Conformational polymorphism in bicalutamide: a quantum chemical study

Influence of Solvent Polarity on the Conformer Ratio of Bicalutamide in Saturated Solutions: Insights from NOESY NMR Analysis and Quantum-Chemical Calculations

The study presents a thorough and detailed analysis of bicalutamide's structural and conformational properties. Quantum chemical calculations were employed to explore the conformational properties of the molecule, identifying significant energy differences between conformers. Analysis revealed that hydrogen bonds stabilise the conformers, with notable variations in torsion angles. Conformers were classified into 'closed' and 'open' types based on the relative orientation of the cyclic fragments. NOE spectroscopy in different solvents (CDCl3 and DMSO-d6) was used to study the conformational preferences of the molecule. NOESY experiments provided the predominance of 'closed' conformers in non-polar solvents and a significant presence of 'open' conformers in polar solvents. The proportions of open conformers were 22.7 ± 3.7% in CDCl3 and 59.8 ± 6.2% in DMSO-d6, while closed conformers accounted for 77.3 ± 3.7% and 40.2 ± 6.2%, respectively. This comprehensive study underscores the solvent environment's impact on its structural behaviour. The findings significantly contribute to a deeper understanding of conformational dynamics, stimulating further exploration in drug development.

Toward Bicalutamide Analogues with High Structural Diversity Using Catalytic Asymmetric Oxohydroxylation

A catalytic enantioselective synthesis of bicalutamide derivatives with promising potentials in prostate cancer treatment has been disclosed. The key intermediates, α-hydroxy-β-keto esters, were efficiently constructed through cinchoninium-mediated asymmetric oxohydroxylation of easily accessible alkenes with potassium permanganate. Good yields and high levels of asymmetric induction are achieved. This method provides a new synthetic route to bicalutamide analogues with high structural diversity, which will beneficially support subsequent structure-activity relationship studies and boost prostate cancer drug development.

Charge density view on bicalutamide molecular interactions in the monoclinic polymorph and androgen receptor binding pocket

High-resolution single-crystal X-ray measurements of the monoclinic polymorph of bicalutamide and the aspherical atom databank approach have served as a basis for a reconstruction of the charge density distribution of the drug and its androgen receptor (AR) and albumin complexes. The contributions of various types of intermolecular interactions to the total crystal energy or ligand:AR energy were estimated. The cyan and amide groups secured the ligand placement in the albumin (Lys-137) and the AR binding pocket (Leu-704, Asn-705, Arg-752), and also determined the packing of the small-molecule crystals. The total electrostatic interaction energy on average was -230 kJ mol-1, comparable with the electrostatic lattice energy of the monoclinic bicalutamide polymorph. This is the result of similar distributions of electropositive and electronegative regions on the experimental and theoretical molecular electrostatic potential maps despite differences in molecular conformations. In general, bicalutamide interacted with the studied proteins with similar electrostatic interaction energies and adjusted its conformation and electrostatic potential to fit the binding pocket in such a way as to enhance the interactions, e.g. hydrogen bonds and π⋯π stacking.

Enhanced dissolution of solid dispersions containing bicalutamide subjected to mechanical stress

The anticancer drug bicalutamide was co-milled with either Macrogol 6000 or Poloxamer 407, and the physicochemical parameters that drive the phase transition of binary systems and influence the dissolution modification of bicalutamide were studied. Milled binary systems with reduced particle size were assessed by scanning electron microscopy and laser diffraction measurements. The results of thermal analysis supported by X-ray diffractometry confirmed the reduction of the crystallinity of bicalutamide co-milled with Macrogol 6000. Infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the molecular structure of the samples and indicated weak interactions between drug and polymer molecules. Two mechanisms were identified and were involved in up to 11-fold enhanced dissolution. The first one was based on improved wettability due to a decreased contact angle in samples containing Macrogol 6000. The second one relied on the solubilization of bicalutamide within nanoaggregates formed by Poloxamer 407 that resulted from its surface activity. This finding was confirmed with fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy assays. Given the dissolution rate-limited absorption combined with the reduced bioavailability of bicalutamide as a BCS class II drug, the assessment of the mechanisms driving the increase in drug dissolution is of particular importance in drug development.

Cocrystals of the antiandrogenic drug bicalutamide: screening, crystal structures, formation thermodynamics and lattice energies

Two new cocrystals of the antiandrogenic drug bicalutamide with benzamide and salicylamide are reported. Relationships between crystal structures, melting temperatures, aqueous dissolution, formation thermodynamics and crystal lattice energies of the cocrystals are investigated.