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Patamia V, Saccullo E, Zagni C, Tomarchio R, Quattrocchi G, Floresta G, Rescifina A. γ-Cyclodextrins as Supramolecular Reactors for the Three-component Aza-Darzens Reaction in Water. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202303984. [PMID: 38127103 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, many efforts have been devoted to studying reactions catalyzed in nanoconfined spaces. The most impressive aspect of catalysis in nanoconfined spaces is that the reactivity of the molecules can be smartly driven to disobey classical behavior. A green and efficient three-component aza-Darzens (TCAD) reaction using a catalytic amount of γ-cyclodextrins (CDs) in water has been developed to synthesize N-phenylaziridines. CDs effectively performed this reaction in an environmentally friendly setting, achieving good yields. The same reaction was then performed using polymeric γ-CD such as a γ-cyclodextrin polymer crosslinked (GCDPC) with epichlorohydrin, a sponge-like macroporous γ-cyclodextrin-based cryogel (GCDC), and a γ-cyclodextrin-based hydrogel (GCDH). The homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst recovery was then studied, and it was proved to be easily recycled several times without relevant activity loss. Water, as a unique and eco-friendly reaction medium, has been utilized for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, in this reaction. The inclusion of the reagents in CDs has been studied and rationalized by NMR spectroscopy experiments and molecular modeling calculations. The credit of the presented protocol includes good yields and catalyst reusability and precludes the use of organic solvents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Patamia
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Erika Saccullo
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences (Biometec), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Chiara Zagni
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Rosario Tomarchio
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Quattrocchi
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Floresta
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Rescifina
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
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Barbaraci C, di Giacomo V, Maruca A, Patamia V, Rocca R, Dichiara M, Di Rienzo A, Cacciatore I, Cataldi A, Balaha M, Rapino M, Zagni C, Zampieri D, Pasquinucci L, Parenti C, Amata E, Rescifina A, Alcaro S, Marrazzo A. Discovery of first novel sigma/HDACi dual-ligands with a potent in vitro antiproliferative activity. Bioorg Chem 2023; 140:106794. [PMID: 37659146 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Designing and discovering compounds for dual-target inhibitors is challenging to synthesize new, safer, and more efficient drugs than single-target drugs, especially to treat multifactorial diseases such as cancer. The simultaneous regulation of multiple targets might represent an alternative synthetic approach to optimize patient compliance and tolerance, minimizing the risk of target-based drug resistance due to the modulation of a few targets. To this end, we conceived for the first time the design and synthesis of dual-ligands σR/HDACi to evaluate possible employment as innovative candidates to address this complex disease. Among all synthesized compounds screened for several tumoral cell lines, compound 6 (Kiσ1R = 38 ± 3.7; Kiσ2R = 2917 ± 769 and HDACs IC50 = 0.59 µM) is the most promising candidate as an antiproliferative agent with an IC50 of 0.9 µM on the HCT116 cell line and no significant toxicity to normal cells. Studies of molecular docking, which confirmed the affinity over σ1R and a pan-HDACs inhibitory behavior, support a possible balanced affinity and activity between both targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Barbaraci
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Viviana di Giacomo
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Annalisa Maruca
- Net4science academic spinoff srl, Università degli Studi "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Patamia
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Roberta Rocca
- Net4science academic spinoff srl, Università degli Studi "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Dichiara
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Annalisa Di Rienzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Ivana Cacciatore
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Amelia Cataldi
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Marwa Balaha
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio", Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El Sheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - Monica Rapino
- Genetic Molecular Institute of CNR, Unit of Chieti, "G. d' Annunzio" University, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti-Pescara, Italy
| | - Chiara Zagni
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Daniele Zampieri
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Lorella Pasquinucci
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Carmela Parenti
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Emanuele Amata
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Rescifina
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Stefano Alcaro
- Net4science academic spinoff srl, Università degli Studi "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, Campus "Salvatore Venuta", Viale Europa, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Agostino Marrazzo
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry Section, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy.
