Metals in Medicine. Metallodrugs and disorders associated with metal metabolism (6 CFU)
Docenti: Prof. Simone Dell’Acqua e Dott.ssa Chiara Bacchella
Period: First Semester

Program:
Dyshomeostasis of essential metals and toxicity of non-essential metals: related syndromes and chelation therapy.

• Transition metals and oxidative stress.
• Role of metals in neurodegenerative diseases.
• Metallodrugs and their action: metal compounds as inhibitors of enzymes and proteins.
• Metal complexes as therapeutic agents in cancer therapy (compounds based on platinum, ruthenium etc.) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Antibacterial and antifungal action of metal drugs for pharmaceutical use.
• Metal complexes in diagnostics: use of metals as contrast agents in anatomical and functional imaging.

Final exam: Oral. Power point presentation on a specific topic agreed with the teachers (in-depth study on a subject covered during the course or related to it, or presentation and discussion of a scientific paper that has appeared in recent literature).