Logical design and application of prodrug platforms

Accurate design and high drug-loading content are the two key points in designing high-performance cancer nanomedicines. Using common strategies for drug delivery systems (DDS), such as nanoparticle (NP)-mediated DDS, lipid nanocarrier-mediated DDS, and micelle-mediated DDS, it is difficult to meet the requirements for their translation into clinical applications because of the imprecise control of the conjugation sites and density. Using drug molecules to directly construct the delivery platform is a promising approach to precisely control the composition and molecular structure. The polyprodrug platform for disease treatment is an advanced strategy with a precise structure and a high drug-loading rate. This review summarizes the current state of prodrugs, especially the polyprodrug platform, and focuses on the logical design for clinical use and proposes some practical prospects for the future development of the prodrug platform.