Frontiers in nephrology: targeting inflammation using novel nitric oxide donors.

Chimeric molecules are single-chemical entities that possess at least two separate functions. In the design of new chimeric medicines, the two biologic actions are often designed to be synergistic and, thereby, complement each other in activating a specific target, such as a gene, a receptor, or an enzyme. In most chimeric molecules, one functionality is designed to provide a high affinity to a designated site, thereby permitting the targeting of the second functionality, which is usually nonspecific. This review focuses on the development of two classes of chimeric medicines, anti-inflammatory and diuretic chimeric agents, both of which incorporate a nitric oxide moiety into the parent pharmacophore.