Reactive oxygen species responsive nanoplatforms as smart drug delivery systems for gastrointestinal tract targeting

Biopolymers. 2020 Jan;111(1):e23336. doi: 10.1002/bip.23336. Epub 2019 Nov 14.

Abstract

The pharmacological therapy for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, continues to present challenges in targeting efficacy. The need for maximal local drug exposure at the inflamed regions of the GI tract has led research to focus on a disease-targeted drug delivery approach. Smart nanomaterials responsive to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrated in the inflamed areas, can be formulated into nanoplatforms to selectively release the active compounds, avoiding unspecific drug delivery to healthy tissues and limiting systemic absorption. Recent developments of ROS-responsive nanoplatforms include combination with other materials to obtain multi-responsive systems and modifications/derivatization to increase the interactions with biological tissues, cell uptake and targeting. This review describes the applications of ROS-responsive nanosystems for on-demand drug delivery to the GI tract.

Keywords: gastrointestinal tract drug delivery; irritable bowel disease; oxidation-responsive materials; stimuli-responsive nanocarriers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / metabolism
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / therapeutic use
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Enzymes
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / drug effects*
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / metabolism
  • Nanoparticles / therapeutic use
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / chemistry
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Enzymes
  • Reactive Oxygen Species