This book will provide comprehensive coverage of dendrimer applications and clear indications for future research. It will appeal to chemists, biologists and materials scientists, working in both academia and industry.

Dendrimers are important molecules that are currently undergoing investigation for use in a variety of different biomedical applications. This book explores the use of dendrimers for a variety of potential functions, including antiamyloidogenic agents, drug delivery systems, nucleic acid and RNA delivery vectors and to produce hybrid fibre platforms for nantechnology. Following the work of COST action TD0802, the main objective of which is to improve existing therapies and find new drugs based on dendrimers, the book will provide comprehensive coverage of dendrimer applications. Coverage includes modelling and molecular dynamic studies of dendrimers and dendrons, anionic dendrimer polymers, cationic carbosilane dendrimers and self-assembled multivalent dendrimers. Providing clear indications for future research and applications, this text will appeal to chemists, biologists and materials scientists, working in both academia and industry.

With chapters from highly skilled, experienced, and renowned scientists and researchers from around the globe, Dendrimers for Drug Delivery provides an abundance of information on dendrimers and their applications in the field of drug delivery. The volume begins with an introduction to dendrimers, summarizing dendrimer applications and the striking features of dendrimers. It goes on to present the details of usual properties, structure, classification, and methods of synthesis, with relevant examples. The toxicity of dendrimers is also discussed. The chapter authors provide an exhaustive amount of information about dendrimers and their biomedical applications, including biocompatibility and toxicity aspects, a very useful feature. This informative volume will be valuable resource that will help readers to create products derived from dendrimers and navigate through the regulatory, manufacturing, and quality control hurdles. It will be an important resource for researchers, scientists, upper-level students, and industry professionals.

Nanoparticles are attractive for many biomedical applications such as imaging, therapeutics and diagnostics. This new book looks at different soft nanoparticles and their current and potential uses in medicine and health including magnetoliposomes, micro/nanogels, polymeric micelles, DNA particles, dendrimers and bicelles. Each chapter provides a description of the synthesis of the particles and focus on the techniques used to characterize the size, shape, surface charge, internal structure, and surface microstructure of the nanoparticles together with modeling and simulation methods. By giving a strong physical-chemical approach to the topic, readers will gain a good background into the subject and an overview of recent developments. The multidisciplinary point of view makes the book suitable for postgraduate students and researchers in physics, chemistry, and biology interested in soft matter and its uses.

A comprehensive discussion of various types of nanoengineered biomaterials and their applications In Nanoengineering of Biomaterials: Drug Delivery & Biomedical Applications, an expert team of chemists delivers a succinct exploration of the synthesis, characterization, in-vitro and in-vivo drug molecule release, pharmacokinetic activity, pharmacodynamic activity, and the biomedical applications of several types of nanoengineered biomaterials. The editors have also included resources to highlight the most current developments in the field. The book is a collection of valuable and accessible reference sources for researchers in materials chemistry and related disciplines. It uses a functions-directed approach to using organic and inorganic source compounds that translate into biological systems as scaffolds, micelles, dendrimers, and other delivery systems. Nanoengineering of Biomaterials offers readers up-to-date chemistry and material science insights that are readily transferrable to biomedical systems. The book also includes: Thorough introductions to alginate nanoparticle delivery of therapeutics and chitosan-based nanomaterials in biological applications Comprehensive explorations of nanostructured carrageenan as a drug carrier, gellan gum nanoparticles in drug delivery, and guar-gum nanoparticles in the delivery of bioactive molecules Practical discussions of protein-based nanoparticles for drug delivery, solid lipid nanoparticles as drug carriers, and pH-responsive nanoparticles in therapy In-depth examinations of stimuli-responsive nano carriers in drug targeting Perfect for pharmaceutical chemists, materials scientists, polymer chemists, life scientists, and medicinal chemists, Nanoengineering of Biomaterials: Drug Delivery and Biomedical Applications is also an indispensable resource for biologists and bioengineers seeking a one-stop reference on the transferability of materials chemistry and nanotechnology to biomedicine.

Dendrimer-Based Nanotherapeutics delivers a comprehensive resource on the use of dendrimer-based drug delivery. Advances in the application of nanotechnology in medicine have given rise to multifunctional smart nanocarriers that can be engineered with tunable physicochemical characteristics to deliver one or more therapeutic agent(s) safely and selectively to cancer cells, including intracellular organelle-specific targeting. This book compiles the contribution of dendrimers in the field of nanotechnology to aid researchers in exploring dendrimers in the field of drug delivery and related applications. This book covers the history of the area to the most recent research. The starting chapter covers detailed information about basic properties about dendrimers i.e. properties, nomenclature, synthesis methods, types, characterization of dendrimers, safety and toxicity issues of dendrimers. Further chapters discuss the most recent advancements in the field of dendrimer i.e. dendrimer-drug conjugates, PEGylated dendrimer, dendrimer surface engineering, dendrimer hybrids, dendrimers as solubility enhancement, in targeting and delivery of drugs, as photodynamic therapy, in tissue engineering, as imaging contrast agents, as antimicrobial agents, advances in targeted dendrimers for cancer therapy and future considerations of dendrimers. Dendrimer-Based Nanotherapeutics will help the readers to understand the most recent progress in the field of dendrimer-based research, suitable for pharmaceutical scientists, advanced students, and those working in related healthcare fields. Discusses various routes such as oral, pulmonary, transdermal, delivery and local administration of dendrimer delivery of bioactive Explores a wide range of applications of dendrimer-based drug delivery using the latest advancements in nanomedicine Provides the most recent research on dendrimers as well as context and background, providing a useful resource for all levels of researcher

Polymers are important and attractive biomaterials for researchers and clinical applications due to the ease of tailoring their chemical, physical and biological properties for target devices. Due to this versatility they are rapidly replacing other classes of biomaterials such as ceramics or metals. As a result, the demand for biomedical polymers has grown exponentially and supports a diverse and highly monetized research community. Currently worth $1.2bn in 2009 (up from $650m in 2000), biomedical polymers are expected to achieve a CAGR of 9.8% until 2015, supporting a current research community of approximately 28,000+. Summarizing the main advances in biopolymer development of the last decades, this work systematically covers both the physical science and biomedical engineering of the multidisciplinary field. Coverage extends across synthesis, characterization, design consideration and biomedical applications. The work supports scientists researching the formulation of novel polymers with desirable physical, chemical, biological, biomechanical and degradation properties for specific targeted biomedical applications. Combines chemistry, biology and engineering for expert and appropriate integration of design and engineering of polymeric biomaterials Physical, chemical, biological, biomechanical and degradation properties alongside currently deployed clinical applications of specific biomaterials aids use as single source reference on field. 15+ case studies provides in-depth analysis of currently used polymeric biomaterials, aiding design considerations for the future