From Design to Outcome: The Role of Bi- and Multifunctional Ligands in Modern Therapeutics

The multifunctional strategy offers significant benefits in developing highly selective targeting biomolecules for therapeutics, diagnostics, dynamics studies, or mapping processes in various environments. Bioorthogonal reactions constitute an engineering approach enabling the attachment of ligands targeting receptors involved in numerous physiological dysfunctions onto multifunctional scaffolds. Herein, the latest generation of derivatized probes are overviewed for high-resolution screening in diagnosis or treatment. These compounds also represent valuable tools for investigating physiological roles, filling the gap of information in the mechanism of understanding various receptors and contributing to the design of effective drugs. Strategic linker design enhances ligand properties when developing dual-modality probes, impacting their effectiveness across applications. Nanoparticles are emerging as revolutionary concepts, offering promising solutions to address limitations in the field and paving the way for advanced therapeutic approaches and improved drug delivery systems.