Platinum(IV) Prodrugs

Abstract

This chapter is an overview of recent progress in the design of Pt(IV) prodrugs. These kinetically-inert octahedral prodrugs can be reduced in cancer cells to active squareplanar Pt(II) complexes, for example by intracellular reducing agents such as glutathione or by photoexcitation. The additional axial ligands in Pt(IV) complexes which are released on reduction, allow bioactive molecules to be delivered which can act synergistically with Pt(II) in killing cancer cells, or act as targeting vectors, allow attachment to polymer and nanoparticle delivery systems, or labelling with fluorescent probes. Pt(IV) prodrugs have yet to be approved for clinical use, although some offer the promise of increased efficacy and reduced side effects.