AUTHOR=Eras Alexis , Castillo Danna , Suárez Margarita , Vispo Nelson Santiago , Albericio Fernando , Rodriguez Hortensia TITLE=Chemical Conjugation in Drug Delivery Systems JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry VOLUME=10 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2022.889083 DOI=10.3389/fchem.2022.889083 ISSN=2296-2646 ABSTRACT=

Cancer is one of the diseases with the highest mortality rate. Treatments to mitigate cancer are usually so intense and invasive that they weaken the patient to cure as dangerous as the own disease. From some time ago until today, to reduce resistance generated by the constant administration of the drug and improve its pharmacokinetics, scientists have been developing drug delivery system (DDS) technology. DDS platforms aim to maximize the drugs’ effectiveness by directing them to reach the affected area by the disease and, therefore, reduce the potential side effects. Erythrocytes, antibodies, and nanoparticles have been used as carriers. Eleven antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) involving covalent linkage has been commercialized as a promising cancer treatment in the last years. This review describes the general features and applications of DDS focused on the covalent conjugation system that binds the antibody carrier to the cytotoxic drug.