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dihydroxyacetone (Nigrantil)

✓ Approved

Vinas · Small Molecule · Small Molecule

What is dihydroxyacetone?

dihydroxyacetone is a small molecule developed by Vinas. It is approved for therapeutic indications.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesNigrantil
CompanyVinas
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Vinas

Therapeutic Indications

dihydroxyacetone is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disordersVitiligo✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedACS omega2026-09-18

Influence of Temperature on Reaction Pathways in Fructose Conversion over Mixed Oxide Catalysts Based on Ce and Nb.

Pryston Dhara Beatriz de Amorim DBA, Martins Thatiane Veríssimo Dos Santos TVDS, Dos Santos Jailma Barros JB, Ferreira Daniel Santos Vilela DSV et al.

The influence of temperature on the product distribution during fructose conversion was systematically investigated using Ce-(P), Nb-(P), CeNb5-(P), CeNb15-(P), and CeNb25-(P) materials prepared by the Pechini method. Reactions were performed in aqueous medium for 2 h at temperatures ranging from 130 to 160 °C. Increasing temperature enhanced fructose conversion but also modified the relative contributions of dehydration, fragmentation, and consecutive degradation pathways. Nb-(P) reached the highest fructose conversion, increasing from 17.6% at 130 °C to 67.9% at 160 °C, but also exhibited a greater contribution from unidentified and degradation products under the most severe conditions. In contrast, the Ce-Nb mixed oxides, particularly CeNb15-(P) and CeNb25-(P), more effectively directed the identified soluble products toward 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), while limiting some competing pathways. The formation of C3 compounds, including dihydroxyacetone and pyruvaldehyde, indicates the occurrence of C-C bond cleavage reactions, whose contribution increased with temperature and depended on material composition. The observed product distributions result from the combined influence of temperature, acid-site nature, concentration, strength, and accessibility, together with the redox properties of the Ce containing materials. These findings demonstrate that the principal contribution of the studied oxides lies in their catalyst dependent modulation of the fructose reaction network rather than in the effect of temperature alone.

PMID 42756796
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PubMedACS omega2026-09-13

Predicting the Self-Diffusion Coefficient of Atmospheric Organic Aerosol Components via Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Siachouli Panagiota P, Mavrantzas Vlasis G VG, Pandis Spyros N SN

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been used to predict self-diffusion coefficients of atmospherically relevant organic compounds in the particulate phase at room temperature. We have used three approaches depending on the mobility of the compound. The self-diffusion coefficient D of the most mobile species (monoketones, monoalcohols and a few monocarboxylic acids) was obtained directly from MD simulations at 298 K. For less mobile species (oxomalonic acid, tartronic acid, cis-pinonic acid and dihydroxyacetone) MD simulations at higher temperatures were used together with Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) or Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann (VFT) extrapolation to obtain their self-diffusion coefficient D down to room temperature. Finally, the self-diffusion coefficient of compounds such as malonic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, tricarballylic acid, 3-methyl-1,2,3-butanecarboxylic acid (MBTCA) and 2-oxoadipic acid, which are too immobile a few degrees below their melting point, was evaluated only at 420 K for comparison purposes. The simulations showed that D is strongly influenced by the presence of functional groups. For the monofunctional compounds examined in this study, mobility decreases in the order: -COOH > -OH > -CO for monofunctional compounds. Functional-group multiplicity and proximity of highly polar groups further reduce mobility through the formation of dense hydrogen-bond networks and compact molecular packing. Global descriptors such as molecular weight and elemental ratios showed meaningful correlations with D only within specific chemical families. Functional-group identity, coexistence and molecular topology provide a more informative basis for interpreting diffusivity in atmospherically relevant organic compounds.

PMID 42729778
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PubMedNanoscale2026-09-08

Zn vacancy-engineered Au-based catalysts for the selective oxidation of glycerol to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone.

Shi Xiaoqing X, Wang Lei L, Tian Zhaowei Z, Wang Si S et al.

The efficient catalytic oxidation of biomass to produce high-value chemicals has become a major focus of current research. In this work, we report an Au/ZnvAl-MMO catalyst rich in zinc vacancies, which exhibits excellent catalytic performance in the selective oxidation of glycerol (conversion of ∼97.8% and a DHA yield of ∼80.4%). Experimental studies [X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), and in situ CO diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (CO-DRIFTS)] indicate that the introduction of Zn defects leads to electron enrichment on O atoms adjacent to Zn vacancies, which promotes the reduction of Au and simultaneously forms unique Auδ+-O-Znv interfacial sites. Kinetic experiments further demonstrate that catalysts with a higher Au0 content exhibit a stronger ability to activate O2, resulting in significantly enhanced glycerol conversion. Combined in situ Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the secondary O-H bond of glycerol preferentially adsorbs and activates at the Zn sites of the Auδ+-O-Znv interfacial structure. Meanwhile, the interfacial Auδ+ species facilitate the storage and migration of OH- and OOH- species. In addition, the electron-rich interfacial oxygen atoms establish stronger hydrogen-bonding interactions with the secondary O-H and β-H groups, thereby synergistically promoting the cleavage of both the secondary O-H and β-H bonds. This work not only offers important insights into the oxidation pathways of polyols, but also provides a simple and effective strategy for the efficient catalytic oxidation of biomass to produce high-value chemicals.

PMID 42706993
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PubMedWorld journal of microbiology & biotechnology2026-08-29

Advances in glycerol metabolism comprehension in yeasts: from regulation to metabolic engineering strategies.

