Synthesis of 4β-amido and 4β-sulphonamido analogues of podophyllotoxin as potential antitumour agents

Chemistry and Biological Activities of Naturally Occurring and Structurally Modified Podophyllotoxins

Plants containing podophyllotoxin and its analogues have been used as folk medicines for centuries. The characteristic chemical structures and strong biological activities of this class of compounds attracted attention worldwide. Currently, more than ninety natural podophyllotoxins were isolated, and structure modifications of these molecules were performed to afford a variety of derivatives, which offered optimized anti-tumor activity. This review summarized up to date reports on natural occurring podophyllotoxins and their sources, structural modification and biological activities. Special attention was paid to both structural modification and optimized antitumor activity. It was noteworthy that etoposide, a derivative of podophyllotoxin, could prevent cytokine storm caused by the recent SARS-CoV-2 viral infection.

Design and Synthesis of 4-O-Podophyllotoxin Sulfamate Derivatives as Potential Cytotoxic Agents

4-O-Podophyllotoxin sulfamate derivatives were prepared using the natural lignan podophyllotoxin. The prepared compounds were afforded by reacting O-sulfonyl chloride podophyllotoxin with ammonia or aminoaryl/heteroaryl motif. Biological evaluation was performed in human breast cancer (MCF7), ovarian cancer (A2780), colon adenocarcinoma (HT29), and normal lung fibroblast (MRC5) cell lines. Compound 3 exhibited potent inhibitory activity and good selectivity margin. Compounds 2, 3, and 7 exerted apoptotic effect in MCF7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The cytotoxicity of the verified compounds was inferior to that of podophyllotoxin.

Click chemistry-assisted synthesis of triazolo linked podophyllotoxin conjugates as tubulin polymerization inhibitors

A series of new triazolo linked 4β-amidopodophyllotoxin conjugates (9a-l) were synthesized using click chemistry and evaluated for their antitumor activity against four human cancer cell lines. Among them, two compounds (9c and 9j) showed significant anticancer activity with IC50 values of 0.9 and 0.07 μM, respectively. Biological studies are conducted into the cell-cycle distribution of these conjugates inducing G2/M-phase arrest, apart from an increase in the levels of caspase-3 proteins, followed by apoptotic cell death. A tubulin polymerization assay analysis showed that these compounds effectively inhibit microtubule assembly in HeLa cells and, moreover, Hoechst 33258 and Immunohistochemistry staining suggest that these compounds induce cell death by apoptosis. The docking studies showed that compounds 9c and 9j interact and bind efficiently with the tubulin protein at the colchicine site.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4β-benzoxazolepodophyllotoxin hybrids as DNA topoisomerase-II targeting anticancer agents

A series of new 4β-benzoxazolepodophyllotoxin compounds (9a–j) were prepared and screened for molecular modelling and cytotoxicity against various human tumour cell lines. Cell apoptosis evaluation was performed using Hoechst staining.

Recent progress on C-4-modified podophyllotoxin analogs as potent antitumor agents

Podophyllotoxin (PPT), as well as its congeners and derivatives, exhibits pronounced biological activities, especially antineoplastic effects. Its strong inhibitory effect on tumor cell growth led to the development of three of the most highly prescribed anticancer drugs in the world, etoposide, teniposide, and the water-soluble prodrug etoposide phosphate. Their clinical success as well as intriguing mechanism of action stimulated great interest in further modification of PPT for better antitumor activity. The C-4 position has been a major target for structural derivatization aimed at either producing more potent compounds or overcoming drug resistance. Accordingly, numerous PPT derivatives have been prepared via hemisynthesis and important structure-activity relationship (SAR) correlations have been identified. Several resulting compounds, including GL-331, TOP-53, and NK611, reached clinical trials. Some excellent reviews on the distribution, sources, applications, synthesis, and SAR of PPT have been published. This review focuses on a second generation of new etoposide-related drugs and provides detailed coverage of the current status and recent development of C-4-modified PPT analogs as anticancer clinical trial candidates.

Preparation of N,N-p-phenylene bismethacryl amide as a novel cross-link agent for synthesis and characterization of the core-shell magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles

Novel magnetic molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (MMIPs) using N,N-p-phenylene bismethacryl amide as a cross linker and super paramagnetic core-shell nanoparticle as a supporter for use in controlled release were prepared by precipitation polymerization. Novel cross-linking agents were synthesized by the reaction of methacryloyl chloride with p-phenylenediamine. Then, the Fe3O4 nanoparticles were encapsulated with a SiO2 shell and functionalized with -CH=CH2 and MMIPs were further prepared by using methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, N,N-p-phenylene bismethacryl amide as a cross-linking agent and betamethasone as template. Magnetic non-MIPs were also prepared with the same synthesis procedure as with MMIPs only without the presence of the template. The obtained MMIPs were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and the vibrating sample magnetometer. The performance of the MMIPs for the controlled release of betamethasone was assessed and results indicated that the magnetic MIPs also had potential applications in drug controlled release.

