Prodrugs of Perzinfotel with Improved Oral Bioavailability

Palladium-Catalyzed Domino Reaction for the Assembly of Norbornane-Containing Chromones with Dimethyl Squarate as the Solid C1 Source

Reported herein is a novel palladium-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 1] domino annulation of 3-iodochromones, bridged olefins, and dimethyl squarate allowing the construction of chromone-containing polycyclic compounds in good to high yields. Importantly, dimethyl squarate is first employed as the solid C1 source in organic synthesis. Gram-scale experiments, late-stage modification of natural products, as well as transformations of products show potential for further synthetic elaborations.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Prodrugs of α-Carboxy Nucleoside Phosphonates

A range of lipophilic prodrugs of α-carboxy nucleoside phosphonates, potent inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase without requiring prior phosphorylation, were synthesized to evaluate their in vivo potency against HIV in cell culture. A series of prodrug derivatives bearing a free carboxylic acid where the phosphonate was masked with bispivaloyloxymethyl, diisopropyloxycarbonyloxymethyl, bisamidate, aryloxyphosphoramidate, hexadecyloxypropyl, CycloSal, and acycloxybenzyl moieties were synthesized, adapting existing methodologies for phosphonate protection to accommodate the adjacent carboxylic acid moiety. The prodrugs were assayed for anti-HIV activity in CEM cell cultures─the bispivaloyloxymethyl free acid monophosphonate prodrug exhibited some activity (inhibitory concentration-50 (IC₅₀) 59 ± 17 μM), while the other prodrugs were inactive at 100 μM. A racemic bispivaloyloxymethyl methyl ester monophosphonate prodrug was also prepared to assess the suitability of the methyl ester as a carboxylic acid prodrug. This compound exhibited no activity against HIV in cellular assays.

Antibacterial Activity of Squaric Amide Derivative SA2 against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-caused infection is difficult to treat because of its resistance to commonly used antibiotic, and poses a significant threat to public health. To develop new anti-bacterial agents to combat MRSA-induced infections, we synthesized novel squaric amide derivatives and evaluated their anti-bacterial activity by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Additionally, inhibitory activity of squaric amide 2 (SA2) was measured using the growth curve assay, time-kill assay, and an MRSA-induced skin infection animal model. A scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope were utilized to observe the effect of SA2 on the morphologies of MRSA. Transcriptome analysis and real-time PCR were used to test the possible anti-bacterial mechanism of SA2. The results showed that SA2 exerted bactericidal activity against a number of MRSA strains with an MIC at 4–8 µg/mL. It also inhibited the bacterial growth curve of MRSA strains in a dose-dependent manner, and reduced the colony formation unit in 4× MIC within 4–8 h. The infective lesion size and the bacterial number in the MRSA-induced infection tissue of mice were reduced significantly within 7 days after SA2 treatment. Moreover, SA2 disrupted the bacterial membrane and alanine dehydrogenase-dependent NAD+/NADH homeostasis. Our data indicates that SA2 is a possible lead compound for the development of new anti-bacterial agents against MRSA infection.

Selection of QPX7831, an Orally Bioavailable Prodrug of Boronic Acid β-Lactamase Inhibitor QPX7728

In recognition of the need for effective oral therapies to treat Gram-negative bacterial infections, efforts were directed toward identifying an oral prodrug of β-lactamase inhibitor clinical candidate QPX7728. Seventeen prodrugs were synthesized; key properties investigated were rates of cleavage to the active form in vitro, pharmacokinetics across species, and crystallinity. Compound 5-Na (QPX7831 Sodium) emerged with optimal properties across all key attributes.

Incorporation of a FRET pair within a phosphonate diester

Cell-cleavable protecting groups are an effective tactic for construction of biological probes because such compounds can improve problems with instability, solubility, and cellular uptake. Incorporation of fluorescent groups in the protecting groups may afford useful probes of cellular functions, especially for payloads containing phosphonates that would be highly charged if not protected, but little is known about the steric or electronic factors that impede release of the payload. In this report we present a strategy for the synthesis of a coumarin fluorophore and a 4-((4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)diazenyl)benzoic acid (DABCYL) ester chromophore incorporated as a FRET pair within a single phosphonate. Such compounds were designed to deliver a BTN3A1 ligand payload to its intracellular receptor. Both final products and some synthetic intermediates were evaluated for their ability to undergo metabolic activation in γδ T cell functional assays, and for their photophysical properties by spectrophotometry. One phosphonate bearing a DABCYL acyloxyester and a novel tyramine-linked coumarin fluorophore exhibited strong, rapid, and potent cellular activity for γδ T cell stimulation and also showed FRET interactions. This strategy demonstrates that bioactivatable phosphonates containing FRET pairs can be utilized to develop probes to monitor cellular uptake of otherwise charged payloads.

