Research Progress in the Field of Hydrogen Sulfide Donors in the Last Five Years

Abstract

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) serves as the third gasotransmitter, crucial in various physiological processes involving its production and metabolism. Elevated levels of H2S can result in acute or chronic poisoning, whereas lower concentrations are involved in regulating diverse physiological and pathological activities within the human body. Moreover, it actively participates in maintaining normal cellular function by exerting cell protection and anti‐apoptotic effects. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted to explore the physiological significance of H2S and its potential applications in developing prodrugs. To further unravel the biological and clinical potential of H2S, H2S donors have gained widespread utilization. These compounds facilitate our understanding of the specific functional aspects governed by H2S and hold promise as potential therapeutic agents. Therefore, it is necessary to study H2S as a delivery vehicle at the cellular and in vivo levels. This review provides an overview of advancements made over the past five years regarding H2S donors and their applications in biology, encompassing indirectly released donors of carbonyl sulfide (COS), directly released small molecule donors, Nanocomposite scaffolds, and hydrogels.