Clinically useful chelators of tripositive elements

Zinc: Multidimensional Effects on Living Organisms

Zinc is a redox-inert trace element that is second only to iron in abundance in biological systems. In cells, zinc is typically buffered and bound to metalloproteins, but it may also exist in a labile or chelatable (free ion) form. Zinc plays a critical role in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, ranging from structural to catalytic to replication to demise. This review discusses the influential properties of zinc on various mechanisms of bacterial proliferation and synergistic action as an antimicrobial element. We also touch upon the significance of zinc among eukaryotic cells and how it may modulate their survival and death through its inhibitory or modulatory effect on certain receptors, enzymes, and signaling proteins. A brief discussion on zinc chelators is also presented, and chelating agents may be used with or against zinc to affect therapeutics against human diseases. Overall, the multidimensional effects of zinc in cells attest to the growing number of scientific research that reveal the consequential prominence of this remarkable transition metal in human health and disease.

Synthesis and iron coordination properties of schizokinen and its imide derivative

The iron(iii) affinity constants for schizokinen and its imide derivative are reported for the first time. Surprisingly, schizokinen possesses a higher affinity for iron(iii) than desferrioxamine B; log KFeIII (FeL), 36.2 and 30.6, respectively. This increase in value is associated with the substitution of one hydroxamate function by an α-hydroxycarboxylate grouping. By virtue of the similarity of siderophore-iron(iii) complexes and siderophore-gallium(iii) complexes, schizokinen (which is a Gram positive siderophore) has potential for 68Ga PET-based imaging.

The interaction of pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH) and salicylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone (SIH) with iron

The interaction of pyridoxal isonicotinoyl hydrazone (PIH) and salicylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone (SIH), two important biologically active chelators, with iron has been investigated by spectrophotometric methods. High iron(III) affinity constants were determined for PIH, logβ₂=37.0 and SIH, logβ₂=37.6. The associated redox potentials of the iron complexes were determined using cyclic voltammetry at pH7.4 as +130mV (vs normal hydrogen electrode, NHE) for PIH and +136mV(vs NHE) for SIH. These redox potentials are much higher than those corresponding to iron chelators in clinical use, namely deferiprone, -620mV; desferasirox, -600mV and desferrioxamine, -468mV. Although the positive redox potentials of SIH and PIH are similar to that of EDTA, namely +120mV, the iron complexes of these two hydrazone chelators, unlike the iron complex of EDTA, do not redox cycle in the presence of vitamin C. These properties render PIH and SIH as excellent scavengers of iron, under biological conditions. Both SIH and PIH scavenge mononuclear iron(II) and iron(III) rapidly. These fast kinetic properties of the hydrazone-based chelators provide a ready explanation for the adoption of SIH in fluorescence-based methods for the quantification of cytosolic iron(II).

Hydroxypyridinone Chelators: From Iron Scavenging to Radiopharmaceuticals for PET Imaging with Gallium-68

Derivatives of 3,4-hydroxypyridinones have been extensively studied for in vivo Fe3+ sequestration. Deferiprone, a 1,2-dimethyl-3,4-hydroxypyridinone, is now routinely used for clinical treatment of iron overload disease. Hexadentate tris(3,4-hydroxypyridinone) ligands (THP) complex Fe3+ at very low iron concentrations, and their high affinities for oxophilic trivalent metal ions have led to their development for new applications as bifunctional chelators for the positron emitting radiometal, 68Ga3+, which is clinically used for molecular imaging in positron emission tomography (PET). THP-peptide bioconjugates rapidly and quantitatively complex 68Ga3+ at ambient temperature, neutral pH and micromolar concentrations of ligand, making them amenable to kit-based radiosynthesis of 68Ga PET radiopharmaceuticals. 68Ga-labelled THP-peptides accumulate at target tissue in vivo, and are excreted largely via a renal pathway, providing high quality PET images.

