Nanomedicine can take advantage of the recent developments in nanobiotechnology research areas for the creation of platforms with superior drug carrier capabilities, selective responsiveness to the environment, unique contrast enhancement profiles and improved accumulation at the disease site. Colloidal inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) have been attracting considerable interest in biomedicine, from drug and gene delivery to imaging, sensing and diagnostics. It is essential to modify the NPs surface to have enhanced biocompatibility and reach multifunctional systems for the in vitro and in vivo applications, especially in delivering drugs locally and recognizing overexpressed biomolecules. This paper describes the rational design for dendrimer-nanoparticle conjugates elaboration and reviews their state-of-the-art uses as efficient nanomedicine tools.
Keywords: MRI; dendrimers; dendrons; gold nanoparticles; optical imaging; quantum dots; superparamagnetic iron oxide; tumor targeting.