Glycodendrimers: versatile tools for nanotechnology

Combining nanotechnology with glycobiology has triggered an exponential growth of research activities in the design of novel functional bionanomaterials (glyconanotechnology). More specifically, recent synthetic advances towards the tailored and versatile design of glycosylated nanoparticles namely glyconanoparticles, considered as synthetic mimetics of natural glycoconjugates, paved the way toward diverse biomedical applications. The accessibility of a wide variety of these structured nanosystems, in terms of shapes, sizes, and organized around stable nanoparticles have readily contributed to their development and applications in nanomedicine. In this context, glycosylated gold-nanoparticles (GNPs), glycosylated quantum dots (QDs), fullerenes, single-wall natotubes (SWNTs), and self-assembled glycononanoparticles using amphiphilic glycopolymers or glycodendrimers have received considerable attention to afford powerful imaging, therapeutic, and biodiagnostic devices. This review will provide an overview of the most recent syntheses and applications of glycodendrimers in glycoscience that have permitted to deepen our understanding of multivalent carbohydrate-protein interactions. Together with synthetic breast cancer vaccines, inhibitors of bacterial adhesions to host tissues including sensitive detection devices, these novel bionanomaterials are finding extensive relevance

Emerging Opportunities in the Biomedical Applications of Dendrimers

The medical field remains challenged with many unmet needs, prompting rigorous research for solutions. Dendrimers are emerging as innovative solutions to many unmet clinical needs. Indeed, commercial dendrimer-enabled gene transfection technologies exist and work is ongoing to translate many other dendrimer products into the market to assist patients. Here, we review the ongoing work on dendrimer-enabled drug delivery technologies, diagnostic platforms, and antimicrobial agents. Our goal is to inspire the continuous exploration of the dendritic scaffold to address many issues in the biomedical landscape