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Redox-Responsive Drug Delivery Systems: A Chemical Perspective
Heba F Abed1, Waad H Abuwatfa2,3, Ghaleb A Husseini2,3
1Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 26666, United Arab Emirates.
Novel redox-responsive drug delivery systems offer a promising cancer treatment approach with targeted delivery and fewer side effects. Further research is needed to advance these systems for clinical cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cancer poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative treatments beyond conventional therapies with severe side effects.
- Current cancer treatments often lead to extensive systemic toxicity, highlighting the urgent need for safer and more effective therapeutic strategies.
- Redox-responsive drug delivery systems (DDSs) represent a promising avenue for cancer therapy, offering enhanced site-specific targeting and reduced off-target effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the tumor microenvironment's physiological and biochemical characteristics that enable redox-responsive drug delivery.
- To review recent advancements in the chemical composition and design of redox-responsive DDSs for cancer treatment.
- To identify key redox-responsive chemical entities and their application in various nanocarrier systems.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on tumor physiology and biochemistry relevant to redox-responsive DDSs.
- Analysis of chemical entities utilized in redox-responsive DDSs, including disulfide bonds, diselenide bonds, succinimide-thioether linkages, tetrasulfide bonds, and platin conjugates.
- Examination of disulfide-containing nanocarriers such as liposomes, polymeric micelles, and nanogels.
Main Results:
- Tumor-specific redox environments can be exploited for targeted drug release.
- Disulfide bonds are the most frequently employed redox-responsive element in DDSs.
- Various nanocarrier platforms (liposomes, micelles, nanogels) incorporating disulfide bonds have been developed.
Conclusions:
- Redox-responsive DDSs demonstrate significant potential for targeted cancer therapy with improved efficacy and reduced toxicity.
- Further research and development are crucial to translate these advanced drug delivery systems into clinical applications for cancer treatment.
- The reviewed chemical entities and nanocarrier designs provide a foundation for future innovation in oncology drug delivery.
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