Heat-Induced Radiolabeling of Nanoparticles for Monocyte Tracking by PET

Heat-induced radiolabeling (HIR) yielded (89) Zr-Feraheme (FH) nanoparticles (NPs) that were used to determine NP pharmacokinetics (PK) by positron emission tomography (PET). Standard uptake values indicated a fast hepatic uptake that corresponded to blood clearance, and a second, slow uptake process by lymph nodes and spleen. By cytometry, NPs were internalized by circulating monocytes and monocytes in vitro. Using an IV injection of HIR (89) Zr-FH (rather than in vitro cell labeling), PET/PK provided a view of monocyte trafficking, a key component of the immune response.

Cell penetrating peptide (CPP)-conjugated desferrioxamine for enhanced neuroprotection: synthesis and in vitro evaluation

Iron overload causes progressive and sometimes irreversible damage due to accelerated production of reactive oxygen species. Desferrioxamine (DFO), a siderophore, has been used clinically to remove excess iron. However, the applications of DFO are limited because of its inability to access intracellular labile iron. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) have become an efficient delivery vector for the enhanced internalization of drugs into the cytosol. We describe, herein, an efficient method for covalently conjugating DFO to the CPPs TAT(47-57) and Penetratin. Both conjugates suppressed the redox activity of labile plasma iron in buffered solutions and in iron-overloaded sera. Enhanced access to intracellular labile iron compared to the parent siderophore was achieved in HeLa and RBE4 (a model of blood-brain-barrier) cell lines. Iron complexes of both conjugates also had better permeability in both cell models. DFO antioxidant and iron binding properties were preserved and its bioavailability was increased upon CPP conjugation, which opens new therapeutic possibilities for neurodegenerative processes associated with brain iron overload.

Branched amphiphilic peptide capsules: cellular uptake and retention of encapsulated solutes

Branched amphiphilic peptide capsules (BAPCs) are peptide nano-spheres comprised of equimolar proportions of two branched peptide sequences bis(FLIVI)-K-KKKK and bis(FLIVIGSII)-K-KKKK that self-assemble to form bilayer delimited capsules. In two recent publications we described the lipid analogous characteristics of our BAPCs, examined their initial assembly, mode of fusion, solute encapsulation, and resizing and delineated their capability to be maintained at a specific size by storing them at 4°C. In this report we describe the stability, size limitations of encapsulation, cellular localization, retention and, bio-distribution of the BAPCs in vivo. The ability of our constructs to retain alpha particle emitting radionuclides without any apparent leakage and their persistence in the peri-nuclear region of the cell for extended periods of time, coupled with their ease of preparation and potential tune-ability, makes them attractive as biocompatible carriers for targeted cancer therapy using particle emitting radioisotopes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Interfacially Active Peptides and Proteins. Guest Editors: William C. Wimley and Kalina Hristova.

Bauhinia variegata leaf extracts exhibit considerable antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities

The present study reports the phytochemical profiling, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of Bauhinia variegata leaf extracts. The reducing sugar, anthraquinone, and saponins were observed in polar extracts, while terpenoids and alkaloids were present in nonpolar and ethanol extracts. Total flavonoid contents in various extracts were found in the range of 11-222.67 mg QE/g. In disc diffusion assays, petroleum ether and chloroform fractions exhibited considerable inhibition against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Several other extracts also showed antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains of E. coli, Proteus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of potential extracts were found between 3.5 and 28.40 mg/mL. The lowest MBC (3.5 mg/mL) was recorded for ethanol extract against Pseudomonas spp. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was compared with standard antioxidants. Dose dependent response was observed in reducing power of extracts. Polar extracts demonstrated appreciable metal ion chelating activity at lower concentrations (10-40 μg/mL). Many extracts showed significant antioxidant response in beta carotene bleaching assay. AQ fraction of B. variegata showed pronounced cytotoxic effect against DU-145, HOP-62, IGR-OV-1, MCF-7, and THP-1 human cancer cell lines with 90-99% cell growth inhibitory activity. Ethyl acetate fraction also produced considerable cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and THP-1 cell lines. The study demonstrates notable antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities in B. variegata leaf extracts.

