The development of NO photoreleaser compounds has important potential applications on medicine, particularly on preventing topic infections and controlling cancers. Due to these expectations, the photochemical release of nitric oxide from complexes of [Ru(bpy)2LX]n+, where L = imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, sulphite and thiourea and X = NO+ and NO2− was investigated employing spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. The release of NO was confirmed by chronoamperometry using a NO selective electrode, while the other product, mainly [RuIIH2O], was detected by UV-Visible spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques for all complexes except for thiourea. The amount of NO released by these complexes upon irradiation was determined using a new developed method using square wave voltammetry.

Os únicos fármacos aprovados para o tratamento da doença de Chagas, nifurtimox e benznidazol, apresentam efeitos colaterais e eficácia limitada na fase crônica da doença, destacando a necessidade de novos fármacos. Entre os diferentes alvos moleculares de fármacos identificados no parasita, uma trans-sialidase de Trypanosoma cruzi (TcTS) tem sido considerada essencial para o reconhecimento e invasão nas células do hospedeiro. Desta forma, o trabalho descreve a síntese eficiente e a avaliação biológica (inibição de TcTS e atividade antitripanossoma) de alguns triazol-arilsulfonamidas contendo galactose pela reação de 1,3-dipolar de cicloadição azida-alcino Cu(I) (CuAAC) em micro-ondas, usando como precursores os derivados de azido benzenossulfonamidas e alcino derivado de galactose. A maioria dos compostos testados contra TcTS mostrou inibição moderada a fraca (40%-15%), com exceção de um dos compostos (81%). Quanto ao ensaio de atividade antitripanossoma, alguns compostos [(IC50 70,9 µM) e (IC50 44,0 µM)] apresentaram atividades mais significativas, embora não tenham sido tão ativos como benznidazol (IC50 1,4 µM). Adicionalmente, a avaliação da citotoxicidade mostrou que todos os compostos não foram citotóxicos. Neste trabalho preliminar, alguns compostos foram considerados protótipos para posterior otimização.

The only drugs approved for the treatment of Chagas disease, nifurtimox and benznidazole, present toxic side effects and limited efficacy in the chronic stage of the disease, which highlight the need for new drugs. Amongst the different molecular drug targets discovered in the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase (TcTS) has been considered crucial in the recognition and invasion of host cells. Hence, we report the efficient synthesis and biological evaluation (TcTS inhibition and antitrypanosomal activities) of some galactose-containing triazol-arylsulfonamides via microwave-assisted Cu(I) 1,3-dipolar azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) based on azide benzenesulfonamides and a galactose-derived alkyne as precursors. Most of the compounds tested against TcTS showed moderate to weak inhibition (40%-15%), except one of the compounds (81%). Regarding the antitrypanosomal assay, some compounds [(IC50 70.9 µM) and (IC50 44.0 µM)] exhibited the most significant activities, although not as active as benznidazole (IC50 1.4 µM). Nevertheless, the cytotoxicity assessment showed that all compounds were not cytotoxic. In this preliminary work, we considered some compounds as lead scaffolds for further optimization.