Current Status and Future Prospects of Hydrogen Sulfide Donor-Based Delivery Systems

Nowadays, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is regarded as an endogenous gaseous signaling molecule in mammals. As a gas transmitter, it induces important biological effects in many physiological and pathological processes, and possesses great therapeutic potentials. However, this bioactive gas has concentration-related toxicity, rapid evaporation, and high reactivity, making it inconvenient to use as a therapeutic agent. As an exogenous source of H2S, various H2S donors are developed to release H2S after triggering the response under specific conditions, so as to supplement the level of H2S in the body. Meanwhile, to enhance the therapeutic efficacy and reduce the possible toxicities of the H2S donors, various new materials or methods for H2S delivery are studied, realizing sustained/controlled release profiles as well as achieving triggered, long-term, local or targeted delivery approaches for the gas. This review summarizes the representative H2S donors and the latest progress of hydrogen sulfide donor-based delivery systems, and the applications of such delivery systems in a series of target diseases that are suitable and expected to be treated by H2S, in order to provide reference for the design of secure and efficient H2S donor drug delivery system. In addition, the future of this field is also prospected.