Strategies for Increasing the Solubility and Bioavailability of Anticancer Compounds: β-Lapachone and Other Naphthoquinones.
Quinones are among the most studied natural and synthetic products in the literature because they have considerable biological potential. These compounds exhibit activity against many microorganisms and are able to eliminate tumor cells through several mechanisms of action. Some of these compounds have become drugs that are used clinically. However, they also have problems with respect to solubility, stability and toxicity. The alternative of using controlled-release systems has been applied to quinones, with good results in some cases, indicating that these formulations may be a strategy for improving the pharmacological profile of this class of compounds.
Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Campus do Valonguinho, 24020-150 Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
Vitor Francisco
VF
Ferreira
Caroline Deckmann
CD
Nicoletti
Patricia Garcia
PG
Ferreira
Debor Omena
DO
Futuro
Fernando de Carvalho
FC
da Silva
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001682:Biological Availability; D001688:Biological Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012995:Solubility
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D001688:Biological Products; D009285:Naphthoquinones; C014638:beta-lapachone