Advances of enzymes in the applications of disease treatment and drug preparation.

Author: Rui ZHOU ¹ ; Xin LIU ¹ ; Bo ZENG ¹ ; Wei JIANG ¹ ; Guangya ZHANG ¹
Author Information

1. Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, Fujian, China.
Publication Type:Review
Keywords: biocatalysis; enzymatic synthesis of drugs; new therapeutic enzymes; pharmaceutical enzymes
MeSH: Biocatalysis; Biotechnology; Catalysis; Drug Compounding; Enzymes/metabolism*
From: Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2021;37(7):2256-2271
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: The development of biotechnology and the in-depth research on disease mechanisms have led to increased application of enzymes in the treatment of diseases. In addition, enzymes have shown great potential in drug manufacturing, particularly in production of non-natural organic compounds, due to the advantages of mild reaction conditions, high catalytic efficiency, high specificity, high selectivity and few side reactions. Moreover, the application of genetic engineering, chemical modification of enzymes and immobilization technologies have further improved the function of enzymes. This review summarized the advances of using enzymes as drugs for disease treatment or as catalysts for drug manufacturing, followed by discussing challenges, potential solutions and future perspectives on the application of enzymes in the medical and pharmaceutical field.