Dendriitides

Dendriitides are a type of naturally occurring dendritic polymer with a highly branched, tree-like structure. The term "dendriitide" specifically refers to dendrimers synthesized using a divergent or convergent growth approach where the repeating units are amino acids or peptide fragments. This incorporation of peptide building blocks imbues dendriitides with unique properties, including biocompatibility and potential biodegradability, which distinguish them from purely synthetic dendrimers.

The structure of a dendriitide is characterized by a central core, from which branches radiate outwards. Each branch consists of repeating monomer units, typically amino acids, linked in a precise, generation-by-generation manner. This controlled synthesis allows for the precise control of molecular weight, size, and the number of terminal functional groups. The highly branched architecture creates a large surface area relative to the internal volume.

Dendriitides have garnered interest for a variety of applications, particularly in the biomedical field. Their biocompatibility makes them suitable candidates for drug delivery systems, where they can encapsulate therapeutic agents and deliver them to specific targets. The terminal functional groups can be further modified to enhance targeting or to alter the solubility and pharmacokinetic properties of the dendriitide. They have also been explored for use in gene therapy, as imaging agents, and in tissue engineering. Research continues to explore their potential in catalysis and materials science due to their tunable properties.