Strategies for Increasing the Solubility and Bioavailability of Anticancer Compounds: β-Lapachone and Other Naphthoquinones

Quinones are among the most studied natural and synthetic products in the literature because they have considerable biological potential. These compounds exhibit activity against many microorganisms and are able to eliminate tumor cells through several mechanisms of action. Some of these compounds have become drugs that are used clinically. However, they also have problems with respect to solubility, stability and toxicity. The alternative of using controlled-release systems has been applied to quinones, with good results in some cases, indicating that these formulations may be a strategy for improving the pharmacological profile of this class of compounds. Keywords: Anticancer compounds, β-lapachone, naphthoquinones, controlled-release systems, formulations