MOLECULAR DENDRITIC TRANSPORTERS

摘要

The present invention provides molecular transporters which are based on dendritic polymers that exhibit adaptive solubility behaviour and complementarity for specific lipidic membrane receptors, including cell receptors. Specifically these dendritic polymers will be used as carriers for transporting bioactive molecules to liposomes and biological cells. More specifically, the bioactive molecules encapsulated inside the nanocavities of these dendritic polymers are transported together with their carriers through the membranes. For inducing the transport of bioactive molecules, these polymers are functionalized with the introduction of groups such as guanidinium, folate, or carbohydrate moieties, etc., which are complementary to membrane receptors. Alternatively, the bioactive molecules to be transported are covalently attached to dendritic polymers which exhibit the above mentioned properties. The same molecular transport characteristics are preserved when the above mentioned dendritic polymers are covalently or non-covalently attached to liposomes. In the latter case the so-called dendronized liposomes are obtained which incorporate bioactive molecules either in the liposomal or dendritic segments of the nanoparticles.