Dendrimer is one type of macromolecules with well-defined, highly-branched and nano-scaled architectures, composed of three distinct domains: core, branches and terminal groups. Its potential functions and applications are explored based on the unique physical and chemical features due to special molecular architecture. Using polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) as the core of dendrimers is an effective and facile way to simplify the tedious repetitive steps of preparation and separation. Since POSS allows eight branches to radiate from a silicon-oxygen rigid cubic core, the dendrimers can be constructed in a well-controlled globular, three-dimensional framework, and large numbers of peripheral groups can be obtained at relatively low generation numbers. As a kind of novel nano-hybrid supermolecules, POSS-based dendrimers have attracted considerable interest in materials science. In this review, we briefly introduce the synthetic approaches of some typical POSS-based dendrimers categorized by the different chemical composition of branching units, and then focus on the potential functions and applications of this nano-hybrid material in the fields of catalysis, gene and drug delivery, liquid crystals, light harvesting and energy transfer. The specific and excellent properties imparted by the incorporation of POSS into dendrimers are also presented. Finally, the advances of POSS-based dendrimers are prospected. Contents
1 Introduction
2 Synthesis of POSS-based dendrimers
2.1 POSS-carbosilane dendrimers
2.2 POSS-polypeptide dendrimers
2.3 POSS-PAMAM dendrimers
2.4 Other POSS-based dendrimers
3 Applications of POSS-based dendrimers
3.1 Catalyst
3.2 Biomaterials
3.3 Liquid crystals
3.4 Luminescent materials
4 Summary and Prospects