Fonseca Juliana Silva Carneiro JSC, da Silveira Wendel Batista WB

Glycerol is a polyol that can be produced either chemically from oils or propylene, or biologically by yeasts, mainly under osmotic stress. Currently, glycerol is an abundant byproduct generated during biodiesel manufacturing that can be used as substrate in fermentative processes. Its efficient assimilation varies widely among yeast species; therefore, understanding the regulation of both transport and catabolism is pivotal for optimizing biotechnological processes based on this carbon source. This review addresses current knowledge on the regulatory networks controlling glycerol metabolism in yeasts, compassing transport mechanisms, metabolic pathways, transcriptional control and enzyme regulation. We highlight the distinct roles of the Stl1p symporter and Fps1p aquaglyceroporin in mediating glycerol flux across the plasma membrane, as well as the species-specific reliance on either the glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) or dihydroxyacetone (DHA) pathway for glycerol assimilation. Classical biochemical studies have shown that glycerol catabolic enzymes are tightly regulated by carbon source availability, osmotic conditions, and feedback inhibition. Recently, transcriptomic and genetic analyses, particularly in Yarrowia lipolytica, show that the glycerol metabolism is governed by complex interactions between catabolite repression, nutrient signaling, and metabolic intermediates such as G3P, which acts as a key regulatory signal. Despite significant advances, regulatory mechanisms remain elusive in most non-conventional yeasts, underscoring the need for broader comparative studies. In addition, we review major metabolic engineering strategies aimed at enhancing glycerol utilization or redirecting carbon flux toward targeted bioproducts, emphasizing how mechanistic insights into glycerol metabolism and its regulation can guide the development of engineered strains with improved features for industrial applications. Lastly, we pointed out promising avenues for future research and biotechnological innovation.

PMID 42667578
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PubMedJournal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)2026-08-26

Role of Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in the Development, Pathogenicity, and Glycerol Biosynthesis of Aspergillus flavus.

Zhang Liurong L, Zhao Jiaru J, Lin Hongyi H, Wu Shaoze S et al.

Aspergillus flavus, a ubiquitous phytopathogen, produces mycotoxins, especially aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and infects crops worldwide. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH) is a key enzyme in the glycerol synthesis and metabolic pathway catalyzing the reversible conversion reaction between glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP). However, the biological function of G3PDH in A. flavus remains uncharacterized. In this study, the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase GfdA and GfdB recombinant proteins of A. flavus were expressed, and the enzymatic activity of the GfdA protein was successfully determined. Subsequently, single-gene knockout strains (ΔgfdA, ΔgfdB), double-gene knockout strains (ΔgfdAΔgfdB) and their corresponding complemented strains (gfdAC, gfdBC) were constructed by a homologous recombination method to explore the biological functions of these two genes in A. flavus. The phenotypic analyses revealed that although both gfdA and gfdB encoded glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenases, gfdA plays major roles in colony growth, conidiation, sclerotium formation, crop infection and osmotic stress tolerance in A. flavus. Notably, the performance of the ΔgfdAΔgfdB strains is almost similar to that of the ΔgfdA strain. Biochemical assays demonstrated that the intracellular glycerol content increased significantly in all mutants compared to the wild type (WT) under both normal and osmotic stress conditions. Furthermore, we found that exogenous glycerol supplementation rescued the growth defect of the ΔgfdA and ΔgfdAΔgfdB strains. Taken together, GfdA is important for glycerol synthesis, while GfdB is functionally redundant with respect to GfdA. This study preliminarily explores the main biological functions of GfdA and GfdB, providing a theoretical basis for the study of glycerol anabolic pathways of A. flavus and also offering novel insights into the development of strategies to control aflatoxin contamination.

PMID 42646137
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PubMedCells2026-08-13

Distinct Metabolomic and Proteomic Signatures of Early Brain Damage Triggered by the Entrance Plateau Versus the Spread-Out Bragg Peak of Proton Radiation.

Liao Keman K, Xu Fei F, Gao Yunsheng Y, Jiang Xuming X et al.

Proton therapy spares normal tissues better than photon therapy, potentially reducing toxicity while maintaining tumor control. However, challenges remain due to variations in proton dose distribution, particularly at the distal edge of the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP); for organs at risk, such variation is crucial. We evaluated the biological effects by comparing two positions of the proton profile, the entrance plateau (EP) and SOBP, in a murine model and investigated distinct metabolomic and proteomic signatures. Mice exposed to the EP beam segment (LETd = 0.8 keV/µm) exhibited less weight reduction than their SOBP-irradiated counterparts (LETd = 2.6 keV/µm). Two hours post-irradiation, the SOBP caused more severe DNA damage in the hippocampus and thalamus. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed eosinophil aggregation in both groups, with more surviving neurons in the EP group. Metabolomic profiles differed more between the EP and SOBP groups at 2 h than at 3 days post-irradiation. Relative to EP, SOBP irradiation at 2 h increased fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), and inosine but decreased prostaglandin F2α; subsequently, proteomic analysis at day 3 showed that calcium signaling, NF-κB, and endocytosis pathways were enriched in the SOBP group. Combined multi-omics analysis further demonstrated that SOBP irradiation significantly activated the pentose phosphate pathway, purine metabolism, and phospholipase D signaling, while concurrently suppressing arachidonic acid metabolism. Our findings underscore the need for early detection of proton-induced brain toxicity and demonstrate that the higher-LET SOBP segment causes more severe damage than the EP. Targeting these dysregulated multi-omics pathways may offer a promising strategy for mitigating radiation-induced brain injury during proton therapy.

PMID 42587791
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