Nitroxides: Chemistry, Antioxidant Properties, and Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Nitroxides are stable organic free radicals with a wide range of applications. They have found applications in chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, and biomedicine as EPR/NMR imaging techniques. As spin labels and probes, they are used in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in the study of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and enzymes, as well as for measuring oxygen concentration in cells and cellular organelles, as well as tissues and intracellular pH. Their unique redox properties have allowed them to be used as exogenous antioxidants. In this review, we have discussed the chemical properties of nitroxides and their antioxidant properties. Furthermore, we have considered their use as radioprotectors and protective agents in ischemia/reperfusion in vivo and in vitro. We also presented other applications of nitroxides in protecting cells and tissues from oxidative stress and in protein studies and discussed their use in EPR/MRI.