A review of in vitro-in vivo investigations on dendrimers: the novel nanoscopic drug carriers

Dendrimers have emerged as one of the most interesting themes for researchers as a result of their unique architecture and macromolecular characteristics. Several groups are involved in exploring their potential as versatile carriers in drug delivery. The use of dendrimers in drug delivery has been reviewed extensively. The increasing relevance of the potential of dendrimers in drug delivery emphasizes the need to explore the routes by which they can be administered. The present review focuses on dendrimer-mediated drug delivery based on various routes of administration, a topic that has received little attention in the available literature. With this focus in mind, we present a comprehensive exploration of the recent advances in the investigational aspects of these nanoscopic polymeric devices. Also included are some in vitro studies that present data suggestive of their possible application in different routes of administration. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.