Novel Cyclic Phosphate Prodrug Approach for Cytochrome P450-activated Drugs Containing an Alcohol Functionality

Identification of HSD17B12 as an enzyme catalyzing drug reduction reactions through investigation of nabumetone metabolism

Nabumetone, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory prodrug, is converted to a pharmacologically active metabolite, 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (6-MNA); however, it is 11-fold more efficiently converted to 4-(6-methoxy-2-naphthyl)butan-2-ol (MNBO) via a reduction reaction in human hepatocytes. The goal of this study was to identify the enzyme(s) responsible for MNBO formation from nabumetone in the human liver. MNBO formation by human liver microsomes (HLM) was 5.7-fold higher than in the liver cytosol. In a panel of 24 individual HLM samples with quantitative proteomics data, the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 12 (HSD17B12) protein level had the high correlation coefficient (r = 0.80, P < 0.001) among 4457 proteins quantified in microsomal fractions during MNBO formation. Recombinant HSD17B12 expressed in HEK293T cells exhibited prominent nabumetone reductase activity, and the contribution of HSD17B12 to the activity in the HLM was calculated as almost 100%. MNBO formation in HepG2 and Huh7 cells was significantly decreased by the knockdown of HSD17B12. We also examined the role of HSD17B12 in drug metabolism and found that recombinant HSD17B12 catalyzed the reduction reactions of pentoxifylline and S-warfarin, suggesting that HSD17B12 prefers compounds containing a methyl ketone group on the alkyl chain. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that HSD17B12 is responsible for the formation of MNBO from nabumetone. Together with the evidence for pentoxifylline and S-warfarin reduction, this is the first study to report that HSD17B12, which is known to metabolize endogenous compounds, such as estrone and 3-ketoacyl-CoA, plays a role as a drug-metabolizing enzyme.

Stimulus-cleavable chemistry in the field of controlled drug delivery

This review comprehensively summarises stimulus-cleavable linkers from various research areas and their cleavage mechanisms, thus provides an insightful guideline to extend their potential applications to controlled drug release from nanomaterials.

Recent updates in utilizing prodrugs in drug delivery (2013-2015)

INTRODUCTION

Utilizing the prodrug approach as a method to overcome various pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic barriers to drug delivery is significantly accelerating and achieving successes. In contrast to the older traditional prodrugs which suffer from decreased bioavailability and a high profile of side effects, due to activation at undesired sites, the targeted prodrug approach utilizes delivery systems to improve delivery for a wide range of therapeutics including anti-cancer, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs.

AREAS COVERED

Recent updates in utilization of prodrugs in drug delivery between 2013 and 2015 are discussed. Targeted prodrugs against cancer, solid tumors, microbial infections, inflammation and other diseases using advanced delivery systems such as theranostic approaches, siRNA, DOX immunoconjugate, C 60-ser carrier vector, biotinylated prodrug, human serum albumin (HSA) carrier and others are presented.

EXPERT OPINION

Recent research efforts have been directed at developing targeted prodrugs to replace the classical prodrugs. The use of this approach has accelerated following the emergence of encouraging results from several studies on targeted prodrugs that have highlighted their higher efficiency and improved safety profiles. Targeted prodrug delivery is now considered more than a chemical modification method. It is an applicable and promising approach and, in the future, better knowledge and wide application of this approach may be attained which may pave the way for more forward-thinking and creative techniques.

Synthesis of novel chiral TBBt derivatives with hydroxyl moiety. Studies on inhibition of human protein kinase CK2α and cytotoxicity properties

The efficient method for the synthesis of novel 4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1H-benzotriazole (TBBt) derivatives bearing a single stereogenic center has been developed. New compounds with a variety of substituents at the meta- and para-position of the phenyl ring are reported. All of the presented compounds were obtained using classical synthetic methods, such as bromination of benzotriazole, and its subsequent alkylation by monotosylated arylpropane-1,3-diols, which in turn have been synthesized through reduction of the corresponding prochiral β-keto esters, and the selective monotosylation of the primary hydroxyl group. The influence of the new and previously reported N-hydroxyalkyl TBBt derivatives on the activity of human protein kinase CK2α catalytic subunit was examined. The most active were derivatives with N-hydroxyalkyl substituents (IC50 in 0.80-7.35 μM range). A binding mode of (R)-1-(4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)butan-3-ol 7b to hCK2α has been proposed based on in silico docking studies. Additionally, MTT-based cytotoxicity tests demonstrated high activities of novel 1-aryl-3-TBBt-propan-1-ol and 3-TBBt-propan-1,2-diol derivatives against human peripheral blood T lymphoblast (CCRF-CEM), and moderate anti-tumor activities against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) cell lines.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel cyclic phosphates of 5-aminosalicylic acid as cytochrome p450-activated prodrugs

