Glucosylated deferiprone and its brain uptake: implications for developing glucosylated hydroxypyridinone analogues intended to cross the blood-brain barrier.

ABSTRACT

This report presents that Deferiprone, the only clinically used 3-hydroxypyridin-4-one (HPO), is able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in guinea pigs, whereas its glucosylated analogue is unable to do so. This finding is contrary to published information suggesting that the glucosylation of HPOs is a viable means of enhancing the brain uptake of this group of compounds.