Current Applications

Inkjet Inks and Toners
PAMAM dendrimers, at low additive levels, dramatically improve water resistance and adhesion of inks to a variety of porous or nonporous substrates such as paper, glass, plastic, or metal. Their water and alcohol solubility permit formulation of low VOC inks. These polymers exhibit Newtonian flow behavior for shear stability in these formulations. In toners, they impart good admix and flow characteristics, stable properties, and high image quality.

In vitro Diagnostics
Dendrimer-antibody conjugates are used commercially in an immunoassay for rapid and sensitive detection of cardiac markers indicative of heart attacks.

In Vitro Gene Transfection
PAMAM dendrimers are used in in-vitro transfection of a broad range of cells with DNA. They form dendrimer:DNA complexes that provide reproducible high transfection efficiency and have low cytotoxicity.

Controlled Drug Delivery
A variety of molecules, such as drugs and other therapeutic agents, can be loaded both in the interior void space and on the surface of PAMAM dendrimers to control the rate of release of these agents into the body.

Promising Areas of Research

Gene Therapy
PAMAM dendrimers are highly effective agents for the delivery of genetic materials into a variety of cell lines. Both antisense oligonucleotides and DNA have been effectively delivered using these polymers. PAMAM dendrimers give no indication of inducing an immune response, show low in vitro cytotoxicity, stabilize polynucleic acids against nucleases and an under-active investigation in genetic therapies.

Imaging
PAMAM dendrimer conjugates with paramagnetic ions are being studied for use as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents.

Sensors
Due to their organized structure, ease of modification, and strong adsorption behavior to a variety of substrates, PAMAM dendrimers can be used to produce monolayers or stacked film layers, which can be used as sensors to detect hazardous chemical materials.

Nanocomposites
PAMAM dendrimers can form stable interior molecular nanocomposites with metal cations, zero-valent metals, other electrophilic ligands, and semiconductor particles. These materials are actively being investigated in electronics, optoelectronics and catalysis.

Organosilane Coatings
PAMAM dendrimers are the basis of poly(amidoamine) - organosilicon (PAMAMOS) coating technology. PAMAMOS coatings are tough, transparent, flexible coatings, which have many of the same attributes of PAMAM dendrimers in coating form. They are being investigated for applications in microelectronics. More information on PAMAMOS dendrimers, applications and references is available for download by clicking here.

Size Standards/Molecular Templates
The exceptionally uniform molecular size of the various PAMAM dendrimer generations enable their use as calibration standards or precise "scaffolds" and templates to make organized thin films and stacked layers.