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Prodrug strategies for targeted therapy triggered by reactive oxygen species

Jorge Peiró Cadahía1, Viola Previtali2, Nikolaj S Troelsen2

  • 1Nuevolution A/S , Rønnegade 8 , 2100 Copenhagen , Denmark.

Medchemcomm
|November 2, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) trigger innovative prodrug strategies for targeted cancer and inflammation treatments. This review explores ROS-responsive prodrugs, highlighting progress and future clinical directions.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels are linked to diseases like cancer and inflammation.
  • ROS can be leveraged as a stimulus for advanced drug delivery systems.
  • Prodrug strategies utilizing ROS-sensitivity offer enhanced treatment selectivity and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of ROS-responsive prodrugs developed over the last decade.
  • To analyze the current advancements and inherent limitations in ROS-sensitive prodrug technology.
  • To identify key unanswered questions for the clinical translation of this approach.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of ROS-responsive prodrugs.
  • Analysis of identified ROS-sensitive functionalities.
  • Discussion of disease-targeting properties in small molecule drugs.

Main Results:

  • Numerous ROS-sensitive functionalities have been identified for prodrug design.
  • ROS-responsive prodrugs demonstrate potential for improved therapeutic outcomes.
  • The development of these prodrugs is an active area of research.

Conclusions:

  • ROS-responsive prodrugs represent a promising strategy for targeted therapy.
  • Further research is needed to overcome current limitations and advance clinical application.
  • Addressing specific unanswered questions is crucial for the successful translation of ROS-sensitive prodrugs to the clinic.

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