Squaric acid analogues in medicinal chemistry

In this review, we summarize the published data on squaric acid analogues with a special focus on their use in medicinal chemistry and as potential drugs. Squaric acid is an interesting small molecule with an almost perfectly square shape, and its analogues have a variety of biological activities that are enabled by the presence of significant H-bond donors and acceptors. Unfortunately, most of these compounds also exhibit reactive functionalities, and this deters the majority of medicinal chemists and pharmacologists from trying to use them in drug development. However, this group of compounds is experiencing a renaissance, and large numbers of them are being tested for antiprotozoal, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities. The most useful of these compounds exhibited IC₅₀ values in the nanomolar range, which makes them promising drug candidates. In addition to these activities, their interactions with living systems were intensively explored, revealing that squaric acid analogues inhibit various enzymes and often serve as receptor antagonists and that the squaric acid moiety may be used as a non-classical isosteric replacement for other functional groups such as carboxylate. In summary, this review is focused on squaric acid and its analogues and their use in medicinal chemistry and should serve as a guide for other researchers in the field to demonstrate the potential of these compounds based on previous research.

Pro-Nifuroxazide Self-Assembly Leads to Triggerable Nanomedicine for Anti-cancer Therapy

Transcription factor STAT3 has been shown to regulate genes that are involved in stem cell self-renewal and thus represents a novel therapeutic target of great biological significance. However, many small-molecule agents with potential effects through STAT3 modulation in cancer therapy lack aqueous solubility and high off-target toxicity, hence impeding efficient bioavailability and activity. This work, for the first time, reports a prodrug-based strategy for selective and safer delivery of STAT3 inhibitors designed toward metastatic and drug-resistant breast cancer. We have synthesized a novel lipase-labile SN-2 phospholipid prodrug from a clinically investigated STAT3 inhibitor, nifuroxazide (Pro-nifuroxazide), which can be regioselectively cleaved by the membrane-abundant enzymes in cancer cells. Pro-nifuroxazide self-assembled to sub 20 nm nanoparticles (NPs), and the cytotoxic ability was screened in ER(+)-MCF-7 and ER(-)-MD-MB231 cells at 48-72 h using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetra-zolium bromide proliferation assay. Results indicated that Pro-nifuroxazide NPs are multifold more effective toward inhibiting cancer cells in a time-dependent manner compared to parent nifuroxazide. A remarkable improvement in the local concentration of drugs to as high as ∼240 fold when assembled into NPs is presumably the reason for this functional improvement. We also introduced molecular dynamics simulations to generate Pro-nifuroxazide nano-assembly, as a model assembly from triggerable anti-cancer drugs, to provide molecular insights correlating physicochemical and anti-cancer properties. In silico properties of Pro-nifuroxazide including size, chemistry of NPs and membrane interactions with individual molecules could be validated by in vitro functional activities in cells of breast cancer origin. The in vivo anti-cancer efficiencies of Pro-nifuroxazide NPs in nude mice xenografts with MCF-7 revealed remarkable growth inhibition of as high as 400%. Histopathological analysis corroborated these findings to show significantly high nuclear fragmentation and retracted cytoplasm. Immunostaining on tumor section demonstrated a significantly lower level of pSTAT-3 by Pro-nifuroxazide NP treatment, establishing the inhibition of STAT-3 phosphorylation. Our strategy for the first time proposes a translatable prodrug agent self-assembled into NPs and demonstrates remarkable enhancement in IC50, induced apoptosis, and reduced cancer cell population through STAT-3 inhibition via reduced phosphorylation.

Structure-Activity Relationships of the MEPicides: N-Acyl and O-Linked Analogs of FR900098 as Inhibitors of Dxr from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Yersinia pestis

