.