PC cleavable linkers are a type of small molecule linker used in drug discovery and development. These linkers contain a cleavable bond that can be selectively broken in the presence of a specific enzyme, known as a protease. Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins, and they are present in a variety of biological systems, including in certain types of cancer cells.
PC cleavable linkers are used to create targeted drugs that can be delivered specifically to cancer cells, while minimizing damage to healthy cells. When a PC cleavable linker is attached to a drug molecule, it can be designed to be cleaved only by a specific protease that is overexpressed in cancer cells. This allows the drug to be released selectively in cancer cells, where it can exert its therapeutic effect.
There are several different types of PC cleavable linkers, including those that are cleaved by caspases, matrix metalloproteinases, and other proteases. The choice of linker will depend on the specific protease that is present in the target tissue, as well as on the properties of the drug molecule that is being delivered.
