Cancer cells have the potential to proliferate at an abnormal rate and spread
to the whole body. To combat cancer, many therapeutic strategies using small drug
molecules have been explored, but their therapeutic effects are generally low and they
often have harmful side effects. Therefore, to achieve maximum drug activity with
minimal side effects, many attempts have been made to delivery anticancer drugs using
macromolecular formulations. Recently, dendrimers have been used as drug delivery
vehicles for anticancer drugs. A dendrimer is a synthetic macromolecule with a unique
structure. Dendrimers have inner space and multiple terminal groups for drug
encapsulation and drug conjugation. In addition, imaging probes and targeting ligands
can be attached to the dendrimer to prepare a multifunctional nanocarrier. Thus,
dendrimers are potent platforms for cancer therapy. In this article, we focused on the
application of dendrimers for delivery of anticancer therapeutics. Also, we have
discussed the mode of attachment between drug and dendrimer and their anti-cancer
activity in vivo and in vitro on the basis of recent research.
Keywords: Anticancer drug, Conjugation, Dendrimer, Encapsulation, Imaging, Ligand,
Linker, pH-sensitive, Polyethylene glycol, Targeting.
