Recent advances in the redox-responsive drug delivery nanoplatforms: A chemical structure and physical property perspective

Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2021 Jan:118:111536. doi: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.111536. Epub 2020 Sep 23.

Abstract

Poor water solubility, off-target toxicity, and small therapeutic window are among major obstacles for the development of drug products. Redox-responsive drug delivery nanoplatforms not only overcome the delivery and pharmacokinetic pitfalls observed in conventional drug delivery, but also leverage the site-specific delivery properties. Cleavable diselenide and disulfide bonds in the presence of elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione concentration are among widely used stimuli-responsive bonds to design nanocarriers. This review covers a wide range of redox-responsive chemical structures and their properties for designing nanoparticles aiming controlled loading, delivery, and release of hydrophobic anticancer drugs at tumor site.

Keywords: Cleavable linkers; Drug delivery; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticle; Redox-responsive.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents*
  • Drug Carriers
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations