Evaluation of new melatonin-related thioureas and their metal complexes as potential trypanocidal agents: synthesis and characterization

• Grant number: 19/19835-1
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Medicines Analysis and Control
• Principal researcher: Sérgio de Albuquerque
• Grantee: Bruna Possato Dezsa
• Supervisor abroad: Ulrich Abram
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/17579-2 - Evaluation of new coordination compounds bearing melatonin as candidates to metalopharmaceuticals: synthesis, characterization and trypanocidal activity studies, BP.PD

Abstract

Chagas disease is part of the so-called Neglected Tropical Diseases group, affecting 8 million people worldwide according to the World Health Organization. Formerly endemic only in Latin America, it spread throughout the globe along with migratory movements, thus becoming a global health issue. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the absence of light. This hormone participates in the regulation of several processes and has fundamental properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging actions. Metallopharmaceuticals have been used since the last century for many purposes, such as the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, among others, highlighting gold and platinum complexes, auranofin and cisplatin, and ruthenium complexes, like NAMI-A. This project aims the production of new gold, platinum and ruthenium complexes containing melatonin-related thioureas as ligands, since the coordination to transition metals may increase the biological activity of these species. Their structures will be characterized through spectroscopic techniques and their biological activity, specially trypanocidal activity, will be monitored.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BORGES, ALICE P.; POSSATO, BRUNA; HAGENBACH, ADELHEID; MACHADO, ANTONIO E. H.; DEFLON, VICTOR M.; ABRAM, ULRICH; MAIA, PEDRO I. S. Re(V) complexes containing the phenylimido (NPh2-) core and SNS-thiosemicarbazide ligands. Inorganica Chimica Acta, v. 516, FEB 1 2021. Web of Science Citations: 0.