Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 11, 2025

Regioselective O-Glycosylation of Nucleosides via the Temporary 2',3'-Diol Protection by a Boronic Ester for the Synthesis of Disaccharide Nucleosides
08:46

Regioselective O-Glycosylation of Nucleosides via the Temporary 2',3'-Diol Protection by a Boronic Ester for the Synthesis of Disaccharide Nucleosides

Published on: July 26, 2018

8.8K

Oligonucleotides Carrying Nucleoside Antimetabolites as Potential Prodrugs

Carme Fàbrega1,2, Anna Clua1,2, Ramon Eritja1,2

  • 1Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.

Current Medicinal Chemistry
|November 30, 2021
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Nucleoside antimetabolites are being explored as prodrugs using modified oligonucleotides. This strategy leverages therapeutic oligonucleotides and nanomedicine for enhanced cancer treatment and biomedical applications.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Nanomedicine
  • Therapeutic Drug Development

Background:

  • Nucleoside and nucleobase antimetabolites are key chemotherapeutic agents.
  • Prodrug strategies aim to minimize side effects of these agents.
  • Oligonucleotides modified with antimetabolites represent an emerging prodrug approach.

Approach:

  • Utilizing enzymatic degradation within cells to release active nucleotides.
  • Integrating therapeutic oligonucleotides with advances in nanomaterials and nanomedicine.
  • Developing novel DNA nanostructures and protein nanoparticles for targeted delivery.

Key Points:

  • Chemically modified aptamers, antisense oligonucleotides, and siRNA show potential due to synergistic effects.
  • DNA nanostructures can combine antimetabolites with cellular uptake enhancers.
  • Functionalized protein nanoparticles offer a new strategy for effective cancer therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Oligonucleotides carrying nucleoside antimetabolites are promising for future biomedical applications.
  • This prodrug strategy enhances the therapeutic potential of antimetabolites.
Keywords:
Antimetabolitesantiproliferative oligomerscytarabinefloxuridinegemcitabinehomopolymersnanomedicinenucleosides

More Related Videos

Nucleoside Triphosphates - From Synthesis to Biochemical Characterization15:22

Nucleoside Triphosphates - From Synthesis to Biochemical Characterization

Published on: April 3, 2014

17.3K
Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids09:04

Sequence-specific and Selective Recognition of Double-stranded RNAs over Single-stranded RNAs by Chemically Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids

Published on: September 21, 2017

9.7K

Related Concept Videos

Prodrugs01:30

Prodrugs

Prodrugs are a class of pharmaceutical compounds that undergo a biotransformation process within the body to be converted into a pharmacologically active drug. Prodrugs are designed to improve the therapeutic properties of the parent drug, such as enhancing bioavailability, increasing stability, or reducing toxicity. The concept of prodrugs revolves around modifying the chemical structure of the original drug to make it more effective or convenient for administration.
Prodrugs help overcome...
3.3K
Drug Metabolism: Phase II Reactions01:14

Drug Metabolism: Phase II Reactions

Phase II reactions are essential for the detoxification and elimination of drugs from the body. These reactions involve the conjugation of parent drugs or their phase I metabolites with endogenous molecules, resulting in more hydrophilic drug conjugates. The primary conjugation reactions in this phase are sulfation and glucuronidation. Both sulfation and glucuronidation typically produce biologically inactive metabolites. However, in some cases involving prodrugs, active metabolites may be...
4.4K
Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids01:28

Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acid biosynthesis is a fundamental biochemical process that produces the purine and pyrimidine nucleotides essential for DNA and RNA synthesis. This pathway maintains a balanced nucleotide pool, preventing imbalances that could jeopardize genetic integrity and cellular function. Given the crucial role of nucleotides, their synthesis is tightly regulated to ensure proper cellular homeostasis.Purine BiosynthesisThe biosynthesis of purine nucleotides begins with ribose-5-phosphate, a...
298
Nucleic Acid Structure01:25

Nucleic Acid Structure

The pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the pentose sugar is ribose. The difference between the sugars is the presence of the hydroxyl group on the ribose's second carbon and a hydrogen on the deoxyribose's second carbon. The phosphate residue attaches to the hydroxyl group of the 5′ carbon of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of the 3′ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide, which forms  a 5′ to 3′ phosphodiester linkage.
DNA Structure
DNA...
7.5K
Phase II Reactions: Miscellaneous Conjugation Reactions01:19

Phase II Reactions: Miscellaneous Conjugation Reactions

Phase II biotransformations are detoxification mechanisms that conjugate xenobiotics with endogenous substances, neutralizing their toxicity.
A key example involves the conjugation of cyanide ions, which impair cellular respiration and alter hemoglobin into non-oxygen-carrying cyanmethemoglobin. To neutralize this threat, a sulfur atom from thiosulphate is transferred to the cyanide ion, catalyzed by the enzyme rhodanese, resulting in an inactive compound called thiocyanate. The production of...
157
Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism01:27

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
5.1K