Catalase and superoxide dismutase mimics for the treatment of inflammatory diseases

Conjugation of a metal ion chelator to aromatic amino acids generates a series of novel metal-binding anti-oxidant enzyme mimics. Our catalytic peptoids are designed to suppress oxidative damage via a number of routes. These include: (i) binding redoxactive metal ions that further generate/activate RONS, (ii) removal of hydrogen peroxide by catalase activity, (iii) removal of superoxide by superoxide dismutase activity, and (iv) preventing the formation of hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite by removal of their precursors [as in (ii) and (iii)]. Thus, the redox-active metal ions are changed from detrimental RONS producers to beneficial RONS scavengers. In conclusion, we present a series of biomimetic peptoids that (i) bind redox-active metal ions, (ii) detoxify RONS and (iii) have potential therapeutic applications in inflammatory diseases. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.