Prediction of Absolute Hydroxyl pKa Values for 3-Hydroxypyridin-4-ones

pKa values have been calculated for a series of 3-hydroxypyridin-4-one (HPO) chelators in aqueous solution using coordination constrained ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) in combination with thermodynamic integration. This dynamics-based methodology in which the solvent is treated explicitly at the ab initio level has been compared with more commonly used simple, static, approaches. Comparison with experimental numbers has confirmed that the AIMD-based approach predicts the correct trend in the pKa values and produces the lowest average error (∼0.3 pKa units). The corresponding pKa predictions made via static quantum mechanical calculations overestimate the pKa values by 0.3-7 pKa units, with the extent of error dependent on the choice of thermodynamic cycle employed. The use of simple quantitative structure property relationship methods gives prediction errors of 0.3-1 pKa units, with some values overestimated and some underestimated. Beyond merely calculating pKa values, the AIMD simulations provide valuable additional insight into the atomistic details of the proton transfer mechanism and the solvation structure and dynamics at all stages of the reaction. For all HPOs studied, it is seen that proton transfer takes place along a chain of three H2O molecules, although direct hydrogen bonds are seen to form transiently. Analysis of the solvation structure before and after the proton transfer event using radial pair distribution functions and integrated number densities suggests that the trends in the pKa values correlate with the strength of the hydrogen bond and the average number of solvent molecules in the vicinity of the donor oxygen.

Iron(III) selective molecular and supramolecular fluorescent probes

Iron is one of the most important elements in metabolic processes, being indispensable for all living systems and therefore it is extensively distributed in environmental and biological materials. However, both its deficiency and excess from the normal permissible limit can induce serious disorders. Therefore, several analytical techniques have been adopted for the detection of iron. Among the various techniques used for its detection, the method based on fluorescent sensors has received considerable interest in recent years because of its ability to provide online monitoring of very low concentrations without any pre-treatment of the sample together with the advantages of spatial and temporal resolution. In this article, efforts have been made to review the various molecular and supramolecular fluorescent sensors that have been developed for the selective detection of iron(III).

Iron chelating agents with clinical potential

Iron is a critically important metal for a wide variety of cellular events. The element holds this central position by virtue of its facile redox chemistry and the high affinity of both redox states (iron II and iron III) for oxygen. These same properties also render iron toxic when levels exceed the normal binding capacity of the cell. As a result of this potential toxicity, selective iron chelators are finding an important role in the treatment of iron overload associated with many forms of thalassaemia. In addition, they appear to have potential in treating situations where a local increase in iron concentration causes an unfavourable pathology, for instance, in reperfused tissue (heart disease and stroke) and in Parkinsonian brain. There is also evidence that iron chelators may minimise the toxicity of paraquat and the side effects of bleomycin and doxorubicin.

Non-haem iron enzymes can also be inhibited by iron chelators and consequently such enzymes as ribonucleotide reductase and lipoxygenase can be selectively inhibited. Such inhibitory action is being investigated for the treatment of malaria, neoplastic disease, psoriasis and asthma.

Recent developments in these areas are discussed in the present overview.

Selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor activated by acetylcholinesterase releases an active chelator with neurorescuing and anti-amyloid activities