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Rescifina A. Progress of the "Molecular Informatics" Section in 2022. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24119442. [PMID: 37298393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
This is the first Editorial of the "Molecular Informatics" Section (MIS) of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS), which was created towards the end of 2018 (the first article was submitted on 27 September 2018) and has experienced significant growth from 2018 to now [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Rescifina
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
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Ielo L, Patamia V, Citarella A, Schirmeister T, Stagno C, Rescifina A, Micale N, Pace V. Selective noncovalent proteasome inhibiting activity of trifluoromethyl-containing gem-quaternary aziridines. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2023:e2300174. [PMID: 37119396 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) represents the principal proteolytic apparatus in the cytosol and nucleus of all eukaryotic cells. Nowadays, proteasome inhibitors (PIs) are well-known as anticancer agents. However, although three of them have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating multiple myeloma and mantel cell lymphoma, they present several side effects and develop resistance. For these reasons, the development of new PIs with better pharmacological characteristics is needed. Recently, noncovalent inhibitors have gained much attention since they are less toxic as compared with covalent ones, providing an alternative mechanism for solid tumors. Herein, we describe a new class of bis-homologated chloromethyl(trifluoromethyl)aziridines as selective noncovalent PIs. In silico and in vitro studies were conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action of such compounds. Human gastrointestinal absorption (HIA) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration were also considered together with absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADMET) predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ielo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Patamia
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Claudio Stagno
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Antonio Rescifina
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Nicola Micale
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Vittorio Pace
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Tomarchio R, Patamia V, Zagni C, Crocetti L, Cilibrizzi A, Floresta G, Rescifina A. Steered Molecular Dynamics Simulations Study on FABP4 Inhibitors. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28062731. [PMID: 36985701 PMCID: PMC10058326 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Ordinary small molecule de novo drug design is time-consuming and expensive. Recently, computational tools were employed and proved their efficacy in accelerating the overall drug design process. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and a derivative of MD, steered molecular dynamics (SMD), turned out to be promising rational drug design tools. In this paper, we report the first application of SMD to evaluate the binding properties of small molecules toward FABP4, considering our recent interest in inhibiting fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4). FABP4 inhibitors (FABP4is) are small molecules of therapeutic interest, and ongoing clinical studies indicate that they are promising for treating cancer and other diseases such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Tomarchio
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Patamia
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Chiara Zagni
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Letizia Crocetti
- Department Neurofarba, Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Section, via Ugo Schiff 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Agostino Cilibrizzi
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Giuseppe Floresta
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Rescifina
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy
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Costanzo G, Patamia V, Turnaturi R, Parenti C, Zagni C, Lombino J, Amata E, Marrazzo A, Pasquinucci L, Rescifina A. Design, synthesis, in vitro evaluation, and molecular modeling studies of N-substituted benzomorphans, analogs of LP2, as novel MOR ligands. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 101:1382-1392. [PMID: 36813756 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
6,7-Benzomorphans have been investigated in medicinal chemistry for developing new drugs. This nucleus could be considered a versatile scaffold. The physicochemical properties of benzomorphan N-substituent are crucial in achieving a definite pharmacological profile at opioid receptors. Thus, the dual-target MOR/DOR ligands LP1 and LP2 were obtained through N-substituent modifications. Specifically, LP2, bearing as N-substituent the (2R/S)-2-methoxy-2- phenylethyl group, is a dual-target MOR/DOR agonist and is successful in animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. To obtain new opioid ligands, we focused on the design and synthesis of LP2 analogs. First, the 2-methoxyl group of LP2 was replaced by an ester or acid functional group. Then, spacers of different lengths were introduced at N-substituent. In-vitro, their affinity profile versus opioid receptors has been performed through competition binding assays. Molecular modeling studies were conducted to deeply analyze the binding mode and the interactions between the new ligands and all opioid receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliana Costanzo
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Patamia
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Rita Turnaturi
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Carmela Parenti
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Chiara Zagni
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Jessica Lombino
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Emanuele Amata
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Agostino Marrazzo
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Lorella Pasquinucci
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Rescifina
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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