Mutual prodrugs for colon targeting: A review

The goal of targeting drugs to a specific site or organ in the body is to achieve an ideal therapeutic effect with minimal harmful effects on the other components of the human body. In an effort to develop a unique drug delivery system with the capacity to release drugs precisely into the colon in a reproducible and predictable manner, a mutual prodrug design targeting the colon has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. The colon is an interesting area for both local and systemic medication delivery. A mutual prodrug is made up of two chemotherapeutic drugs: the first is considered as an original drug and the other is regarded as its transporter, both of which have an inherent synergistic or an additive therapeutic activity. Therefore, utilizing a mutual prodrug reduces the necessary dose, minimizing the adverse systemic effects, and consequently producing a more efficient therapy system. The goal of this review is to comprehend the importance of mutual prodrugs in the treatment of colon diseases, and also mention the most significant and efficient prodrugs in this field.