Title:Strategies for Increasing the Solubility and Bioavailability of Anticancer Compounds: β-Lapachone and Other Naphthoquinones
Volume: 22
Issue: 39
Author(s): Vitor Francisco Ferreira, Caroline Deckmann Nicoletti, Patricia Garcia Ferreira, Debor Omena Futuro and Fernando de Carvalho da Silva
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Anticancer compounds, β-lapachone, naphthoquinones, controlled-release systems, formulations
Abstract: 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.