Free radicals are generated during the normal metabolism. Inflammation, infection, lifestyle, and environmental factors also contribute to increasing free radical formation in the body. Overly produced free radicals cause oxidative damage to cells, causing oxidative stress, which can lead to pathogenesis of various human ailments. Antioxidants neutralize harmful free radicals and prevent cells from oxidative cellular damage. There is mounting evidence showing the benefits of natural antioxidants like flavonoids, vitamins C and E in the prevention of various human diseases. However, many of these popular antioxidants in the presence of transition metal ions, such as iron and copper, generate large amounts of harmful free radicals, resulting in cellular damage (pro-oxidant effect). This contradicting antioxidant and pro-oxidant behavior of these antioxidants is a significant concern in the use of antioxidants as preventative therapeutics. To overcome this antioxidant dilemma, we utilized a nanotechnology approach; we designed and synthesized antioxidants in dendritic architectures to separate the antioxidant property from pro-oxidant effects. These dendritic antioxidants displayed far superior free radical scavenging activities than the naturally occurring antioxidants. Most importantly, they did not show pro-oxidant effects in the presence of physiological amounts of transition metals. In this presentation, we will report synthesis and characterization of macromolecular dendritic antioxidants as well as their protective effects on human low-density lipoproteins and DNA.

Powerful dendritic antioxidants free of pro-oxidant effects

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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