Four novel cyclic phosphates of the anti-inflammatory agent 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) were designed and synthesized as cytochrome P450 (CYP)-activated prodrugs. These prodrugs can be used for targeting into gut wall, since these types of cyclic phosphates are known to be activated mainly by CYP3A forms, which are expressed not only in the liver but also in the small intestine and to a lesser extent in the colon. The present study shows that aromatic ring activating substituents, like chlorine, are definitely needed to obtain the desired enzymatic cleavage of the cyclic phosphate prodrugs of 5-ASA. However, the position of the activating substituent has also a strong impact on the chemical stability, and therefore, an appropriate balance between the rates of prodrug bioactivation and chemical stability needs to be taken into consideration in future studies on cyclic phosphate prodrugs of 5-ASA.

Stereoselective synthesis and antiviral activity of methyl-substituted cycloSal-pronucleotides

Methyl-substituted cycloSal-pronucleotides of d4TMP were synthesized with high diastereoselectivities in satisfying chemical yields. The individual diastereomers were tested against HIV-1 and HIV-2 infected wild-type CEM/0 and HIV-2 infected thymidine kinase deficient CEM cells. All diastereomers tested showed significant antiviral activity in CEM/0 and strong activity in CEM/TK(-) cell cultures. The antiviral activities were strongly dependent on the chirality at the phosphate group and the position of the methyl-group(s) in the cycloSal moiety. In CEM/TK(-) cell cultures the difference in antiviral potency was found to be 7- to 20-fold. The stability of each diastereomer was studied in aqueous phosphate buffer and in CEM/0 cell extracts. Large differences in the half-lives were found. A comparison of the relative lipophilicity of the methyl-substituted cycloSal triesters was performed based on the retention times obtained by reversed phase HPLC. The results obtained clearly confirm the importance of a diastereoselective synthesis of cycloSal-pronucleotides.

In vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics of two novel 1,3-cyclic propanyl phosphate ester prodrugs of 18β-glycyrrhetic acid in rats

The in vitro metabolism of two novel phosphate prodrugs of glycyrrhetic acid (GA) was studied by the method of incubation in the rat liver microsome and the in vivo plasma pharmacokinetics after injecting intravenously (i.v.) into six rats was investigated, respectively. The prodrugs diminished gradually with time and most of the parent drugs were released in 30 min in vitro. In this paper, the in vivo plasma concentration data were analyzed by compartmental modeling. Both the prodrugs and the corresponding released parent drugs could be described by a two-compartment model, which existed for 48 h in rats. The t(1/2) increases remarkably after i.v. administration to rats when compared with injecting the parent drugs directly.

Hydrolysis of dinitrobenzamide phosphate prodrugs: the role of alkaline phosphatase

Phosphate prodrugs which undergo hydrolysis in vivo have been used to improve the solubility and pharmacokinetic properties of a number of drugs. Dinitrobenzamide mustards (DNBM) are examples of such drugs. We investigated the ability of purified alkaline phosphatase isoforms to dephosphorylate three DNBM phosphate prodrugs. In addition, the relative rate of dephosphorylation of these phosphate prodrugs in a number of tissues was determined. These phosphate prodrugs are indeed substrates for alkaline phosphatase, with time dependent formation of the hydrolysis product. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) had the highest activity for these substrates and compound P2 was the most rapidly metabolised. Similarly, compound P2 had the shortest half life in mouse serum (t1/2 = 1.15 h) compared with P1 (t1/2 = 13.34 h) and P3 (t1/2 = 4.4 h). However, serum has very low dephosphorylase activity for these substrates compared with intestine and liver homogenates. In addition, there is little or no difference in the relative rate of dephosphorylation of each of the three compounds in mouse tissues in contrast to the pattern observed with purified alkaline phosphatase and mouse serum. Hence additional phosphatase enzymes may be involved in the metabolism of phosphate prodrugs in vivo.