Disulfide Bond-Responsive Nanotherapeutic Systems for the Effective Payload in Cancer Therapy
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Updated: Dec 15, 2025
A Facile and Efficient Approach for the Production of Reversible Disulfide Cross-linked Micelles
Published on: December 23, 2016
Pravin Shende1, Gauraja Deshpande1
1Shobhaben Pratapbhai Patel School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, SVKM's NMIMS, V. L. Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai, India.
Background:
The progressive treatment of cancer using disulfide bond-based therapeutics offers improvement in therapeutic potency of active, reduction in adverse events, prolongation of drug release pattern and on-site action by interacting with neoplastic cell microenvironment.
Objective:
The objective of this article is to highlight the research carried out on disulfide bond-based drug delivery systems as a potential candidate for cancer treatment.
Methods:
The article provides an overview of the importance of disulfide bonds in cancer treatment in terms of their properties, mechanism of formation/fragmentation and applications. Properties of disulfide bonds, such as pKa, entropy, and dihedral angle contribute to the structural stability of the bonds in a nanotherapeutic system, while their formation and fragmentation are attributed to the presence of a high concentration of GSH in cancer cells. The article further focuses on various drug delivery systems like dendrimers, liposomes, micelles, etc. involving disulfide cross-linked polymers for the preparation of redox-responsive drug delivery systems.
Results:
The use of nanotechnology with disulfide bond creates an anticancer drug delivery system with higher target specificity, improved bioavailability, and good therapeutic efficacy.
Conclusion:
In the near future, the combination of DSB with active, cellular material, stem cell and biological fluid will be considered as a new thrust area for research in healthcare.
Insights
Disulfide bond-based therapeutics enhance cancer treatment by improving drug delivery and reducing side effects. These advanced systems offer targeted action and increased efficacy for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Oncology
Background:
- Disulfide bond-based therapeutics offer improved cancer treatment by enhancing potency, reducing adverse events, and enabling on-site action.
- These systems interact with the unique microenvironment of neoplastic cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight research on disulfide bond-based drug delivery systems for cancer treatment.
- To provide an overview of disulfide bonds' properties, mechanisms, and applications in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Exploration of disulfide bond properties (pKa, entropy, dihedral angle) for nanotherapeutic stability.
- Understanding disulfide bond formation/fragmentation driven by high glutathione (GSH) concentrations in cancer cells.
- Focus on drug delivery systems like dendrimers, liposomes, and micelles using disulfide cross-linked polymers for redox-responsive delivery.
Main Results:
- Nanotechnology combined with disulfide bonds creates anticancer drug delivery systems.
- These systems exhibit higher target specificity and improved bioavailability.
- Enhanced therapeutic efficacy is achieved through targeted drug delivery.
Conclusions:
- Disulfide bond-based drug delivery systems represent a promising approach for cancer therapy.
- Future research will explore combinations with cellular materials, stem cells, and biological fluids.
- This integration signifies a new research thrust area in healthcare.
