Methotrexate delivery via folate targeted dendrimer-based nanotherapeutic platform

This paper provides a synopsis of the advancements made in advancing a dendrimer-based nanomedicine towards human clinical trials by the Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences. A brief description of the synthesis and characterization of a targeted multifunctional therapeutic will demonstrate the simple yet delicate task of producing novel chemotherapeutic agents. The results obtained from in vitro and in vivo studies not only authenticate the potential of using nanoparticles to target therapeutics but also provide valuable insight towards the future directions of this technology. A fundamental, cross-disciplinary collaboration was necessary to achieve the synthesis and testing of this technology, and was the keystone to establishing this innovative invention. Throughout this paper, we will stress that the unique collaboration that facilitated the evolution of this technology is vital to the success of future developments in nanomedicine. (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2009 1 502-510