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Updated: May 24, 2026

Quantifiable and Inexpensive Cell-Free Fluorescent Method to Confirm the Ability of Novel Compounds to Chelate Iron
Published on: February 23, 2024
Design of iron chelators with therapeutic application
Tao Zhou1, Yongmin Ma, Xiaole Kong
1School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, P R China.
Abstract:
Iron is essential for the proper functioning of all living cells, however it is toxic when present in excess. Thus, using iron chelators as therapeutic agents, namely chelation therapy, has received increasing attention. The objective of this review is to discuss the factors which should be considered when designing clinically useful iron chelators, to present the application of iron chelators in the treatment of iron overload associated with β-thalassaemia major and sickle cell anaemia, and to highlight the potential applications in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and microbial infection. This article reviews recent knowledge centred on these themes and indicates the growing importance of the concept of iron chelation in medicine.
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