title: Design and optimization of drugs used to treat copper deficiency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Copper is an essential element in the human organism. Furthermore, copper deficiency is rare; however, the hematologic manifestations associated with copper deficiency, such as anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia, myeloneuropathy and osteoporosis, are well known.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors present an overview of the various commercially available drugs used in the treatment of copper deficiency. Furthermore, the authors offer a description of copper complexes, as potential pharmaceutically active compounds, that can be used in the design of new formulations with therapeutic potential.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Progress in the synthesis of new metallo-organic complexes (such as the copper-pullulan complex) and the chelated form of copper have provided new avenues for drug design that combat copper deficiency. The copper-pullulan complex, as an active compound, has been designed in its solid dosage form, and its optimization in the treatment of copper deficiency has been furthered through advancements in experimental design methodology. The authors believe that the numerous ongoing studies, evaluating the synthesis of these complexes, should produce new additions to the copper deficiency therapeutic armamentarium in the future.
authors.affiliation: University of Nis, Faculty of Technology, Department of Pharmaceutics , Bulevar oslobodjenja 124, 16000 Leskovac , Serbia +381 16 242859 ; +381 16 242859 ; vana.savic@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Milorad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cakic
authors.forename: Zarko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mitic
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikolic
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Savic
authors.forename: Ivana M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Savic
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015195:Drug Design; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D005936:Glucans; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D003300:Copper; C009109:pullulan