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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 5180

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Dr. Valérie Maraval

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Guest Editor

Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination du CNRS, 205 Route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, CEDEX 4, France
Interests: dendrimers; dendrons; small molecules
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Anne-Marie Caminade

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination du CNRS, 205 Route de Narbonne, 31077 Toulouse, CEDEX 4, France
Interests: dendrimers; dendrons; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last decades, dendrimers have attracted considerable attention from the scientific community due to the wide range of properties and prospects of applications that these arborescent molecules can offer. Indeed, dendrimers exhibit a tridimensional shape, have the ability to encapsulate small molecules and to release them, and can be functionalized at their periphery or inside their branches by an infinite variety of functional groups. Thanks to these unique features, dendrimers can be viewed as promising candidates for applications in catalysis, in materials science, or in biology.

This special issue focuses on the design, synthesis and functionalization of dendrimer molecules with the aim to confer them specific properties that can be targeted for any domain of application.

We cordially invite you to share your knowledge and your recent accomplishments by submitting research articles or reviews for this Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Science (IJMS) on the “Design, Synthesis and Applications of Dendrimer Materials”.

Dr. Valérie Maraval
Dr. Anne-Marie Caminade
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

dendrimers
dendrons
hyperbranched molecules
dendrimers in catalysis
fluorescent dendrimers
biological properties of dendrimers
dendrimers in materials sciences
encapsulation in dendrimers
nanomedicine with dendrimers

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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28 pages, 3006 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Assembling Amphiphilic ABA Triblock Copolymers of Hyperbranched Polyglycerol with Poly(tetrahydrofuran) and Their Nanomicelles as Highly Efficient Solubilization and Delivery Systems of Curcumin

by Dóra Fecske, György Kasza, Gergő Gyulai, Kata Horváti, Márk Szabó, András Wacha, Zoltán Varga, Györgyi Szarka, Yi Thomann, Ralf Thomann, Rolf Mülhaupt, Éva Kiss, Attila Domján, Szilvia Bősze, Laura Bereczki and Béla Iván

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(12), 5866; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26125866 - 19 Jun 2025

Viewed by 229

Abstract

Delivering of hydrophobic drugs by polymeric nanoparticles is an intensively investigated research and development field worldwide due to the insufficient solubility of many existing and potential new drugs in aqueous media. Among polymeric nanoparticles, micelles of biocompatible amphiphilic block copolymers are among the most promising candidates for solubilization, encapsulation, and delivery of hydrophobic drugs to improve the water solubility and thus the bioavailability of such drugs. In this study, amphiphilic ABA triblock copolymers containing biocompatible hydrophilic hyperbranched (dendritic) polyglycerol (HbPG) outer and hydrophobic poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) inner segments were synthesized using amine-telechelic PTHF as a macroinitiator for glycidol polymerization. These hyperbranched–linear–hyperbranched block copolymers form nanosized micelles with 15–20 nm diameter above the critical micelle concentration. Coagulation experiments proved high colloidal stability of the aqueous micellar solutions of these block copolymers against temperature changes. The applicability of block copolymers as drug delivery systems was investigated using curcumin, a highly hydrophobic, water-insoluble, natural anti-cancer agent. High and efficient drug solubilization up to more than 3 orders of magnitude to that of the water solubility of curcumin (>1500-fold) is achieved with the HbPG-PTHF-HbPG block copolymer nanomicelles, locating the drug in amorphous form in the inner PTHF core. Outstanding stability of and sustained curcumin release from the drug-loaded block copolymer micelles were observed. The in vitro bioactivity of the curcumin-loaded nanomicelles was investigated on U-87 glioblastoma cell line, and an optimal triblock copolymer composition was found, which showed highly effective cellular uptake and no toxicity. These findings indicate that the HbPG-PTHF-HbPG triblock copolymers are promising candidates for advanced drug solubilization and delivery systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis and Applications of Dendrimer Materials)

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21 pages, 2404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alkyltriphenylphosphonium-Functionalized Hyperbranched Polyethyleneimine Nanoparticles for Safe and Efficient Bacterial Eradication: A Structure–Property Relationship Study

by Katerina N. Panagiotaki, Kyriaki-Marina Lyra, Aggeliki Papavasiliou, Dimitris Tsiourvas and Zili Sideratou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 5153; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115153 - 28 May 2025

