Dendrimer-based Host/Guest Systems for Drug Delivery

One of the main challenges in drug delivery is not only the targeting of bioactive to a specific site but also retaining it for an optimum duration to attain the desired task. In this respect dendrimers based nanocarriers constitute a very attractive class of materials because of their biocompatibility as well as for the high versatility of control over the dendritic architecture (size, branching conformation, surface functionality). We outline some methods of entrapment/encapsulation of bioactive dendrimers and their partitioning within model lipid membranes. More specifically scattering experiments indicate that guest dendrimers are segregated in different compartments of the same lipid nanocarrier, while electrostatic interaction and dimensions of involved dendrimers are the main parameters that influence the membrane stability in water solution. We outline how the control of specific system parameters can be exploited to minimize contacts and undesired interactions in order to preserve the releasing efficiency at the target site.