Despite continued research efforts, the threat of drug resistance from a variety of bacteria continues to plague clinical communities. Discovery and validation of novel biochemical targets will facilitate development of new drugs to combat these organisms. The methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway to make isoprene units is a biosynthetic pathway essential to many bacteria. We and others have explored inhibitors of the MEP pathway as novel antibacterial agents. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, and Yersinia pestis, resulting in the plague or "black death", both rely on the MEP pathway for isoprene production. 1-Deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (Dxr) catalyzes the first committed step in the MEP pathway. We examined two series of Dxr inhibitors based on the parent structure of the retrohydroxamate natural product FR900098. The compounds contain either an extended N-acyl or O-linked alkyl/aryl group and are designed to act as bisubstrate inhibitors of the enzyme. While nearly all of the compounds inhibited both Mtb and Yp Dxr to some extent, compounds generally displayed more potent inhibition against the Yp homologue, with the best analogs displaying nanomolar IC50 values. In bacterial growth inhibition assays, the phosphonic acids generally resulted in poor antibacterial activity, likely a reflection of inadequate permeability. Accordingly, diethyl and dipivaloyloxymethyl (POM) prodrug esters of these compounds were made. While the added lipophilicity did not enhance Yersinia activity, the compounds showed significantly improved antitubercular activities. The most potent compounds have Mtb MIC values of 3-12 μg/mL. Taken together, we have uncovered two series of analogs that potently inhibit Dxr homologues from Mtb and Yp. These inhibitors of the MEP pathway, termed MEPicides, serve as leads for future analog development.

A novel prodrug strategy to improve the oral absorption of O-desmethylvenlafaxine

O-Desmethylvenlafaxine (desvenlafaxine, ODV) is the active metabolite of venlafaxine, with similar activity and less risk for pharmacokinetic drug interactions compared to its parent compound venlafaxine. The purpose of this study was to design a series of esters of ODV and assess their potential as ODV prodrugs with improved bioavailability and brain uptake. Seven esters were synthesized and pharmacokinetic screening was performed in rats. The monoester formed on the phenolic hydroxyl of ODV (ODVP-1, ODVP-2, ODVP-3 and ODVP-5) could be degraded to ODV in rat plasma. These four compounds confirmed as possible prodrugs were then studied to evaluated the relative bioavailability of ODV they produced in beagle dogs. ODVP-1, ODVP-2 and ODVP-3 demonstrated higher relative bioavailability of ODV. Finally, ODVP-1, ODVP-2 and ODVP-3 were studied to evaluate their brain uptake in rats. The concentration of ODV in the rat plasma, brain and hypothalamus after administration of ODVP-1, ODVP-2 or ODVP-3 was higher compared with that of ODV. The higher bioavailability, improved pharmacokineics properties and more rapid penetration and translation of ODV suggest that ODVP-1, ODVP-2 or ODVP-3 may warrant further development and application as ODV prodrugs.

Pharmacophore elucidation of phosphoiodyn A - Potent and selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ agonists with neuroprotective activity

We report the pharmacophore of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) agonist natural product phosphoiodyn A is the phosphonate core. Synthesis of simplified phosphonate esters 13 and 15 provide structurally novel, highly selective and potent PPARδ agonists (EC50=78 and 112 nM, respectively). Further, both compounds demonstrate significant neuroprotective activity in an in vitro cellular model indicating that phosphonates may be an effective novel scaffold for the design of therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Applying the prodrug strategy to α-phosphonocarboxylate inhibitors of Rab GGTase--synthesis and stability studies

Fourteen novel prodrug-like analogs of two highly ionic phosphonocarboxylate inhibitors of Rab geranylgeranyl transferase were synthesized and preliminary assessment of their chemical and enzymatic stability was evaluated in buffers (pH 6.5 and 7.4) and rat intestinal homogenate (pH 6.5). Both acidic groups in phosphonocarboxylates were subject to modification. Phosphonic acid was protected either as bis(acyloxyalkyl) ester or phosphonodiamidate derived from amino acids. The carboxylic acid group was either left unchanged or was studied as ethyl ester. The compounds exhibited favorable stability in physiologically relevant pH (t1/2 above 18 h), while in intestinal homogenate they showed a large variety of half-lives (from 5 minutes to over 150 hours). LC MS studies have shown that the main product of decomposition under studied conditions resulted from cleavage of one of the ester (for acyloxyalkyl analogs) or amide (for phosphonodiamidate) bonds with phosphorus.

Sustained Pulmonary Delivery of a Water-Soluble Antibiotic Without Encapsulating Carriers

PURPOSE

Traditional polymeric nanoparticle formulations for prolonged local action during inhalation therapy are highly susceptible to muco-ciliary clearance. In addition, polymeric carriers are typically administered in high doses due to finite drug loading. For toxicological reasons, these carriers and their degradation byproducts are undesirable for inhalation therapy, particularly for chronic use, due to potential lung accumulation.

METHODS

We synthesized a novel, insoluble prodrug (MRPD) of a time-dependent β-lactam, meropenem, and formulated MRPD into mucus-penetrating crystals (MRPD-MPCs). After characterizing their mucus mobility (in vitro) and stability, we evaluated the lung pharmacokinetics of intratracheally-instilled MRPD-MPCs and a meropenem solution in guinea pigs.

