Synthesis of degradable bifunctional dendritic polymers as versatile drug carriers

Abstract

Dendritic polymers have shown great potential as drug carriers due to their precise chemical makeup, nanosized structures and high density of surface functionalities, but most dendrimers bear functionalities only on the periphery, limiting their utility as drug-delivery carriers. Herein, we report synthesis of biodegradable bifunctional dendritic polymers with acrylate termini and interior hydroxyl groups. These bifunctional dendritic polymers are nontoxic and biodegradable, offering a versatile platform for various biomedical applications. As a proof of concept, the fourth-generation dendritic polymer was PEGylated on the periphery, and the anticancer drug camptothecin was tethered in its interior, forming a well-defined core–shell-structured dendritic polymer conjugate with a high drug loading capacity (up to ∼17.4 wt%).