Molecules (Dec 2015)

The Prodrug Approach: A Successful Tool for Improving Drug Solubility

  • Daniela Hartmann Jornada,
  • Guilherme Felipe dos Santos Fernandes,
  • Diego Eidy Chiba,
  • Thais Regina Ferreira de Melo,
  • Jean Leandro dos Santos,
  • Man Chin Chung

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21010042
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 1
p. 42

Abstract

Read online

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.

Keywords