| Summary: | Introduction: Multifunctional dendrimers are emerging as promising solutions to the current dilemma of drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS). Herein, we are proposing the use of carboxymethylchito- san (CMCht)-grafted PAMAM dendrimer nanoparticles (NP) to provide a targeted and sustained methylprednisolone (MP) release to CNS cells. MP is widely used following neurotrauma and neuroinflammation, however its actions are accompanied by deleterious effects. Despite recent research on nanomedicine, basic knowledge on the interactions of NP with living systems is still sparse. Thus, the interaction of MP-NP with the astrocyte membrane and its intracellular trafficking were investigated using a new combination of techniques, namely patch-- clamp electrophysiology and live confocal imaging.
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