Research progress of metalloporphyrin against neurodegen-erative diseases.

Neurodegenerative disorders are a group of diseases caused by the degeneration and apoptosis of neurons in the brain and spinal cord, which seriously affect human ability of motion perception, memory and cognition. Peroxynitrite can cause oxidative damage in the brain exhibiting neurotoxicity, and its excussive accumulation is closely related to neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, effectively scavenging peroxynitrite may become a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases. Due to their high peroxynitrite scavenging ability, some water-soluble metalloporphyrins have recently attracted much attention. Metalloporphyrins such as iron porphyrins and manganese porphyrins have certain neuroprotective effects, including inhibiting amyloid plaque accumulation, alleviating oxidative stress and neuroinflammatory damage, improving mitochondrial function and reducing neuronal apoptosis. However, there are certain limitations for metalloporphyrins as neuroprotective drugs, and some metal porphyrins have poor blood-brain barrier penetration. To overcome the obstacle, in addition to traditional synthesis processes, metalloporphyrins can also be prepared into nanoparticles to improve bioavailability in vivo. Here, we will review the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of metalloporphyrin and explore its therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disorders.