RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Dendrimers and dendritic materials: From laboratory to medical practice in infectious diseases A1 Ortega Núñez, Miguel Ángel A1 Guzman Merino, Alberto A1 Fraile Martínez, Óscar A1 Recio Ruiz, Judith A1 Pekarek, Leonel A1 González Guijarro, Luis A. A1 García Honduvilla, Natalio Antonio A1 Álvarez de Mon Soto, Melchor A1 Buján Varela, María Julia Araceli A1 García Gallego, Sandra K1 dendrimer K1 nanoparticle K1 infection K1 bacteria K1 virus K1 fungi K1 parasite K1 amoeba K1 prion K1 Chemistry K1 Química AB Infectious diseases are one of the main global public health risks, predominantly caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The control of infections is founded on three main pillars: prevention, treatment, and diagnosis. However, the appearance of microbial resistance has challenged traditional strategies and demands new approaches. Dendrimers are a type of polymeric nanoparticles whose nanometric size, multivalency, biocompatibility, and structural perfection offer boundlesspossibilities in multiple biomedical applications. This review provides the reader a general overview about the uses of dendrimers and dendritic materials in the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of highly prevalent infectious diseases, and their advantages compared to traditional approaches. Examples of dendrimers as antimicrobial agents per se, as nanocarriers of antimicrobial drugs, as well as their uses in gene transfection, in vaccines or as contrast agents in imaging assays are presented.Despite the need to address some challenges in order to be used in the clinic, dendritic materials appear as an innovative tool with a brilliant future ahead in the clinical management of infectiousdiseases and many other health issues. SN 1999-4923 YR 2020 FD 2020-09-03 LK http://hdl.handle.net/10017/46749 UL http://hdl.handle.net/10017/46749 LA eng DS MINDS@UW RD 29-mar-2024