Antiplasmodial Activity of Targeted Zinc(II)-Dipicolylamine Complexes

Publication date: Available online 27 March 2017
Source:Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Author(s): Douglas R. Rice, María de Lourdes Betancourt Mendiola, Claribel Murillo-Solano, Lisa A. Checkley, Michael T. Ferdig, Juan C. Pizarro, Bradley D. Smith
This study measured the antiplasmodial activity of nine zinc-dipicolylamine (ZnDPA) complexes against three strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the causative parasite of malaria. Growth inhibition assays showed significant activity against all tested strains, with 50% inhibitory concentrations between 5 and 600 nM and almost no toxic effect against host cells including healthy red blood cells. Fluorescence microscopy studies with a green-fluorescent ZnDPA probe showed selective targeting of infected red blood cells. The results suggest that ZnDPA coordination complexes are promising antiplasmodial agents with potential for targeted malaria treatment.

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