Starpharma has a number of products and platforms under development using dendrimer technology. Starpharma's dendrimers are precisely defined, synthetic macromolecules the size of a small protein. They are well suited for pharmaceutical applications, and one example has already been successfully tested in humans in a Phase I trial under an FDA IND (Food and Drug Administration Investigational New Drug Application).

Dendrimers are a kind of nanotechnology. 'Nanotechnology' refers to 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.

The specialised chemistry used to make dendrimers allows the chemist to control the physical and chemical properties of each dendrimer. Starpharma's synthesis of dendrimers begins with a core molecule with branching groups to which other molecules are added (see figure below). Dendrimers are constructed by the successive addition of layers to the branching groups. Each new layer is called a generation. The final generation can incorporate additional active groups to tailor the functionality of the dendrimer.

The selection of core, branching and surface molecules gives the dendrimer the desired properties and functions for medical, electronic, chemical and materials applications.



Steps in the synthesis of a defined dendrimer

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