RESULTS

Meropenem levels rapidly declined in the lungs of guinea pigs receiving meropenem solution compared to those given MRPD-MPCs. At 9 h after dosing, drug levels in the lungs of animals that received meropenem solution dropped to 12 ng/mL, whereas those that received MRPD-MPCs maintained an average drug level of ≥1,065 ng/mL over a 12-h period.

CONCLUSIONS

This work demonstrated that the combination of prodrug chemistry and mucus-penetrating platform created nanoparticles that produced sustained levels of meropenem in guinea pig lungs. This strategy represents a novel approach for sustained local drug delivery to the lung without using encapsulating matrices.

Phenolic esters of O-desmethylvenlafaxine with improved oral bioavailability and brain uptake

O-Desmethylvenlafaxine (desvenlafaxine, ODV) is a recently approved antidepressant which in some clinical studies failed to meet a satisfactory end-point. The aim of this study was to prepare a series of phenolic esters of ODV and evaluate their potential as ODV prodrugs with improved brain uptake. Fifteen phenolic esters (compounds 1a-o) were synthesized and their pharmacokinetic profiles evaluated in rat. The four compounds producing the highest relative bioavailability of ODV in rat (compounds 1c, 1e, 1n, 1o) were then studied to evaluate their brain uptake. Of these four compounds, compound 1n (the piperonylic acid ester of ODV) demonstrated the highest C(max) of ODV both in the rat hypothalamus and total brain. Finally the pharmacokinetics of 1n were evaluated in beagle dog where the increase in relative bioavailability of ODV was found to be as great as in rat. This high relative bioavailability of ODV coupled with its good brain penetration make 1n the most promising candidate for development as an ODV prodrug.

Hydrogen-bond landscapes, geometry and energetics of squaric acid and its mono- and dianions: a Cambridge Structural Database, IsoStar and computational study

As part of a programme of work to extend central-group coverage in the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre's (CCDC) IsoStar knowledge base of intermolecular interactions, we have studied the hydrogen-bonding abilities of squaric acid (H2SQ) and its mono- and dianions (HSQ(-) and SQ(2-)) using the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) along with dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D) calculations for a range of hydrogen-bonded dimers. The -OH and -C=O groups of H2SQ, HSQ(-) and SQ(2-) are potent donors and acceptors, as indicated by their hydrogen-bond geometries in available crystal structures in the CSD, and by the attractive energies calculated for their dimers with acetone and methanol, which were used as model acceptors and donors. The two anions have sufficient examples in the CSD for their addition as new central groups in IsoStar. It is also shown that charge- and resonance-assisted hydrogen bonds involving H2SQ and HSQ(-) are similar in strength to those made by carboxylate COO(-) acceptors, while hydrogen bonds made by the dianion SQ(2-) are somewhat stronger. The study reinforces the value of squaric acid and its anions as cocrystal formers and their actual and potential importance as isosteric replacements for carboxylic acid and carboxylate functions.

A second-generation 2-Methoxyestradiol prodrug is effective against Barrett's adenocarcinoma in a mouse xenograft model

2-Methoxyestradiol (2-ME2) is an endogenous metabolite of estradiol. In preclinical models, 2-ME2 is effective against different types of tumors. Unfortunately, only low systemic concentrations of 2-ME2 can be achieved following oral administration, even after very high doses are administered to patients. In an effort to solve this problem, we have now synthesized and tested a new prodrug of 2-ME2 that is water-soluble due to a bioreversible hydrophilic group added at the 3-position and that more effectively resists metabolic inactivation due to an ester moiety added to mask the 17-position alcohol. We are reporting here for the first time that this double prodrug of 2-ME2 is effective as an antiproliferative and anticancer agent for both in vitro and in vivo studies against Barrett esophageal adenocarcinoma (BEAC) and provided greater potency than 2-ME2 in inhibiting the growth of BEAC xenografts. Finally, studies indicate that, like 2-ME2, the 2-ME2-PD1 exhibits anticancer effect through possible disruption of microtubule network.

Riluzole prodrugs for melanoma and ALS: design, synthesis, and in vitro metabolic profiling

Riluzole (1) is an approved therapeutic for the treatment of ALS and has also demonstrated anti-melanoma activity in metabotropic glutamate GRM1 positive cell lines, a mouse xenograft assay and human clinical trials. Highly variable drug exposure following oral administration among patients, likely due to variable first pass effects from heterogeneous CYP1A2 expression, hinders its clinical use. In an effort to mitigate effects of this clearance pathway and uniformly administer riluzole at efficacious exposure levels, several classes of prodrugs of riluzole were designed, synthesized, and evaluated in multiple in vitro stability assays to predict in vivo drug levels. The optimal prodrug would possess the following profile: stability while transiting the digestive system, stability towards first pass metabolism, and metabolic lability in the plasma releasing riluzole. (S)-O-Benzyl serine derivative 9 was identified as the most promising therapeutically acceptable prodrug.

