Self-immolative chemistry in nanomedicine

TL;DR

This review explores the potential of self-immolative chemistry in nanomedicine, highlighting current applications in drug delivery and emphasizing future research opportunities in stimuli-responsive nanomaterials.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of self-immolative chemistry applications in nanomedicine and encourages new research directions in this emerging field.

Findings

Examples of self-immolative chemistry in drug delivery systems

Identification of current research gaps and opportunities

Potential for stimuli-responsive nanomedicine applications

Abstract

Self-Immolative Chemistry is based on the cascade of disassembling reactions triggered by the adequate stimulation and leading to the sequential release of the smaller constituent elements. This review will focus on the possibilities that this type of chemistry offers to nanomedicine research, which is an area where the stimuli responsive behavior is always targeted. There are some examples on the use of self-immolative chemistry for prodrugs or nanoparticles for drug delivery, but there is still an exciting land of opportunities waiting to be explored. This review aims at revising what has been done so far, but, most importantly, it aims at inspiring new research of self-immolative chemistry on nanomedicine.