Pyrrole hydrazone-based nanoparticles as MAO-B inhibitors: effect of micelle-assisted delivery

The azomethine compound Y3 was synthesized via a classical condensation reaction between the corresponding hydrazide and aldehyde, using glacial acetic acid as a catalyst, yielding a pure solid product. Y3 and its micellar formulation ( Y3_micelles ) showed no statistically significant MAO-A/B inhibitory activity at 1 μg/mL. At 100 μg/mL, both compounds induced low neurotoxicity in isolated rat brain synaptosomes, mitochondria, and microsomes, with Y3_micelles exhibiting lower toxicity than Y3 . In models of induced neurotoxicity, including 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), tert -butyl hydroperoxide ( t -BuOOH), and iron/ascorbate-induced damage (Fe 2+ /AA), both compounds demonstrated significant neuroprotective and antioxidant effects at 50 μg/mL. Y3_micelles showed stronger neuroprotective and antioxidant activity compared with Y3 . The results indicate that micellar incorporation enhances the safety and neuroprotective potential of Y3 .