Tissue selectivity
Tissue selectivity refers to the ability of a drug or other therapeutic agent to affect specific tissues more than others. This property is often exploited in drug design to increase the effectiveness of a drug while minimizing side effects.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Tissue selectivity is a key factor in the development of many drugs. It allows for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to specific tissues, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the drug and reducing the risk of side effects. This is particularly important in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, where the aim is to destroy cancerous cells without harming healthy ones.
Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]
The mechanism of action of tissue selective drugs often involves the interaction with specific receptors or enzymes that are predominantly expressed in the target tissue. For example, Tamoxifen, a drug used in the treatment of breast cancer, is selective for estrogen receptors that are overexpressed in breast cancer cells.
Advantages and Disadvantages[edit | edit source]
The main advantage of tissue selectivity is the potential to increase the effectiveness of a drug while reducing side effects. However, there are also potential disadvantages. For example, if a drug is too selective, it may not affect all the cells in a tumor, leading to incomplete treatment. Furthermore, the development of tissue selective drugs can be more complex and costly than the development of non-selective drugs.
Examples[edit | edit source]
There are many examples of tissue selective drugs. These include Tamoxifen for breast cancer, Finasteride for benign prostatic hyperplasia, and Salmeterol for asthma.
Future Directions[edit | edit source]
The development of more tissue selective drugs is a key area of research in pharmacology. Advances in our understanding of the molecular basis of disease, coupled with advances in drug delivery technologies, are likely to lead to the development of more effective and safer drugs in the future.
| Tissue selectivity Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
