title: The Prodrug Approach: A Successful Tool for Improving Drug Solubility.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP-University Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara Jaú Km 01, 14801-902 Araraquara, São Paulo, Brasil. daniela.dhj@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniela Hartmann
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jornada
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP-University Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara Jaú Km 01, 14801-902 Araraquara, São Paulo, Brasil. guilhermefelipe@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Guilherme Felipe
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: dos Santos Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP-University Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara Jaú Km 01, 14801-902 Araraquara, São Paulo, Brasil. chiba.diego@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Diego Eidy
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP-University Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara Jaú Km 01, 14801-902 Araraquara, São Paulo, Brasil. trfmelo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Thais Regina Ferreira
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP-University Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara Jaú Km 01, 14801-902 Araraquara, São Paulo, Brasil. santosjl@fcfar.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Jean Leandro
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UNESP-University Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara Jaú Km 01, 14801-902 Araraquara, São Paulo, Brasil. chungmc@fcfar.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Man Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D011355:Prodrugs
keywords: molecular modification; prodrug; solubility; solubility of prodrugs; water-soluble prodrugs