The finding that acetylcholinesterase (AChE) colocalizes with β-amyloid (Aβ) and promotes and accelerates Aβ aggregation has renewed an intense interest in developing new multifunctional AChE inhibitors as potential disease-modifying drugs for Alzheimer's therapy. To this end, we have developed a new class of selective AChE inhibitors with site-activated chelating activity. The identified lead, HLA20A, exhibits little affinity for metal (Fe, Cu, and Zn) ions but can be activated following inhibition of AChE to liberate an active chelator, HLA20. HLA20 has been shown to possess neuroprotective and neurorescuing activities in vitro and in vivo with the ability to lower amyloid precursor holoprotein (APP) expression and Aβ generation and inhibit Aβ aggregation induced by metal (Fe, Cu, and Zn) ion. HLA20A inhibited AChE in a time and concentration dependent manner with an HLA20A-AChE complex constant (K(i)) of 9.66 × 10(-6) M, a carbamylation rate (k(+2)) of 0.14 min(-1), and a second-order rate (k(i)) of 1.45 × 10 (4) M(-1) min(-1), comparable to those of rivastigmine. HLA20A showed little iron-binding capacity and activity against iron-induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) at concentrations of 1-50 μM, while HLA20 exhibited high potency in iron-binding and in inhibiting iron-induced LPO. At a concentration of 10 μM, HLA20A showed some activity against monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A and -B when tested in rat brain homogenates. Defined restrictively by Lipinski's rules, both HLA20A and HLA20 satisfied drug-like criteria and possible oral and brain permeability, but HLA20A was more lipophilic and considerably less toxic in human SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cells at high concentrations (25 or 50 μM). Together our data suggest that HLA20A may represent a promising lead for further development for Alzheimer's disease therapy.

Chemistry and biology of siderophores

Siderophores are compounds produced by bacteria, fungi and graminaceous plants for scavenging iron from the environment. They are low-molecular-weight compounds (500-1500 daltons) possessing a high affinity for iron(III) (Kf > 1030), the biosynthesis of which is regulated by iron levels and the function of which is to supply iron to the cell. This article briefly describes the classification and chemical properties of siderophores, before outlining research on siderophore biosynthesis and transport. Clinically important siderophores and the therapeutic potential of siderophore design are described. Appendix 1 provides a comprehensive list of siderophore structures.

Design, synthesis and properties of novel iron(III)-specific fluorescent probes

Bidentate chelators such as hydroxypyridinones and hydroxypyranones are highly iron selective. The synthesis of two novel fluorescent probes N-[2-(3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-oxopyridin-1(4H)-yl)ethyl]-2-(7-methoxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)acetamide (CP600) and N-[(3-hydroxy-6-methyl-4-oxo-4H-pyran-2-yl)methyl]-2-(7-methoxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)acetamide (CP610) is reported. The method involves coupling the bidentate ligands, 3-hydroxypyridin-4-one and 3-hydroxypyran-4-one, with the well-characterised fluorescent probe methoxycoumarin. Fluorescence emission of both probes at 380 nm is readily quenched by Fe3+. The fluorescence was quenched to a greater extent by Fe3+ than by Mn2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+ and to approximately the same extent as Cu2+. Comparison of the fluorescence-quenching ability by a range of metal ions on CP600 and CP610 and the hexadentate chelator, calcein, under in-vitro conditions, demonstrated advantages of the two novel fluorescent probes with respect to both iron(III) sensitivity and selectivity. Chelation of iron(III) by CP600 and CP610 leads to the formation of a complex with a metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:3. Fluorescence is quenched on formation of such complexes. These probes possess a molecular weight less than 400 and thus they are predicted to permeate biological membranes by passive diffusion, and have potential for reporting intracellular organelle labile iron levels.

Nanoparticle and iron chelators as a potential novel Alzheimer therapy

Current therapies for Alzheimer disease (AD) such as the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and the latest NMDA receptor inhibitor, Namenda, provide moderate symptomatic delay at various stages of the disease, but do not arrest the disease progression or bring in meaningful remission. New approaches to the disease management are urgently needed. Although the etiology of AD is largely unknown, oxidative damage mediated by metals is likely a significant contributor since metals such as iron, aluminum, zinc, and copper are dysregulated and/or increased in AD brain tissue and create a pro-oxidative environment. This role of metal ion-induced free radical formation in AD makes chelation therapy an attractive means of dampening the oxidative stress burden in neurons. The chelator desferrioxamine, FDA approved for iron overload, has shown some benefit in AD, but like many chelators, it has a host of adverse effects and substantial obstacles for tissue-specific targeting. Other chelators are under development and have shown various strengths and weaknesses. Here, we propose a novel system of chelation therapy through the use of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles conjugated to chelators show unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), chelate metals, and exit through the BBB with their corresponding complexed metal ions. This method may provide a safer and more effective means of reducing the metal load in neural tissue, thus attenuating the harmful effects of oxidative damage and its sequelae. Experimental procedures are presented in this chapter.

