First Report on Cationic Triphenylphosphonium Compounds as Mitochondriotropic H<sub>3</sub>R Ligands with Antioxidant Properties

Neurodegenerative diseases are a major public health problem due to the aging population and multifaceted pathology; therefore, the search for new therapeutic alternatives is of the utmost importance. In this sense, a series of six 1-(3-phenoxypropyl)piperidines alkyl-linked to a triphenylphosphoniu...

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Main Authors: Tobias Werner, Tito Añazco, Paula Osses-Mendoza, Alejandro Castro-Álvarez, Cristian O. Salas, Raquel Bridi, Holger Stark, Christian Espinosa-Bustos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Antioxidants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/13/11/1345
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Summary:Neurodegenerative diseases are a major public health problem due to the aging population and multifaceted pathology; therefore, the search for new therapeutic alternatives is of the utmost importance. In this sense, a series of six 1-(3-phenoxypropyl)piperidines alkyl-linked to a triphenylphosphonium cation derivative were synthesized as H<sub>3</sub>R ligands with antioxidant properties to regulate excessive mitochondrial oxidative stress and contribute to potential new therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases. Radioligand displacement studies revealed high affinity for H<sub>3</sub>R with K<i>i</i> values in the low to moderate two-digit nanomolar range for all compounds. Compound <b>6e</b> showed the highest affinity (K<i>i</i> H<sub>3</sub>R = 14.1 nM), comparable to that of pitolisant. Antioxidative effects were evaluated as radical-scavenging properties using the ORAC assay, in which all derivatives showed low to moderate activity. On the other hand, cytotoxic effects in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were investigated using the colorimetric alamar blue assay, which revealed significant effects on cell viability with an unequivocally structure–toxicity relationship. Finally, docking and molecular simulation studies were used to determine the H<sub>3</sub>R binding form, which will allow us to further modify the compounds to establish a robust structure-activity relationship and find a lead compound with therapeutic utility in neurodegenerative diseases.
ISSN:2076-3921