Studies on interactions of copper anti-inflammatory metallodrugs and chitosan and alginate

Abstract

Complexes of Cu(II) with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have relevance in the field of the development of new metal-based drugs. These complexes show interest due to both the anti-inflammatory activity and the reduced side-effects compared to the correspondent parent organic drugs of clinical use. The main objective of the present project is the investigation of the interaction of these complexes with chitosan to prepare systems that can promote the sustained release of the metallodrugs. The research plan includes the synthesis and the characterization of two complexes, copper-ibuprofen and copper-ketoprofen, the development of methodology for encapsulating the complexes into chitosan crosslinked with alginate, the characterization of the resulting hybrid materials, and the investigation of the viability of sustained releasing of the copper metallodrugs from the hybrid materials. (AU)