Advances and applications of prodrug strategies in drug design

Of all the drugs launched on the market over the past decade, a substantial number of approved prodrugs have been significant, underscoring the importance of this prodrug to drug design. It is reported that 10% of all marketed drugs globally can be classified as prodrugs. The core goal of the prodrug strategy is to improve the undesirable properties of the drug molecule, including but not limited to insufficient solubility, low selectivity, poor chemical stability, poor taste, strong local irritation, significant pain, and possible systemic toxicity during metabolism in vivo. This review article includes the discussion of the phosphate prodrugs, ketone prodrugs, ester prodrugs, amide prodrugs, pH-responsive prodrugs, enzyme-activated prodrugs, carbamate prodrugs, liposomal prodrugs, and pleiotropic prodrugs. The latest research on prodrugs in the field of cancer, nano and antibacterial in recent years are also discussed. Through the research and application of the above chemical modification methods and the clinical application of prodrug technology in the fields of cancer treatment, nanotechnology, antimicrobial drugs, etc., researchers can design safer and more effective treatments to meet clinical needs and optimize the treatment experience of patients. At the same time, these studies not only confirm the importance of prodrug design in drug development, but also provide new ideas and methods for future drug design.