Molecular modification is chemical alteration of a known and previously characterized lead compound for the purpose of enhancing its usefulness as a drug. This could mean enhancing its specificity for a particular body target site, increasing its potency, improving its rate and extent of absorption, modifying to advantage its time course in the body, reducing its toxicity, changing its physical or chemical properties (like solubility) to provide desired features.
Molecular modification is used to enhance drug’s water solubility by incorporating water solubilizing groups in its structure. The discussion of the introduction of water solubilizing groups into the structure of a lead compound can be conveniently broken down into four general areas:
- The type of group introduced;
- Whether the introduction is reversible or irreversible;
- The position of incorporation; and
- The chemical route of introduction.
Read more about Molecular Modification: The Type of Group, Reversibly and Irreversibly Attached Groups, The Position of The Water Solubilizing Group, Methods of Introduction, Acidic and Basic Groups