Viewed by 253

Abstract

Polymeric antibacterial agents are attracting attention due to their increased bactericidal efficiency and low probability of causing drug resistance. Their activity, usually attributed to electrostatic interactions and subsequent disruption of cell membranes, is attributed to the number and chemical structure of their functional groups. In this study, hyperbranched polyethyleneimines (PEIs) of two different molecular weights were functionalized with amphiphilic alkyltriphenylphosphonium groups, which are known to induce membrane penetration, especially in cells with high membrane potential. The obtained nanoparticles were chemically and physicochemically characterized, and their inhibition potential against Gram (−) E. coli and Gram (+) S. aureus bacteria was determined. The effects of polymer molecular weight, alkyl chain length, and the number of triphenylphosphonium groups on their antimicrobial efficacy were studied. All compounds exhibited antibacterial properties, especially against S. aureus (MIC < 50 μg/mL). Low-molecular-weight polymeric derivatives and longer alkyl chains proved more efficient against both E. coli (MIC = 20 μg/mL) and S. aureus (MIC = 0.25 μg/mL). SEM images depicted changes in cell morphology, bacterial membrane disruption, and leakage of intracellular contents, signifying loss of cell viability. Minimal cytotoxicity against three mammalian cell lines at relevant antibacterial concentrations demonstrated the potential of a structure–property relationship approach for novel potent antibacterial polymers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis and Applications of Dendrimer Materials)

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24 pages, 7833 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Viral Systems Based on PAMAM-Calix-Dendrimers for Regulatory siRNA Delivery into Cancer Cells

by Pavel Padnya, Igor Shiabiev, Dmitry Pysin, Tatiana Gerasimova, Bahdan Ranishenka, Alesia Stanavaya, Viktar Abashkin, Dzmitry Shcharbin, Xiangyang Shi, Mingwu Shen, Anastasia Nazarova and Ivan Stoikov

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 12614; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312614 - 24 Nov 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1427

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most common diseases in developed countries. Recently, gene therapy has emerged as a promising approach to cancer treatment and has already entered clinical practice worldwide. RNA interference-based therapy is a promising method for cancer treatment. However, there are a number of limitations that require vectors to deliver therapeutic nucleic acids to target tissues and organs. Active research is currently underway to find highly effective, low-toxic nanomaterials capable of acting as nanocarriers. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time the ability of symmetrical polyamidoamine dendronized thiacalix[4]arenes (PAMAM-calix-dendrimers) to form stable positively charged complexes with siRNAs, protect them from enzymatic degradation, and efficiently deliver gene material to HeLa cells. A distinctive feature of PAMAM-calix-dendrimers was the unusual decrease in hemo- and cytotoxicity with increasing generation, while these compounds did not cause toxic effects at concentrations required for siRNA binding and delivery. A comparative analysis of the efficiency of complex formation of PAMAM-calix-dendrimers and classical PAMAM dendrimers with siRNAs was also performed. The findings may facilitate the creation of novel unique gene delivery systems for cancer nanomedicine development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis and Applications of Dendrimer Materials)

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Review

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26 pages, 4027 KiB

Open AccessReview

Two-Photon Absorbing Dendrimers and Their Properties—An Overview

by Valérie Maraval and Anne-Marie Caminade

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063132 - 8 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1407

Abstract

This review describes the two-photon absorption properties of dendrimers, which are arborescent three-dimensional macromolecules differing from polymers by their perfectly defined structure. The two-photon absorption process is a third order non-linear optical property that is attractive because it can be used in a wide range of applications. In this review, dendrimers that were studied for their two-photon absorption properties are first described. Then, the use of dendritic TPA chromophores for light harvesting, photopolymerization, optical power limitation, cell imaging, singlet oxygen generation, and photodynamic therapy is described. This review thus proposes an overview of the properties and possible applications of two-photon absorbing dendrimers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design, Synthesis and Applications of Dendrimer Materials)

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