Metal chelators coupled with nanoparticles as potential therapeutic agents for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neuro-degenerative disorder characterized by the progressive and irreversible loss of memory followed by complete dementia. Despite the disease's high prevalence and great economic and social burden, an explicative etiology or viable cure is not available. Great effort has been made to better understand the disease's pathogenesis, and to develop more effective therapeutic agents. However, success is greatly hampered by the presence of the blood-brain barrier that limits a large number of potential therapeutics from entering the brain. Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery is one of the few valuable tools for overcoming this impediment and its application as a potential AD treatment shows promise. In this review, the current studies on nanoparticle delivery of chelation agents as possible therapeutics for AD are discussed because several metals are found excessive in the AD brain and may play a role in the disease development. Specifically, a novel approach involving transport of iron chelation agents into and out of the brain by nanoparticles is highlighted. This approach may provide a safer and more effective means of simultaneously reducing several toxic metals in the AD brain. It may also provide insights into the mechanisms of AD pathophysiology, and prove useful in treating other iron-associated neurodegenerative diseases such as Friedreich's ataxia, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Hallervorden-Spatz Syndrome. It is important to note that the use of nanoparticle-mediated transport to facilitate toxicant excretion from diseased sites in the body may advance nanoparticle technology, which is currently focused on targeted drug delivery for disease prevention and treatment. The application of nanoparticle-mediated drug transport in the treatment of AD is at its very early stages of development and, therefore, more studies are warranted.

Nanoparticle-chelator conjugates as inhibitors of amyloid-beta aggregation and neurotoxicity: a novel therapeutic approach for Alzheimer disease

Oxidative stress and amyloid-beta are considered major etiological and pathological factors in the initiation and promotion of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease (AD). Insomuch as causes of such oxidative stress, transition metals, such as iron and copper, which are found in high concentrations in the brains of AD patients and accumulate specifically in the pathological lesions, are viewed as key contributors to the altered redox state. Likewise, the aggregation and toxicity of amyloid-beta is dependent upon transition metals. As such, chelating agents that selectively bind to and remove and/or "redox silence" transition metals have long been considered as attractive therapies for AD. However, the blood-brain barrier and neurotoxicity of many traditional metal chelators has limited their utility in AD or other neurodegenerative disorders. To circumvent this, we previously suggested that nanoparticles conjugated to iron chelators may have the potential to deliver chelators into the brain and overcome such issues as chelator bioavailability and toxic side-effects. In this study, we synthesized a prototype nanoparticle-chelator conjugate (Nano-N2PY) and demonstrated its ability to protect human cortical neurons from amyloid-beta-associated oxidative toxicity. Furthermore, Nano-N2PY nanoparticle-chelator conjugates effectively inhibited amyloid-beta aggregate formation. Overall, this study indicates that Nano-N2PY, or other nanoparticles conjugated to metal chelators, may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases associated with excess transition metals.

Metals ions and neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative disorders include a variety of pathological conditions, which share similar critical metabolic processes such as protein aggregation and oxidative stress, both of which are associated with the involvement of metal ions. In this review Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are mainly discussed, with the aim of identifying common trends underlying these neurological conditions. Chelation therapy could be a valuable therapeutic approach, since metals are considered to be a pharmacological target for the rationale design of new therapeutic agents directed towards the treatment of neurodegeneration.

