Title:Pharmacologically Active Vanadium Species: Distribution in Biological Media and Interaction with Molecular Targets
Volume: 28
Issue: 35
Author(s): Daniele Sanna*Eugenio Garribba*
Affiliation:
- Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Trav. La Crucca 3, I-07100 Sassari,Italy
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Farmacia, Universita di Sassari, Via Vienna 2, I-07100 Sassari,Italy
Keywords:
Vanadium drugs, biomolecules, bioligands, biodistribution, serum proteins, molecular therapy.
Abstract: Biospeciation of some of the most studied vanadium (symbol V) complexes with
biological or medicinal activity is discussed in this review in order to emphasize the importance
of the distribution of V species in biological media. The exact knowledge of the
chemical species present in blood or cells may provide essential information regarding the biological
effect of V potential drugs. In blood serum, vanadium species can interact with low (citrate,
lactate, oxalate, amino acids, etc., indicated with bL) and high molecular mass (proteins
like transferrin, albumin, immunoglobulins, etc.) components, while the interaction with red
blood cells can interfere with the transport of these drugs towards the target cells. The interaction
of bLs and proteins is discussed through the analysis of instrumental and computational
data. The fate of the active V species, when these are in the real serum samples and when they
reach and cross cell membranes, is also discussed. The differences in the V complexes selected
in this review (donor atoms, stability, coordination geometry, electric charge, hydrolipophilicity
balance, substituents and redox properties) cover all the possible modes of interaction
with bLs and proteins, allowing for the biodistribution of the studied compounds to be
predicted. This approach could be applied to newly synthesized potential V drugs.
