Starpharma has a number of products and platforms under development using dendrimer technology. Starpharma’s dendrimers are precisely defined, synthetic macromolecules that are well suited to pharmaceutical applications.

Dendrimers fall under the broad heading of nanotechnology, which covers the manipulation of matter in the size range of 1-100 nanometers (one million nanometers equal one millimetre) to create compounds, structures and devices with novel, pre-determined properties.

When making dendrimers, chemists can control their physical and chemical properties. The synthesis of dendrimers involves a core molecule with branching groups to which other branching molecules are added (see figure below) in layers. Each new layer is called a generation. The final generation can incorporate additional active groups that give the particular functionality to the dendrimer.

The selection of core, branching and surface molecules determine the properties of the different dendrimers required for medical, electronic, chemical and materials applications.



Steps in the synthesis of a defined dendrimer

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