Nanoparticle iron chelators: a new therapeutic approach in Alzheimer disease and other neurologic disorders associated with trace metal imbalance

Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress may be a major etiologic factor in initiating and promoting neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease. Contributing to this, there is a dyshomeostasis of metal ions in Alzheimer disease with abnormally high levels of redox-active metals, particularly iron, in affected areas of the brain. Although it is unclear whether metal excesses are the sole cause of oxidative stress and neurodegeneration or a by-product of neuronal loss, the finding that metal chelators can partially solubilize amyloid-beta deposits in Alzheimer disease suggests a promising therapeutic role for chelating agents. However, the blood-brain barrier and toxicity of known chelators limit their utility. In this study, we suggest that covalent conjugation of iron chelators with nanoparticles may help overcome the limitations in blood-brain barrier permeability of existing chelation therapy. Using in vitro studies, we have shown that a chelator-nanoparticle system and the chelator-nanoparticle system complexed with iron, when incubated with human plasma, preferentially adsorb apolipoprotein E and apolipoprotein A-I, that would facilitate transport into and out of the brain via mechanisms used for transporting low-density lipoprotein. Our studies suggest a unique approach, utilizing nanoparticles, to transport chelators and chelator-metal complexes in both directions across the blood-brain barrier, thus providing safer and more effective chelation treatment in Alzheimer disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Crystal structure of 3-chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase key enzyme of a new modified ortho-pathway from the Gram-positive Rhodococcus opacus 1CP grown on 2-chlorophenol

The crystal structure of the 3-chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase from the Gram-positive bacterium Rhodococcus opacus (erythropolis) 1CP, a Fe(III) ion-containing enzyme specialized in the aerobic biodegradation of 3-chloro- and methyl-substituted catechols, has been solved by molecular replacement techniques using the coordinates of 4-chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase from the same organism (PDB code 1S9A) as a starting model and refined at 1.9 A resolution (R(free) 21.9%; R-factor 17.4%). The analysis of the structure and of the kinetic parameters for a series of different substrates, and the comparison with the corresponding data for the 4-chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase isolated from the same bacterial strain, provides evidence of which active site residues are responsible for the observed differences in substrate specificity. Among the amino acid residues expected to interact with substrates, only three are altered Val53(Ala53), Tyr78(Phe78) and Ala221(Cys224) (3-chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase(4-chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase)), clearly identifying the substitutions influencing substrate selectivity in these enzymes. The crystallographic asymmetric unit contains eight subunits (corresponding to four dimers) that show heterogeneity in the conformation of a co-crystallized molecule bound to the catalytic non-heme iron(III) ion resembling a benzohydroxamate moiety, probably a result of the breakdown of recently discovered siderophores synthesized by Gram-positive bacteria. Several different modes of binding benzohydroxamate into the active site induce distinct conformations of the interacting protein ligands Tyr167 and Arg188, illustrating the plasticity of the active site origin of the more promiscuous substrate preferences of the present enzyme.

Metal complexes of maltol and close analogues in medicinal inorganic chemistry

The family of hydroxypyrones and close congeners, the hydroxypyridinones, is a particularly versatile class of ligands. The most widely investigated for medicinal applications are the 3-hydroxy-4-pyrones and the 1,2- 3,2- and 3,4-hydroxypyridinones. Key features of these ligands are: a six-membered ring, with a ring N or O atom either ortho or para to a ketone group, and two ortho exocyclic oxygen atoms. Readily functionalizable, the hydroxypyrones and hydroxypyridinones allow one to achieve a range of di- and trivalent metallocomplex stabilities and can include tissue or molecular targeting features by design. Research over the past several decades has greatly expanded the array of ligands that are the subject of this critical review. Ligand applications as diverse as iron removal or supplementation, contrast agents in imaging applications, and mobilization of undesirable excess metal ions will be surveyed herein.

The crucial role of metal ions in neurodegeneration: the basis for a promising therapeutic strategy

The variety of factors and events involved in neurodegeneration renders the subject a major challenge. Neurodegenerative disorders include a number of different pathological conditions, which share similar critical metabolic processes, such as protein aggregation and oxidative stress, both of which are associated with the involvement of metal ions. In this review, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and prion disease are discussed, with the aim of identifying common trends underlying these devastating neurological conditions. Chelation therapy could be a valuable therapeutic approach, since metals are considered to be a pharmacological target for the rationale design of new therapeutic agents directed towards the treatment of neurodegeneration.

