Main Lines of Research in Bio-Organosilicon Chemistry

Several tests with silicon containing compounds as therapeutics in human medicine have already been crowned with success. In France certain organosilicon preparations, DNR and RDN (compare Chap. 5.5), are used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and virus infections. In the Soviet Union extensive clinical tests with ointments of l-(chloromethyl)- and 1-ethoxysilatrane as possible drugs for treatment of different typs of alopecia were successful (compare Chap. 5.1). Further clinical studies showed that l-(chloromethyl)silatrane is also very promising in treatment of wounds and bums. In a Swedish hospital patients with poorly differentiated prostatic carcinoma were treated with 2,6-c/s-diphenyl-hexamethyl-cyclo-tetrasiloxane (Cisobitan ) the clinical study also yielded promising results (compare Chap. 5.3). 

Synthesis and biological investigation of silylated derivatives of well known bioactive organic compounds. 

Synthesis and biological investigation of organosilicon compounds, having analogous sila-substituted structures of organic compounds with well known bioactivity (- sila-pharmaca). 

These three main lines of research, which cannot be separated completely from each other in all cases, are characterized by their specific formulation of the problem and by their specific method of investigation. All of them are useful for investigations of the behaviour of silicon compounds in living organisms. Combination of the three main lines is the best approach for the development of organosilicon compounds which can be used therapeutically and prophylactically. 

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