Dendrimer as antimicrobial agents

Abstract Antimicrobial resistance requires a new approach to its management. The polyvalent interactions of microorganisms with a certain target object are crucial for their existence and have many functional advantages. These interactions can be blocked effectively by an inhibitor that is polyvalent and multifunctional itself. A large number of reactive functional groups available in dendrimers gives great opportunities for targeted modification of their properties and allows multiple copies of a drug to unite in one molecule. This chapter discusses the microbiological activity of new fluorescent dendrimers based on poly(propylene imine) and that of poly(amidoamine) dendrimers, which facilitate good control over the processes of bacterial resistance and biofilm formation, and have been applied in the production of antimicrobial textile materials. Dendrimers mechanisms of action can be tailored subjecting them to interactions with different metal ions and to light irradiation, by modification with various fluorophores, as well as by encapsulation of nanoparticles. The textile materials loaded with the new compounds have demonstrated good prospects for application in the combat with resistant infections.