New lipophilic 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinonate iron(III) complexes: synthesis and EXAFS structural characterisation

New tris-iron(III) chelates of 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone ligands derived from maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) or ethylmaltol (2-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyrone), including a variety of N-aryl (phenyl, 4'-tolyl, 4'-(n-butyl)phenyl, 4'-(n-hexyl)phenyl) and N-benzyl (4'-methylbenzyl, 4'-fluorobenzyl and 4'-(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine) substituents on the nitrogen atom of the pyridinone ring, have been prepared. Characterization by C,H,N elemental analysis and thermogravimetric measurements indicates that most of the complexes are obtained as hydrates of general formula ML3.xH2O. Structural characterization of these difficult to crystallize lipophilic complexes has been achieved by EXAFS spectroscopy. Solutions of iron(III) complexes of maltol, ethylmaltol, 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone and 1-phenyl-2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone in methanol-water mixtures were also examined by EXAFS. Distances from the central atom to ligand atoms, within 6 A of the metal, have been determined in the solid and solution samples and the results show that the structure observed in the powder is maintained in solution. The local structure around the metal centre, bond distances and bond angles, does not change significantly with variable lipophilicity, thus indicating that ligands may be tailored according to specific needs without altering their chelation properties. EXAFS data analysis for this set of tris-iron(III) compounds illustrates the important contribution of both intra-ligand and inter-ligand multiple scattering pathways through the metal centre to a peak observed in the FT spectrum at twice the metal ligand distance (approximately 4 A). The present results demonstrate that EXAFS features at twice the metal-ligand distance are valuable in the assignment of molecular geometry and that location of hydration water molecules, by EXAFS analysis, is limited by the geometry of the complexes, in particular for those in which ligands containing phenyl rings are present.

Nanoparticle and other metal chelation therapeutics in Alzheimer disease

Current therapies for Alzheimer disease (AD) such as the anticholinesterase inhibitors and the latest NMDA receptor inhibitor, Namenda, provide moderate symptomatic delay at various stages of disease, but do not arrest disease progression or supply meaningful remission. As such, new approaches to disease management are urgently needed. Although the etiology of AD is largely unknown, oxidative damage mediated by metals is likely a significant contributor since metals such as iron, aluminum, zinc, and copper are dysregulated and/or increased in AD brain tissue and create a pro-oxidative environment. This role of metal ion-induced free radical formation in AD makes chelation therapy an attractive means of dampening the oxidative stress burden in neurons. The chelator desferioxamine, FDA approved for iron overload, has shown some benefit in AD, but like many chelators, it has a host of adverse effects and substantial obstacles for tissue-specific targeting. Other chelators are under development and have shown various strengths and weaknesses. In this review, we propose a novel system of chelation therapy through the use of nanoparticles. Nanoparticles conjugated to chelators show a unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), chelate metals, and exit through the BBB with their corresponding complexed metal ions. This method may prove to be a safe and effective means of reducing the metal load in neural tissue thus staving off the harmful effects of oxidative damage and its sequelae.

Synthesis and physicochemical assessment of novel 2-substituted 3-hydroxypyridin-4-ones, novel iron chelators

Novel 3-hydroxypyridin-4-one containing tridentate ligands were synthesised and their physicochemical properties characterised, including ionisation constants and stoichiometric titration with Fe(III). There is an urgent demand for orally active iron chelators with potential for the treatment of thalassaemia. In principle, tridentate ligands are likely to be more kinetically stable than bidentate molecules, but to date no satisfactory molecules have been identified. Fe(III) stability constants were assessed by competition with the hexadentate ligand EDTA. In all cases no evidence was found for a tridentate mode of iron chelation; instead the ligands behaved as bidentate hydroxypyridinones. As a consequence they provide no advantage over the more simple alkyl hydroxypyridinones.

