Synthesis and Applications of Dendrimer-Based Inorganic Nanoparticles

Dendrimer has several unique properties, including well-defined and highly branched three-dimension structures, uniform size, internal space, substantial number of surface groups, and so forth. Thus, dendrimer has potential applications in catalysis, sensing, and biomedical applications. To improve or achieve these applications, inorganic nanoparticles are incorporated to generate dendrimer-based inorganic nanoparticles. On the other hand, the presence of dendrimers can inhibit the aggregation and improve the stability of inorganic nanoparticles in solution, preserving the excellent properties of these nanoparticles. Over the past decades, dendrimer-based inorganic nanoparticles have attracted wide attention of many researchers owing to their excellent properties and potential applications. Based on the distinct structures, dendrimer-based inorganic nanoparticles have three categories: (1) dendrimer-encapsulated inorganic nanoparticles; (2) dendrimer-stabilized inorganic nanoparticles; (3) dendron-stabilized inorganic nanoparticles. Here we review the advances of the synthesis and applications of dendrimer-based inorganic nanoparticles mainly in recent five years, focusing on catalysis, sensing and biomedical applications. And we outlook the future development of dendrimer-based inorganic nanoparticles.