BODIPY-labelled acetylcholinesterase reactivators can be encapsulated into ferritin nanovehicles for enhanced bioavailability in the CNS.

The BODIPY-labelled oxime reactivator was prepared and used to study its biodistribution into central nervous system. The newly synthesized oxime was found to be weak inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and strong inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase. Its reactivation ability for organophosphate inhibited acetylcholinesterase was found similar to a parent oxime. The BODIPY-labelled oxime was further encapsulated into recombinant human H-ferritin and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The oxime or encapsulated oxime were found to be bioaccumulated primarily in liver and kidneys of mice, but some amount was distributed also to the brain, where it was detectable even after 24 h. The BODIPY-labelled oxime encapsulated to human H-ferritin showed better CNS bioaccumulation and tissue retention at 8 and 24 h time points compared to free oxime, although the fluorescence results might be biased due to BODIPY metabolites identified in tissue homogenates. Taken together, the study demonstrates the first utilization of recombinant ferritins for changing the unfavourable pharmacokinetics of oxime reactivators and brings promising results for follow-up studies.