Phenylboronic acid in targeted cancer therapy and diagnosis

Over the past few decades, phenylboronic acid (PBA) and its derivatives have gained attention for their biological activity. More recently, they have gained interest for their application in targeted cancer therapy, owing to their ability to selectively and reversibly bind to sialic acids on the cell surface through the formation of boron ester bonds. Initially, the research was focused on the antitumor properties of simple PBA derivatives. However, it has since expanded to include more complex nanomaterials and drug-delivery systems that exploit the unique properties of PBA for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the physico-chemical background of PBA-based drugs in cancer therapy, provides insight into recent advancements in PBA-based systems for targeted drug delivery and their role in improving antitumor efficacy, and offers a perspective on future research and development in the field.