Biocompatible ionic liquids: Synthesis and use in solubilization of pharmaceuticals

• Grant number: 25/21210-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Omar Abou El Seoud
• Grantee: Ayman Abou Abbas
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/13668-4 - Innovative applications of ionic solvents in the chemistry of biopolymers, environmental chemistry, and in formulations for drugs with very low water solubility, AP.R

Abstract

This research project is linked to two FAPESP grants: a research grant, process 2024/13668-4,entitled "Innovative applications of ionic solvents in biopolymer chemistry, environmentalchemistry, and in formulations for drugs with very low water solubility," and the Master's degreefellowship "Applications of biopolymer derivatives: Combating water pollution and drugdissolution/release," process 2025/05731-0.The present project is on the synthesis of biocompatible ionic liquids (ILs) based on aminoacids (AA-ILs) and their use in the delivery of water-insoluble drugs, particularly curcumin (Cur)and ciprofloxacin (Cpx). The AA-ILs of interest are salts of 1-(n-butyl)-3-methylimidazolium, theanions are propionate (PrO-), ¿-alanate (¿-Ala); serinate (Ser-), and S-methylcysteinate (SMC-).In these LI-AAs, the basic groups that are expected to interact with the drugs are marked in colors:CH3CH2-CO2- (propionate) H2N(CH2)2-CO2- (¿-alaninate); H2N-CH2-CO2- (Glycinate); OHCH2-CH(NH2)-CO2- (serinate); CH3-S-CH2-CH(NH2)-CO2- (S-methyl cysteine; cysteine is very sensitive tooxidation).