Citation

Fattal E, Tsapis N, Phan G. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 2015; 90: 40-54.

Affiliation

Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PRP-Hom, SDI, Laboratoire de RadioChimie, 31 avenue de la Division Leclerc, 92260 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.addr.2015.06.009

PMID

26144994

Abstract

The possibility of accidents in the nuclear industry or of nuclear terrorist attacks makes the development of new decontamination strategies crucial. Among radionuclides, actinides such as uranium and plutonium and their different isotopes are considered as the most dangerous contaminants, plutonium displaying mostly a radiological toxicity whereas uranium exhibits mainly a chemical toxicity. Contamination occurs through ingestion, skin or lung exposure with subsequent absorption and distribution of the radionuclides to different tissues where they induce damaging effects. Different chelating agents have been synthesized but their efficacy is limited by their low tissular specificity and high toxicity. For these reasons, several groups have developed smart delivery systems to increase the local concentration of the chelating agent or to improve its biodistribution. The aim of this review is to highlight these strategies.

Language: en