Scientists from the Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences have created three iron compounds containing active nitric oxide groups.
According to the inventors, these compounds could form the basis of promising drugs for cardiovascular diseases.
Nitric oxide plays a vital role in cardiovascular function, helping to relax blood vessel walls and thus preventing high blood pressure. This molecule also prevents blood clots. However, in some cases, the body's production of nitric oxide is disrupted, and a deficiency can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, and other health problems.
According to experts, these compounds release the active ingredient gradually—immediately after dissolving—but at varying rates. The compound with the longest carbon chain between the iron center and the vinyl ring showed the longest degradation period, lasting several days.
"We intend to conduct further studies on the resulting compounds using laboratory animals," says Olesya Pokedova, senior researcher at the Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry. "We will continue to develop and study the properties of other compounds containing halogenated substituents in the vinyl ring of this chain, including biological activity and nitric oxide release rate."
