Stem cells can be used to repair dysfunctional and injured (or cancerous) tissues by delivering therapeutics. However, in comparison with other cells, it is harder to transfect drugs or genes into stem cells. Dendrimers have been considered as efficient vectors to deliver both genes and drugs to stem cells due to their unique properties including adjustable molecular weight and size, low toxicity, high loading capacity, and having multiple peripheral chemical agents which can be functionalized to improve deliverance efficiency. In this review, we discuss dendrimer-mediated drug and gene delivery to stem cells as cellular vehicles and the role of this strategy in treating a variety of disorders via regenerative medicine approaches.
Keywords: dendrimers; drug delivery; engineered stem cell; gene delivery; labeling stem cells.
© 2021 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.