RESEARCH AVENUES ON DENDRIMERS TOWARDS MOLECULAR-BIOLOGY - FROM BIOMIMETISM TO MEDICINAL ENGINEERING

Dendrimers, the first perfectly defined synthetic macromolecules (poly dispersity: 1.0), resemble biological components (proteins, enzymes, v iruses, neurones) through their sizes, shapes, topologies and fractal surfaces. They are built generation after generation according to the genealogical mode and their synthesis recalls the principle of DNA rep lication. Suitably functionalized dendrimers can mimic the antibodies of glycoproteinic type against cold virus. They could also be used for biomimetic catalysis, drug transport, gene- and anti-cancer therapies , recognition of DNA branches, detection and quantification of some vi ruses including AIDS.