Progress and perspective on hydrogen sulfide donors and their biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Science
• Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is recognized as the third endogenous gasotransmitter, alongside nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO).
• Emerging research highlights H₂S's significant preventive and therapeutic potential across various pathological conditions.
• The development of effective H₂S-based therapeutics is crucial for advancing biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)-releasing agents (H₂S donors).
• To categorize and analyze H₂S donors, detailing their mechanisms, applications, and therapeutic value.
• To discuss challenges and future directions for multifunctional H₂S donors in biomedicine.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing studies on H₂S donors.
• Categorization of H₂S-releasing compounds based on their mechanisms.
• Comparative analysis of different H₂S donors, including their advantages and limitations.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of various H₂S donors, their chemical properties, and H₂S-releasing mechanisms.
• Discussion of the validated theranostic potential of H₂S donors in diverse in vitro and in vivo models.
• Identification of drawbacks and limitations associated with current H₂S donor technologies.

Conclusions:

• H₂S donors are vital tools for understanding H₂S physiology and developing novel therapeutics.
• Further research into multifunctional H₂S donors is needed to overcome existing challenges.
• This review aims to foster innovation in H₂S-based biomedicine across multiple scientific disciplines.