Designer Peptide and Protein Dendrimers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Chem Rev. 2019 Nov 13;119(21):11391-11441. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00153. Epub 2019 Sep 26.

Abstract

Dendrimers have attracted immense interest in science and technology due to their unique chemical structure that offers a myriad of opportunities for researchers. Dendritic design allows us to present peptides in a branched three-dimensional fashion that eventually leads to a globular shape, thus mimicking globular proteins. Peptide dendrimers, unlike other classes of dendrimers, have immense applications in biomedical research due to their biological origin. The diversity of potential building blocks and innumerable possibilities for design, along with the fact that the area is relatively underexplored, make peptide dendrimers sought-after candidates for various applications. This review summarizes the stepwise evolution of peptidic dendrimers along with their multifaceted applications in various fields. Further, the introduction of biomacromolecules such as proteins to a dendritic scaffold, resulting in complex macromolecules with discrete molecular weights, is an altogether new addition to the area of organic chemistry. The synthesis of highly complex and fully folded biomacromolecules on a dendritic scaffold requires expertise in synthetic organic chemistry and biology. Presently, there are only a handful of examples of protein dendrimers; we believe that these limited examples will fuel further research in this area.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dendrimers / chemistry*
  • Dendrimers / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Peptides / pharmacology
  • Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proteins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Dendrimers
  • Drug Carriers
  • Peptides
  • Proteins