The Prodrug Approach: A Successful Tool for Improving Drug Solubility.
Molecules 2015;
21:42. [PMID:
26729077 PMCID:
PMC6273601 DOI:
10.3390/molecules21010042]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Prodrug design is a widely known molecular modification strategy that aims to optimize the physicochemical and pharmacological properties of drugs to improve their solubility and pharmacokinetic features and decrease their toxicity. A lack of solubility is one of the main obstacles to drug development. This review aims to describe recent advances in the improvement of solubility via the prodrug approach. The main chemical carriers and examples of successful strategies will be discussed, highlighting the advances of this field in the last ten years.
Collapse