Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are some of the most popular classes of drugs used against pain, inflammation and fever. There are over 30 million people worldwide who take NSAIDs daily over the counter. Over time, researchers have tried to design improved versions of these drugs by conjugating them with various substances to lessen their side effects.

Based on project leader’s previous studies on inflammation and natural antioxidants, this project proposes a different strategy for chemically combining NSAIDs with natural antioxidants (rutin) and polyethylene glycol (PEG).
Therefore, the project leader intends to design new conjugates (rutin-diclofenac and rutin-ibuprofen) by binding the antioxidant group (rutin) to PEG.

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of newly developed conjugates will be evaluated using in vivo models of acute and chronic inflammation. This strategy allows NSAIDs to meet their anti-inflammatory potential at the highest level and to carry a strong antioxidant group to prevent and protect gastrointestinal cells and tissues from oxidative damage.