Table 3.

Dendrimers to deliver anti-inflammatory agents.

Drug or Genetic Cargos	Modification	In Vitro or In Vivo	Reference
Nitric oxide (NO)	Dendrimer surface modified with 18 NO-releasing moieties.	In vitro	[152]
N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)	Triphenyl-phosphonium ligand modification enables mitochondrial targeting delivery of NAC.	In vitro and in vivo	[142,144]
-	Surface decoration with carbohydrate-based targeting moieties contributes to the macrophage-targeting ability of nanoparticles.	In vitro	[153]
-	Increased cellular uptake of mannose-conjugated dendrimers preferentially by injured microglia through mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis.	In vitro and in vivo	[154]
N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)	The penetration enhancer Capmul MCM (glycerol monocaprylate) benefited in designing oral formulations of NAC.	In vitro and in vivo	[155]
Dexamethasone	Hyaluronic acid-conjugated dendrimers were synthesized as a subconjunctival injectable gel.	In vitro and in vivo	[146]
N-acetyl-L-cysteine	Positive therapeutic effects in the fetus and the newborn upon intra-amniotic administration.	In vivo	[143]
Triamcinolone acetonide	Inhibition of nerve injury-induced microglial activation and reduced neuropathic pain upon intrathecal administration.	In vitro and in vivo	[156]
-	Intravenous or intravitreally administered dendrimers could be a safer drug delivery approach compared to the current therapy, which requires direct injection in the eye.	In vivo	[157]
PEGylated PAMAM-Based Dendrimers
Scutellarin	Dual targetability owing to angiopepsin-2 and N-acetylated proline-glycine-proline (PGP), which selectively bind with LRP in BBB endothelial cells and CXCR2 in infiltrating neutrophils respectively.	In vitro and in vivo	[158]
-	Folate-conjugated dendrimers target the folate-receptor positive macrophages which play a significant role in mediating inflammatory response.	In vitro and in vivo	[159]
Phosphorus-Based Dendrimers
TNF-α siRNA	The cationic phosphorus dendrimers were modified with either pyrrolidinium or morpholinium terminal groups in order to improve biocompatibility of dendrimers and complexation with siRNA.	In vitro and in vivo	[141]