A synthetic "tour de force": well-defined multivalent and multimodal dendritic structures for biomedical applications

Dendrimers have several unique properties that make them attractive scaffolds for use in biomedical applications. To date, multivalent and multimodal dendritic structures have been synthesized predominantly by statistical modification of peripheral groups. However, the potential application of such probes in patients demands well-defined and monodisperse materials that have unique structures. Current progress in the field of chemical biology, in particular chemoselective ligation methods, renders this challenge possible. In this Minireview, we outline the different available synthetic strategies, some applications that already make use of this new generation of multivalent and multimodal architectures, and the challenges for future developments.