Issue 21, 2021

Medicinal chemistry and biomedical applications of bismuth-based compounds and nanoparticles

Abstract

Bismuth as a relatively non-toxic and inexpensive metal with exceptional properties has numerous biomedical applications. Bismuth-based compounds are used extensively as medicines for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders including dyspepsia, gastric ulcers and H. pylori infections. Recently, its medicinal application was further extended to potential treatments of viral infection, multidrug resistant microbial infections, cancer and also imaging, drug delivery and biosensing. In this review we have highlighted the unique chemistry and biological chemistry of bismuth-209 as a prelude to sections covering the unique antibacterial activity of bismuth including a description of research undertaken to date to elucidate key molecular mechanisms of action against H. pylori, the development of novel compounds to treat infection from microbes beyond H. pylori and the significant role bismuth compounds can play as resistance breakers. Furthermore we have provided an account of the potential therapeutic application of bismuth-213 in targeted alpha therapy as well as a summary of the biomedical applications of bismuth-based nanoparticles and composites. Ultimately this review aims to provide the state of the art, highlight the untapped biomedical potential of bismuth and encourage original contributions to this exciting and important field.

Graphical abstract: Medicinal chemistry and biomedical applications of bismuth-based compounds and nanoparticles

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
06 May 2021
First published
17 Sep 2021

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2021,50, 12037-12069

Medicinal chemistry and biomedical applications of bismuth-based compounds and nanoparticles

D. M. Griffith, H. Li, M. V. Werrett, P. C. Andrews and H. Sun, Chem. Soc. Rev., 2021, 50, 12037 DOI: 10.1039/D0CS00031K

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements