Disclosing the redox metabolism of drugs: The essential role of electrochemistry

Abstract

Electrochemical methods provide a wide range of strategies to explore the metabolism of drugs. These approaches traditionally encompass preparative aspects viz. the electrochemical generation of potent metabolites or the electrochemical exploration of the reactivity of redox enzymes (or their mimics) towards drugs. More recently the electroanalytical characterization of the successive redox and redoxcoupled reactions was found effective to unravel more complex mechanisms, especially those related to the reactivity of bioorganometallic drugs. This minireview highlights the contribution of these different electrochemical strategies to the determination of drug metabolism through representative recent examples.

Synthesis, Electrochemical and Fluorescence Properties of the First Fluorescent Member of the Ferrocifen Family and of Its Oxidized Derivatives

“…As shown in Figure 2 A, P797 oxidizes along a reversible process that takes place at 0.40 V/SCE, followed by an irreversible peak at 0.85 V/SCE. The reversible oxidation at 0.40 V is ascribed to the Fe(II) → Fe(III) conversion in the ferrocenyl moiety, as already reported for ferrociphenols [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. The sluggish irreversible peak at 0.85 V most likely represents the direct oxidation of a phenol group [ 35 ].…”

The formation and function of the neutrophil phagosome

“…The formation of NADPH oxidase gives rise to some of the key changes in the intra‐phagosomal environment, starting with ROS production. In most cell types, ROS are produced as a by‐product from a variety of processes, such as mitochondrial respiration, 85 but in neutrophils, the majority of ROS are actively generated by NADPH oxidase (NOX enzyme complexes). NOX enzymes are “professional” generators of ROS, as reducing molecular oxygen to form ROS is their sole enzymatic function.…”

Stimulation of Sulfonamides Antibacterial Drugs Activity as a Result of Complexation with Ru(III): Physicochemical and Biological Study

“…The analysis of the electrochemical properties of compounds can provide information on their redox forms in a solution [58]. Establishing the physicochemical profile of compounds with potential biological uses is extremely important for both understanding their mode of action and determining the most favorable conditions to achieve maximum pharmaceutical efficacy [59]. Knowledge of the redox properties of pharmaceuticals is also of use in studies focusing on developing new methods that allow electrochemically controlled drug release [60].…”