Dendrimers as Modulators of Brain Cells
Nanostructured hyperbranched macromolecules have been extensively studied at the chemical, physical and morphological levels. The cellular structural and functional complexity of neural cells and their cross-talk have made it rather difficult to evaluate dendrimer effects in a mixed population of gl...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-09-01
|
| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/19/4489 |
| _version_ | 1797552144224616448 |
|---|---|
| author | Dusica Maysinger Qiaochu Zhang Ashok Kakkar |
| author_facet | Dusica Maysinger Qiaochu Zhang Ashok Kakkar |
| author_sort | Dusica Maysinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nanostructured hyperbranched macromolecules have been extensively studied at the chemical, physical and morphological levels. The cellular structural and functional complexity of neural cells and their cross-talk have made it rather difficult to evaluate dendrimer effects in a mixed population of glial cells and neurons. Thus, we are at a relatively early stage of bench-to-bedside translation, and this is due mainly to the lack of data valuable for clinical investigations. It is only recently that techniques have become available that allow for analyses of biological processes inside the living cells, at the nanoscale, in real time. This review summarizes the essential properties of neural cells and dendrimers, and provides a cross-section of biological, pre-clinical and early clinical studies, where dendrimers were used as nanocarriers. It also highlights some examples of biological studies employing dendritic polyglycerol sulfates and their effects on glia and neurons. It is the aim of this review to encourage young scientists to advance mechanistic and technological approaches in dendrimer research so that these extremely versatile and attractive nanostructures gain even greater recognition in translational medicine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:55:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e8a8636c3364b6ca7aba99d5a7f9bc9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:55:48Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e8a8636c3364b6ca7aba99d5a7f9bc92023-11-20T15:39:14ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492020-09-012519448910.3390/molecules25194489Dendrimers as Modulators of Brain CellsDusica Maysinger0Qiaochu Zhang1Ashok Kakkar2Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, CanadaDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, CanadaNanostructured hyperbranched macromolecules have been extensively studied at the chemical, physical and morphological levels. The cellular structural and functional complexity of neural cells and their cross-talk have made it rather difficult to evaluate dendrimer effects in a mixed population of glial cells and neurons. Thus, we are at a relatively early stage of bench-to-bedside translation, and this is due mainly to the lack of data valuable for clinical investigations. It is only recently that techniques have become available that allow for analyses of biological processes inside the living cells, at the nanoscale, in real time. This review summarizes the essential properties of neural cells and dendrimers, and provides a cross-section of biological, pre-clinical and early clinical studies, where dendrimers were used as nanocarriers. It also highlights some examples of biological studies employing dendritic polyglycerol sulfates and their effects on glia and neurons. It is the aim of this review to encourage young scientists to advance mechanistic and technological approaches in dendrimer research so that these extremely versatile and attractive nanostructures gain even greater recognition in translational medicine.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/19/4489dendrimerdrug deliverybrain cellsnanomedicinemicrogliaastrocytes |
| spellingShingle | Dusica Maysinger Qiaochu Zhang Ashok Kakkar Dendrimers as Modulators of Brain Cells Molecules dendrimer drug delivery brain cells nanomedicine microglia astrocytes |
| title | Dendrimers as Modulators of Brain Cells |
| title_full | Dendrimers as Modulators of Brain Cells |
| title_fullStr | Dendrimers as Modulators of Brain Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dendrimers as Modulators of Brain Cells |
| title_short | Dendrimers as Modulators of Brain Cells |
| title_sort | dendrimers as modulators of brain cells |
| topic | dendrimer drug delivery brain cells nanomedicine microglia astrocytes |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/19/4489 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dusicamaysinger dendrimersasmodulatorsofbraincells AT qiaochuzhang dendrimersasmodulatorsofbraincells AT ashokkakkar dendrimersasmodulatorsofbraincells |