Dendrimers,　as　a　type　of　artificial　polymers　with　unique　structural　features,　have　been　extensively　explored　for　their　applications　in　biomedical　fields,　especially　in　drug　delivery.　However,　one　important　concern　about　the　most　commonly　used　dendrimers　exists　-　the　nondegradability,　which　may　cause　side　effects　induced　by　the　accumulation　of　synthetic　polymers　in　cells　or　tissues.　Therefore,　biodegradable　dendrimers　incorporating　biodegradability　with　merits　of　dendrimers　such　as　well-defined　architectures,　copious　internal　cavities　and　surface　functionalities,　are　much　more　promising　for　developing　novel　nontoxic　drug　carriers.　Herein,　we　review　the　recent　advances　in　design　and　synthesis　of　biodegradable　dendrimers,　as　well　as　their　applications　in　fabricating　drug　delivery　systems,　with　the　aim　to　provide　researchers　in　the　related　fields　a　good　understanding　of　biodegradable　dendrimers　for　drug　delivery.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.