Tris(۲-aminoethyl)amine-based metal complexes as newpH-sensitive drugvehicles

Transition metal complexes can be designed as prodrugs that are inactive under normalphysiological conditions but become unstable with changes in the environment such as changesin pH and redox status. By deactivating the drug before reaching the target, side reactions can bereduced, and adverse side effects can be avoided [۱]. The delivery of drug favipiravir (FAV) ischallenging due to its limited solubility in water and common organic solvents [۲]. Given that thesafety of FAV has already been demonstrated by its widespread use as an anti-influenza drug inJapan [۳] further research into the more effective delivery of this drug is warranted. In an attemptto solve the delivery problem, we have used the biocompatible tris(۲-aminoethyl) amine (tren) asa basic ligand for the preparation and characterization of a highly water-soluble drug-carriercomplex with a zinc center that can carry the drug FAV, as an anion, and then release themolecule at a site where the pH is in the range of ۳ to ۵.۵. We also report a theoretical study thatshows the same nature of metal−ligand bonds for N/O-coordinated FAV and supportsexperimental observations indicating that FAV can easily leave the drug carrier in acidicconditions [۴]. Our results indicate that this drug vehicle is suitbale for delivery of some otherdrugs, specially drug amifampridine

کلیدواژه ها:

Tris(۲-aminoethyl)amine ، Favipiravir ، Drug carrier ، COVID-۱۹.