Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Responsive Prodrugs, Probes, and Theranostic Prodrugs: Applications in the ROS-Related Diseases

Abstract

Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have commonly been implicated in a variety of diseases, including cancer, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases. In light of significant differences in ROS levels between the nonpathogenic and pathological tissues, an increasing number of ROS-responsive prodrugs, probes, and theranostic prodrugs have been developed for the targeted treatment and precise diagnosis of ROS-related diseases. This review will summarize and provide insight into recent advances in ROS-responsive prodrugs, fluorescent probes, and theranostic prodrugs, with applications to different ROS-related diseases and various subcellular organelle-targetable and disease-targetable features. The ROS-responsive moieties, the self-immolative linkers, and the typical activation mechanism for the ROS-responsive release are also summarized and discussed.

Sono‐Controllable and ROS‐Sensitive CRISPR‐Cas9 Genome Editing for Augmented/Synergistic Ultrasound Tumor Nanotherapy

“…The thioether bonds in the modified TK molecules can be readily cleaved by 1 O 2 , [29] thus enabling the on-demand release of Cas9/sgRNA triggered by US irradiation (Figure 3f). Considering the ability of P/M@CasMTH1 to efficiently produce 1 O 2 , the in vitro release behavior of Cas9/sgRNA complexes from P/M@CasMTH1 triggered by US irradiation was evaluated.…”

Targeting Reactive Oxygen Species Capacity of Tumor Cells with Repurposed Drug as an Anticancer Therapy

“…Cancer cells thrive on levels of ROS that are moderately higher than those in their normal counterparts; this feature renders ROS-responsive photodynamic therapy can reach good results. Up to now, new ROS-responsive prodrugs, probes, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity theranostic prodrugs, and nanotheranostics that allow for the monitoring of ROS with temporal and spatial specificity have been developed for the targeted treatment and precise diagnosis of cancer and selectively killing tumor cells [172,173]. In fact, ROS-responsive prodrug strategies have been successfully used to modify clinically platinum-based drugs, showing enhanced therapeutic efficacy and reduced side effects [174,175].…”

Terpyridine copper(ii) complexes as potential anticancer agents by inhibiting cell proliferation, blocking the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis in BEL-7402 cells

“…This observation revealed that complex 1 caused the overproduction of intracellular ROS, which would lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and further induce tumor cell apoptosis. 58,59 Complexes 2-4 also significantly increased the level of ROS in the cells (Fig. S20 †).…”