Metallodendrimers are investigated as equivalents to nanoparticles. Applications can be expected in the fields of catalysis, as chemical sensors in molecular recognition - for example of bromine and chloride anions  - or as materials capable of binding metals. Metallodendrimers can also mimic certain biomolecules for example haemoprotein in dendrimer with a porphyrin core. Further uses are reported as electrocatalyst.
Examples of metallodendrimer heterogeneous catalysis are a nickel-containing dendrimer active in the Kharasch addition, palladium-containing dendrimers active in ethylene  polymerization and in the Heck reaction.