New derivatives of hydantoin as potential antiproliferative agents: biological and structural characterization in combination with quantum chemical calculations

Pharmacophore hybridization approach to discover novel pyrazoline-based hydantoin analogs with anti-tumor efficacy

In search for new and safer anti-cancer agents, a structurally guided pharmacophore hybridization strategy of two privileged scaffolds, namely diaryl pyrazolines and imidazolidine-2,4-dione (hydantoin), was adopted resulting in a newfangled series of compounds (H1-H22). Herein, a bio-isosteric replacement of "pyrrolidine-2,5-dione" moiety of our recently reported antitumor hybrid incorporating diaryl pyrazoline and pyrrolidine-2,5-dione scaffolds with "imidazoline-2,4-dione" moiety has been incorporated. Complete biological studies revealed the most potent analog among all i.e. compound H13, which was at-least 10-fold more potent compared to the corresponding pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, in colon and breast cancer cells. In-vitro studies showed activation of caspases, arrest of G0/G1 phase of cell cycle, decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) and increased DNA damage. In-vivo assay on HT-29 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma) animal xenograft model unveiled the significant anti-tumor efficacy along with oral bioavailability with maximum TGI 36% (i.p.) and 44% (per os) at 50 mg/kg dose. These findings confirm the suitability of hybridized pyrazoline and imidazolidine-2,4-dione analog H13 for its anti-cancer potential and starting-point for the development of more efficacious analogs.

QSAR characterization of new synthesized hydantoins with antiproliferative activity

Hydantois have been identified as constituents of a number of pharmacologically active molecules. In the present study, we have examined in vitro antiproliferative activity against human colon cancer cell lines HCT-116 of three series of 3-(4-substituted benzyl)-hydantoins with various substituent attached in position 5 of the hydantoin ring. Since the investigated compounds have recently been synthesized and show antiproliferative activity, a good understanding of the properties of the potential drug responsible for their pharmacokinetics is an important goal for their further development. One of the important properties is lipophilicity. Lipophilicity has been assessed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (high-performance thin-layer chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography) by means of direct and indirect (using calibration curve) methods. Chromatographic lipophilicity indices in addition to calculated logP values were compared by hierarchical cluster analysis. The linear solvation energy relationship approach was used to understand and compare the types and relative strength of the molecular interactions that occur in the chromatographic as well as in the n-octanol-water partitioning systems. Finally, correlation between in silico pharmacokinetic predictors and antiproliferative activity was examined. Preliminary quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling indicates that pharmacokinetic predictors capture only one-quarter of all chemical features that are important for antiproliferative activity itself. Among selected descriptors are chromatographic lipophilicity indices.

Synthesis, anticancer, apoptosis-inducing activities and EGFR and VEGFR2 assay mechanistic studies of 5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives: Molecular docking studies

A new series of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin derivatives containing benzylidene or isatin (4–19) was synthesized. Their anticancer activity against HeLa, a cervical cancer cell line, A549, a lung cancer cell line, and MDA-MB-231, a breast cancer cell line, was evaluated. Compounds 13, 16, 17 and 18 exhibited potent anticancer activity with average IC₅₀ values against the tested cell lines of 109, 59, 81 and 113 μM, respectively. Compound 16 showed potent EGFR and VEGFR2 inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 6.17 and 0.09 μM, respectively. In addition, compound 16 induced caspase-dependent apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production at 5 and 10 μM. Moreover, a molecular docking simulation was performed for compound 16 and sunitinib to predict the protein-ligand interactions with the active site of VEGFR2.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1,3,8-Triazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-dione Derivatives as Myelostimulators

Spiroconnected N-alkoxyalkylpiperidine hydantoins were obtained via the Strecker reaction of cyanohydrin with ammonium carbonate. 1,3,8-Triazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-diones have shown the myelostimulating activity in the artificially induced (with cyclophosphamide) myelodepressive syndrome. The compounds significantly accelerated the regeneration of lymphocyte and granulocyte cell pool of bone marrow hematopoiesis.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Hydantoins: The State of the Art of a Valuable Scaffold

The review highlights the hydantoin syntheses presented from the point of view of the preparation methods. Novel synthetic routes to various hydantoin structures, the advances brought to the classical methods in the aim of producing more sustainable and environmentally friendly procedures for the preparation of these biomolecules, and a critical comparison of the different synthetic approaches developed in the last twelve years are also described. The review is composed of 95 schemes, 8 figures and 528 references for the last 12 years and includes the description of the hydantoin-based marketed drugs and clinical candidates.

One-Pot Synthesis of Chiral, Spirocyclic 4-Hydantoin-Proline Derivatives for Incorporation into Spiroligomer-Based Macromolecules

Derivatives of 4-hydantoin-proline have been synthesized via a direct two-step alkylation method. This method is valuable in the development of applications of N,N'-disubstituted hydantoin bearing α-amino acids by improving yields, reducing the time and number of steps required to synthesize these substituted molecules, and enabling late stage functionalization of spiroligomer termini. Over 20 unique electrophiles have been tested, highlighting the inherent versatility of this chemistry.