Fabrication, modeling and characterization of multi-crosslinked methacrylate copolymeric nanoparticles for oral drug delivery

Nanotechnology remains the field to explore in the quest to enhance therapeutic efficacies of existing drugs. Fabrication of a methacrylate copolymer-lipid nanoparticulate (MCN) system was explored in this study for oral drug delivery of levodopa. The nanoparticles were fabricated employing multicrosslinking technology and characterized for particle size, zeta potential, morphology, structural modification, drug entrapment efficiency and in vitro drug release. Chemometric Computational (CC) modeling was conducted to deduce the mechanism of nanoparticle synthesis as well as to corroborate the experimental findings. The CC modeling deduced that the nanoparticles synthesis may have followed the mixed triangular formations or the mixed patterns. They were found to be hollow nanocapsules with a size ranging from 152 nm (methacrylate copolymer) to 321 nm (methacrylate copolymer blend) and a zeta potential range of 15.8–43.3 mV. The nanoparticles were directly compressible and it was found that the desired rate of drug release could be achieved by formulating the nanoparticles as a nanosuspension, and then directly compressing them into tablet matrices or incorporating the nanoparticles directly into polymer tablet matrices. However, sustained release of MCNs was achieved only when it was incorporated into a polymer matrix. The experimental results were well corroborated by the CC modeling. The developed technology may be potentially useful for the fabrication of multi-crosslinked polymer blend nanoparticles for oral drug delivery.

Squaramides: physical properties, synthesis and applications

Squaramides are remarkable four-membered ring systems derived from squaric acid that are able to form up to four hydrogen bonds. A high affinity for hydrogen bonding is driven through a concomitant increase in aromaticity of the ring. This hydrogen bonding and aromatic switching, in combination with structural rigidity, have been exploited in many of the applications of squaramides. Substituted squaramides can be accessed via modular synthesis under relatively mild or aqueous conditions, making them ideal units for bioconjugation and supramolecular chemistry. In this tutorial review the fundamental electronic and structural properties of squaramides are explored to rationalise the geometry, conformation, reactivity and biological activity.

Ion channel blockers for the treatment of neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain, a severe chronic pain condition characterized by a complex pathophysiology, is a largely unmet medical need. Ion channels, which underlie cell excitability, are heavily implicated in the biological mechanisms that generate and sustain neuropathic pain. This review highlights the biological evidence supporting the involvement of voltage-, proton- and ligand-gated ion channels in the neuropathic pain setting. Ion channel modulators at different research or development stages are reviewed and referenced. Ion channel modulation is one of the main avenues to achieve novel, improved neuropathic pain treatments. Voltage-gated sodium and calcium channel and glutamate receptor modulators are likely to produce new, improved agents in the future. Rationally targeting subtypes of known ion channels, tackling recently discovered ion channel targets or combining drugs with different mechanism of action will be primary sources of new drugs in the longer term.

Prodrug approaches for enhancing the bioavailability of drugs with low solubility

Low water solubility and low bioavailability are frequent problems in drug development, particularly in the area of central nervous system (CNS) drugs. This short review describes selected prodrug approaches which have been developed to enhance the bioavailability of drugs, especially that of poorly soluble drugs. Some of the most successful drugs on the market are prodrugs. With a better understanding of active-transport processes at cell membranes in the gut as well as at the blood-brain barrier, the importance of prodrug approaches will further increase in the future. Prodrug approaches will already be considered in the early phase of drug discovery.

Targeting the NMDA receptor subunit NR2B for the treatment of neuropathic pain

Neuropathic pain is generally defined as a chronic pain state resulting from peripheral or central nerve injury, or both. An effective treatment for neuropathic pain is still lacking. The NMDA receptor, one type of the ionotropic glutamate receptors, is known to be important for triggering long-lasting changes in synapses. NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity plays roles not only in physiological functions such as learning and memory, but also in unwanted pathological conditions such as chronic pain. This review addresses recent progress on NMDA receptors in neuropathic pain, with particular emphasis on the NR2B-subunit-containing receptors. The expression and function of NMDA receptors in synaptic plasticity in the pain transmission pathway from dorsal root ganglia to the anterior cingulate cortex is reviewed, and preclinical and clinical investigations of selective NMDA receptor in neuropathic pain are discussed. The NMDA receptors, in particular NR2B-containing NMDA receptors, serve as promising targets for treatment of neuropathic pain.