Nanocarrier-based antioxidant therapy: promise or delusion?

Abstract

Introduction: Oxidative stress has generally been recognized as an important factor in the pathogenesis of human diseases, making antioxidant therapy a plausible strategy to either prevent or treat human disorders. Yet so far, numerous antioxidant-based clinical trials aimed at developing clinically approved protocols have been disappointing and many reasons for their failure are being discussed, including the limited bioavailability of most antioxidants. To overcome the hurdles associated with the direct administration of antioxidant molecules, a variety of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems are being developed. All the strategies currently being explored, however, appear in our opinion to underappreciate the crucial role reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RO/NS) play in the regulation of the metabolome, as revealed by recent progress made in redox biology.

Areas covered: We briefly review antioxidant-based clinical trials and discuss the functions of RO/NS as crucial intracellular messengers. We emphasize the probable existence of three distinct concentration levels of RO/NS: a physiological level reflecting their functions as messenger molecules, an elevated level crucial for activation of protective pathways and a toxic level causing oxidative damage to cellular components.

Expert opinion: Site-specific, multifunctional nanodrug delivery systems able to sense the actual intracellular concentrations of RO/NS and release antioxidants accordingly in order to only neutralize the pathologic excess of RO/NS need to be developed.

Keywords:

• antioxidant delivery
• antioxidant therapy
• clinical trials
• oxidative stress
• reactive oxygen species

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Notes

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