Synthesis and biodisposition of dendrimer composite nanoparticles

Multifunctional nanoparticles designed to navigate around the human body are promising as vehicles for intelligent drug delivery, as devices for imaging, and as medical sensors to detect and diagnose disease. However, very little is known about the in vivo interactions of nanoparticles with cells and biologic systems. In this chapter, synthesis of dendrimer composite nanoparticles and recent efforts to understand complex nanoparticle biodisposition including PK/PD modeling are described. The chapter summarizes the synthesis and primary physicochemical and biologically relevant properties of gold/dendrimer composites and the potential for utilizing physiologically based mathematical models for nanoparticles. Controlling pharmacokinetics will be essential to interpret property-exposure-response relationships, rationalize the design and development of targeted nanodevice systems, and generate nanoparticle-based delivery systems for anticancer therapy and imaging.