Man-made polymeric dendrimers are a new class of macromolecules that may provide the key to developing new nanoscale materials with unique properties. Courtesy T. Cagin.
In recent years two nanoscaled structures have generated a lot of excitement among chemical engineers and biomedical researchers. Now being developed as targeted drug-delivery vehicles, they are
- Polymeric dendrimers—highly branched synthetic macromolecules— and
- Fullerenes, or buckyballs—hollow, soccer-ball-shaped molecules composed of 60 carbon atoms.
Polymeric dendrimers
These synthetic macromolecules are intriguing to biomedical researchers for use in drug delivery because
- They can easily encapsulate small drug molecules;
- They are biodegradable; and
- Their size and structure can be easily controlled during manufacture.
Fullerenes
Since the discovery of fullerenes—novel, nanoscaled structures—chemical-engineering principles have been invaluable in moving them from the test tube to full-scale production. Fullerenes are ideally suited for use as drug-delivery vehicles because of their small size and resistance to biochemical attack within the body.
Researchers are also exploring the use of fullerenes as carriers of radioactive atoms within the body. The objective is to assist in destruction of tumors in situ while reducing unrelated cell damage and other side effects caused by traditional methods of chemotherapy.
Copyright © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Chemical Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.