Metal-based drugs. (1st March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McQuitty, Ruth
• Is Part Of: Science progress. Volume 97:Number 1(2014)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2014-03-01
• Subjects: Science -- Periodicals; Research; Science; Science; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.3184/003685014X13898980185076
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0036-8504

Abstract

Metals have been considered for millennia to have medicinal values. With the advent of modern medicine, many metal-based drugs have proven to be highly effective in the clinic. Many different metal ions have shown activity against a range of diseases. The unique electronic structure of transition metals offers great versatility, not always seen in organic drugs, in terms of the ability to tune the properties of a given molecule. This review gives a brief overview of the most established therapeutic metals, and their more common applications, such as platinum-based anticancer drugs. New developments within the field of metallodrugs and novel strategies being employed to improve methods of delivery, are also discussed.