Phosphorous Dendrimers in Biology and Nanomedicine ― Syntheses, Characterization, and Properties

Dendrimers, which are hyperbranched synthetic macromolecules, have attracted researchers’ increasing interest over the last three decades owing to their numerous properties, in particular, in the fields of biology and nanomedicine. This book is an up-to-date collection of the most recent achievements in the use of dendrimers in nanomedicine, exemplified by phosphorus-containing dendrimers. Starting with the synthesis and characterization of phosphorus dendrimers, the book discusses their use as biomaterials, carriers of biological entities, and anti-inflammatory drugs; in bioimaging; and against prion diseases, Alzheimer’s, HIV, and cancer. It compares phosphorus dendrimers with other types of dendrimers. Supplemented with numerous references and abundant illustrations, the book opens new perspectives for the researchers working on dendrimers.

Anne-Marie Caminade is director of research (exceptional class) at the CNRS in Toulouse, France, and head of the Dendrimers and Heterochemistry research group. Her current research interest is in dendrimers. She has authored or coauthored more than 430 articles in peer-reviewed journals (including around 380 articles on dendrimers), 40 book chapters, 1 book, and 15 patents and has participated in 150 invited conferences.

Cedric-Olivier Turrin is a CNRS research scientist at the Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, Toulouse, France. His research interests are focused on the design of hyperbranched phosphorus-containing architectures, including dendrimers, and their uses in biomedicine and nanosciences.

Jean-Pierre Majoral is emeritus director of research at the CNRS in Toulouse. His current research interest is focused on the design and properties of phosphorus dendrimers in nanomedicine, materials sciences, and catalysis. He is a member of several academies of sciences worldwide, cofounder of the company Dendris, and an author of more than 610 publications, 5 books, 28 book chapters, and 40 patents.