Pyridine encapsulated hyperbranched polymers as mimetic models of haeme containing proteins, that also provide interesting and unusual porphyrin-ligand geometries

The Introduction of Dendrimers as a New Approach to Improve the Performance and Quality of Various Blood Products (Platelets, Plasma and Erythrocytes): A 2010-2022 Review Study

Objectives:

Platelet-, erythrocyte- and plasma-related products are vital for some patients. The main problems with these products are storage lesions, shelf life limitations, and function and quality maintenance. Dendrimers, a well-known group of polymeric nanoparticles, may help overcome these challenges due to their special properties.

Methods:

This review article, for the first time, comprehensively discusses studies from 2010 to 2022 on the compatibility of positive, negative, neutral, and modified charge dendrimers with each blood product. Moreover, it provides information regarding dendrimers' applications for improving the quality and function of blood products.

Results:

A total of one hundred and twenty-six studies showed that dendrimers affect blood components depending on their load, size, molecular weight, functional group, concentration, and exposure time. Generally, cationic dendrimers with higher concentrations and molecular weight and larger size showed little hemocompatibility, while anionic or neutral dendrimers with lower concentrations and molecular weight, and small size were more hemocompatible. Further, some modifications of cationic dendrimers were found to improve their compatibility. For erythrocytes, they included PEGylation and thiolation of dendrimers or functionalizing them with cyclic RGD, nmaleyl chitosan, zwitterionic chitosan, prednisolone, or carbohydrates. Additionally, dendrimers functionalized with arginine-birch, lysine-Cbz, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol-cyclic RGD, thiol, TiO2, maltotriose, or streptokinase decreased the platelet toxicity of dendrimers. The dendrimers modified with polyethylene glycol, glucose, and gold nanoparticles showed increased compatibility in the case of albumin products. Moreover, the PAMAM-dendrimer-antibody conjugates had no adverse effect on antibodies. Dendrimers have a wide range of applications, including virus detection kits, synthetic O2 carriers, bacterial nanofilters, drug carriers, anticoagulants, and enhanced blood product storage.

Conclusion:

It can be concluded that due to the outstanding properties of different types of dendrimers, particularly their manipulability, nanomaterials can be promising to enhance the quality of blood products. Thus, further research in this area is required.

Synthetic methodologies and spatial organization of metal chelate dendrimers and star and hyperbranched polymers

The synthetic methodologies, physico-chemical peculiarities, properties, and structure of metal chelate dendrimers and star and hyperbranched polymers are considered.

Artificial Blood Substitutes: First Steps on the Long Route to Clinical Utility

The 21st century is challenging for human beings. Increased population growth, population aging, generation of new infectious agents, and natural disasters are some threatening factors for the current state of blood transfusion. However, it seems that science and technology not only could overcome these challenges but also would turn many human dreams to reality in this regard. Scientists believe that one of the future evolutionary innovations could be artificial blood substitutes that might pave the way to a new era in transfusion medicine. In this review, recent status and progresses in artificial blood substitutes, focusing on red blood cells substitutes, are summarized. In addition, steps taken toward the development of artificial blood technology and some of their promises and hurdles will be highlighted. However, it must be noted that artificial blood is still at the preliminary stages of development, and to fulfill this dream, ie, to routinely transfuse artificial blood into human vessels, we still have to strengthen our knowledge and be patient.

An emerging interface between life science and nanotechnology: present status and prospects of reproductive healthcare aided by nano-biotechnology

Among the various applications of nano-biotechnology, healthcare is considered one of the most significant domains. For that possibility to synthesize various kind of nanoparticles (NPs) and the ever-increasing ability to control their size as well as structure, to improve surface characteristics and binding NPs with other desired curing agents has played an important role. In this paper, a brief sketch of various kinds of nanomaterials and their biomedical applications is given. Despite claims of bio-nanotechnology about to touch all areas of medical science, information pertaining to the role of nanotechnology for the betterment of reproductive healthcare is indeed limited. Therefore, the various achievements of nano-biotechnology for healthcare in general have been illustrated while giving special insight into the role of nano-biotechnology for the future of reproductive healthcare betterment as well as current achievements of nanoscience and nanotechnology in this arena.