There are a wide range of dendrimers with differing building blocks. PAMAM dendrimers are the most widely studied dendrimers, and can be potential model systems for understanding interactions between nanoscale materials and tissues. At the Center for Nanomedicine at Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins Medicine, our goal is to develop translational applications for dendrimer-based drug delivery approaches. Our research focuses on three aspects, to build tailored dendrimer nanodevices for specific clinical applications: (1) understanding the intrinsic biodistribution properties of dendrimers, to learn about the cells types and disease processes that are natural targets for dendrimers. We do this by working with many animal models, using in vivo imaging techniques such as Positron emission tomography, MRI, along with tissue imaging and quantification; (2) understanding and tailoring drug release profiles from dendrimer-drug nanodevices, to suit specific applications. (3) develop platform technologies focused on neuroinflammatory disorders such as retinal degeneration, cerebral palsy and others.

Selected Recent Publications

1. 'Dendrimer-based targeted intravitreal therapy for sustained attenuation of neuroinflammation in retinal degeneration', R. Iezzi, B. Raja Guru, I. Glybina, M. Mishra, A.Kennedy, R.M. Kannan. Biomaterials, 33(3) 978 (2011)
2. ‘Dendrimer-Based Drug and Imaging Conjugates: Design Considerations for Nanomedical Applications’, A.Menjoge, R.M.Kannan, D.Tomalia, Invited Foundation review, Drug Discovery Today, 15(5),171-185 (2010).
3. ‘Injectable PAMAM dendrimer-PEG hydrogels for the treatment of ascending genital infections: Formulation, in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation’, A. Menjoge, R. Navath, H.Dai, A. Abbas, R.Romero, S.Kannan, R.M.Kannan, Molecular Pharmaceutics, 8(4):1209-1223 (2011).
4. ’Multifunctional Dendrimer-templated Antibody Presentation on Biosensor Surfaces for Improved Biomarker Detection’, H.Han, R.M.Kannan, S.Wang, G.Z.Mao, J.P.Kusanovic, R.Romero, Advanced Functional Materials, 19, 1–13 (2009).
5. ‘Drug release mechanisms and kinetics from dendrimer-drug conjugates with glutathione sensitive linkers’, Emre, YK, R. Navath, B. Wang, R. Romero, S. Kannan, RM Kannan, Biomaterials, 30, 2112-2121 (2009).
6. ‘PAMAM dendrimer-azithromycin conjugate nanodevices for the treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis Infections’, M. Mishra, K. Kotta, M. Hali, S. Wykes, I. Benchaala, H. Gerard, A. Hudson, J. Whittum-Hudson, R M. Kannan, Nanomedicine (NBM), 7(6), 935 (2011).
7. ‘Transfer of PAMAM dendrimers across the human placenta: prospects for use as drug carrier during pregnancy’, A.R.Menjoge, A. Rinderknecht, R.Navath, M.Faridnia, R.Romero, R.Miller, R.M. Kannan, Journal of Controlled Release, 150(3), 326-338 (2011)
8. ’Intrinsic targeting of neuroinflammation by polyamidoamine dendrimers in a rabbit model of cerebral palsy’ H.Dai, R.Navath, B.Balakrishnan, B.Raja Guru, M.Mishra, R.Romero, R.M.Kannan, S.Kannan, Future Medicine:Nanomedicine,5(9), 1317-1329 (2010)
9. 'Inhibition of bacterial growth and intramniotic infection in a guinea pig model of chorioamnionitis using PAMAM dendrimers', B. Wang, R.Navath, A.Menjoge, B.Balakrishnan, R.Bellair, H.Dai, R.Romero, S.Kannan, R.M.Kannan, Int. J. Pharm., 395(1-2), 298-308 (2010).
10. ‘Amino acid functionalized dendrimers with hetero-bifunctional chemoselective peripheral groups for drug delivery’, R.Navath, A.Menjoge, B.Wang, R.Romero, S.Kannan, R.M.Kannan, Biomacromolecules, 11 (6), 1544–1563 (2010)
11. ‘Transport and Biodistribution of Dendrimers Across Human Fetal Membranes: Implications for Intravaginal Administration of Dendrimers’, A. R. Menjoge, R. S. Navath, A. Asad, S. Kannan, C. J. Kim, R.Romero, R. M. Kannan, Biomaterials, 31(8), 5007-5021 (2010).