Design of clinically useful iron(III)-selective chelators

Iron overload is a serious clinical condition which can be largely prevented by the use of iron-specific chelating agents. Desferrioxamine-B, the most widely used iron chelator in haematology over the past 30 years, has a major disadvantage of being orally inactive. Consequently, the successful design of an orally active, nontoxic, selective iron chelator has become a much sought after goal. In order to identify an ideal iron chelator for clinical use, a range of specifications must be considered such as metal selectivity and affinity, kinetic stability of the complex, bioavailability and toxicity. A wide range of chelator types bind iron(III) and of these, hexa-, tri-, and bidentate are capable of providing iron(III) with the favoured octahedral environment. In this review, the comparative properties of such ligands are discussed, examples being selected from hydroxamates, aminocarboxylates, hydroxypyridinones, orthosubstituted phenols and triazoles.

Metal chelation as a potential therapy for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a rapidly worsening public health problem. The current lack of effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease makes it imperative to find new pharmacotherapies. At present, the treatment of symptoms includes use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which enhance acetylcholine levels and improve cognitive functioning. Current reports provide evidence that the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is linked to the characteristic neocortical amyloid-beta deposition, which may be mediated by abnormal metal interaction with A beta as well as metal-mediated oxidative stress. In light of these observations, we have considered the development of drugs that target abnormal metal accumulation and its adverse consequences, as well as prevention or reversal of amyloid-beta plaque formation. This paper reviews recent observations on the possible etiologic role of A beta deposition, its redox activity, and its interaction with transition metals that are enriched in the neocortex. We discuss the effects of metal chelators on these processes, list existing drugs with chelating properties, and explore the promise of this approach as a basis for medicinal chemistry in the development of novel Alzheimer's disease therapeutics.

Hydroxylated phytosiderophore species possess an enhanced chelate stability and affinity for iron(III)

Graminaceous plant species acquire soil iron by the release of phytosiderophores and subsequent uptake of iron(III)-phytosiderophore complexes. As plant species differ in their ability for phytosiderophore hydroxylation prior to release, an electrophoretic method was set up to determine whether hydroxylation affects the net charge of iron(III)-phytosiderophore complexes, and thus chelate stability. At pH 7.0, non-hydroxylated (deoxymugineic acid) and hydroxylated (mugineic acid; epi-hydroxymugineic acid) phytosiderophores form single negatively charged iron(III) complexes, in contrast to iron(III)-nicotianamine. As the degree of phytosiderophore hydroxylation increases, the corresponding iron(III) complex was found to be less readily protonated. Measured pKa values of the amino groups and calculated free iron(III) concentrations in presence of a 10-fold chelator excess were also found to decrease with increasing degree of hydroxylation, confirming that phytosiderophore hydroxylation protects against acid-induced protonation of the iron(III)-phytosiderophore complex. These effects are almost certainly associated with intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl and amino functions. We conclude that introduction of hydroxyl groups into the phytosiderophore skeleton increases iron(III)-chelate stability in acid environments such as those found in the rhizosphere or the root apoplasm and may contribute to an enhanced iron acquisition.

Chelator-induced iron excretion in iron-overloaded marmosets

In order to test new orally active iron chelators in a predictive way, a primate model has been developed. This model makes use of the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) and its overall design is similar to a previously reported monkey model. However, this new model enables a higher compound throughput and requires lower amounts of test compound because the animals are much easier to handle and have much lower body weights. The marmosets were iron-overloaded by three intraperitoneal injections of iron (III) hydroxide polyisomaltose. For the iron-balance studies, the animals were kept in metabolic cages and were maintained on a low-iron diet in order to reduce faecal background. After compound administration, the excretion of iron in urine and faeces was followed for 2 d. A series of well-known chelators was tested for validation of the model. In particular, comparison of the iron-clearing properties of DFO, L1, CP94 and HBED in marmosets and humans demonstrated the predictive value of the model and justify our expectation that if iron chelators such as CGP65015, ICL670A and CGP75254A are active in marmosets, they will be active in humans as well.