Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the antichagasic potential of metal complexes derived from bioactive N,O- and N,S-donor ligands

• Grant number: 23/12152-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Adelino Vieira de Godoy Netto
• Grantee: Júlia Araujo Baltar
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chagas disease has the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi as its etiological agent and is a neglected tropical disease endemic to Latin American countries. It is estimated that 6 to 8 million people in these countries suffer from the disease and that more than 75 million are at risk of contracting it. The drugs currently in use have low specificity, which results in several side effects. Furthermore, other strains of the parasite are drug resistant, thus resulting in reduced treatment efficacy. In view of the above, it is urgent to search for new substances that have trypanocidal activity. This proposal aims at the synthesis and evaluation of the antichagasic potential mediated by complexes of the general formula [M(Ln)2] (L1 = hydroxymethylnitrofural; L2 = thiosemicarbazone derived from tetralone; M = Ni, Pd, Pt) and [PdCl(L2)(PPh3)] (PPh3 = triphenylphosphine). The characterization of the complexes will be carried out based on the results obtained by the techniques of elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, ESI/MS mass spectrometry, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The antichagasic activity and cytotoxicity in normal cells induced by of the complexes will be investigated. The antiproliferative effects of the complexes on tumor cells could also be investigated. The most promising compounds will be submitted to interaction assays with DNA and human serum albumin (HSA).