Synthesis and characterization of the magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles using N, N-bis methacryloyl ethylenediamine as a new cross-linking agent for controlled release of meloxicam

The novel magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) had been synthesized using N,N-bis methacryloyl ethylenediamine as a cross-linker for the controlled release of meloxicam at a pH of 1.0 (simulated gastric fluid), at a pH of 6.8 (simulated intestinal fluid) and at a pH of 7.4 (simulated biological fluids). The MMIPs were prepared via precipitation polymerization, using Fe3O4 as a magnetic component, meloxicam as a template molecule, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer and N,N-bis methacryloyl ethylenediamine as a new cross-linker in acetonitrile/dimethyl sulfoxide porogen. Magnetic non-molecularly imprinted polymers (MNIPs) were also prepared with the same synthesis procedure as with MMIPs only without the presence of the template. The obtained MMIPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The performance of the MMIPs for the controlled release of meloxicam was assessed, and the results indicated that the magnetic MIPs also had potential applications in drug controlled release.

Quinazolino linked 4β-amidopodophyllotoxin conjugates regulate angiogenic pathway and control breast cancer cell proliferation

A series of new conjugates of quinazolino linked 4β-amidopodophyllotoxins 10aa-af and 10ba-bf were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activity against human pancreatic carcinoma (Panc-1) as well as breast cancer cell lines such as MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 by employing MTT assay. Among these conjugates, some of them like 10bc, 10bd, 10be and 10bf exhibited high potency of cytotoxicity. Flow cytometric analysis showed that these conjugates arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase and caused the increase in expression of p53 and cyclin B1 protein with concomitant decrease in Cdk1 thereby suggesting the inhibitory action of these conjugates on mitosis. Interestingly, we observed a decrease in expression of proteins that control the tumor micro environment such as VEGF-A, STAT-3, ERK1/2, ERK-p, AKT-1 ser 473 phosphorylation in compounds treated breast cancer cells. Further, these effective conjugates have exhibited inhibitory action on integrin (αVβIII). Furthermore, the MCF-7 cells that were arrested and lost the proliferative capacity undergo mitochondrial mediated apoptosis by activation of caspases-9. Thus these conjugates have the potential to control breast cancer cell growth by effecting tumor angiogenesis and invasion.

Synthesis and anticancer activity of heteroaromatic linked 4β-amido podophyllotoxins as apoptotic inducing agents

A series of different heteroaromatic linked 4β-amidopodophyllotoxin conjugates (16a-i, 17a-i and 18a-d) were synthesized and evaluated for anticancer activity against five human cancer cell lines. Among the series, one of the compound 17g showed significant antiproliferative activity in A549 (lung cancer) cell line. Flow cytometric analysis showed that 17g arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase leading to caspase-3 dependent apoptotic cell death. Further, Hoechst 33258 staining and DNA fragmentation assay also suggests that 17g induces cell death by apoptosis.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4β-sulphonamido and 4β-[(4'-sulphonamido)benzamide]podophyllotoxins as DNA topoisomerase-IIα and apoptosis inducing agents

A series of new 4β-sulphonamido and 4β-[(4'-sulphonamido)benzamide] conjugates of podophyllotoxin (11a-j and 15a-g) were synthesized and evaluated for anticancer activity against six human cancer cell lines and found to be more potent than etoposide. Some of the compounds 11b, 11d and 11e that showed significant antiproliferative activity in Colo-205 cells, were superior to etoposide. The flow cytometric analysis indicates that these compounds (11b, 11d and 11e) showed G2/M cell cycle arrest and among them 11e is the most effective. It is observed that this compound (11e) caused both single-strand DNA breaks as observed by comet assay as well as double-strand DNA breaks as indicated by γ-H2AX. Further 11e showed inhibition of topo-IIα as observed from Western blot analysis and related studies. Compounds caused activation of ATM as well as Chk1 protein indicating that the compound caused effective DNA damage. Moreover activation of caspase-3, p21, p16, NF-kB and down regulation of Bcl-2 protein suggests that this compound (11e) has apoptotic cell death inducing ability, apart from acting as a topo-IIα inhibitor.

Development and characterization of molecularly imprinted polymers for controlled release of citalopram

In this work, the use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for citalolpram as anti-depressant drug was studied. Imprinted polymers were prepared from methacrylic acid (MAA; functional monomer), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA; cross-linker), and citalopram (as a drug template) using bulk polymerization method. The polymeric devices were further characterized by FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and binding experiments. The dissolution media employed in controlled release studies were hydrochloric acid at the pH level of 4.3 and phosphate buffers, at pH levels of 7.2 and 10.1, maintained at 37.0 and 25.0 ± 0.5°C. Results showed the ability of MIP polymers to control the release of citalopram. In all cases, the imprinted polymers showed a higher affinity for citalopram and a slower release rate than the nonimprinted polymers. At the pH level of 4.3 and at the temperature of 25°C, slower release of citalopram imprinted polymer occurred.

Synthesis and characterization of molecularly imprinted polymer for controlled release of tramadol

In this paper, we describe how to prepare a highly selective imprinted polymer by a bulk polymerization technique. We used tramadol as the template, (MAA) as functional monomers, and (EGDMA) as the cross-linker in chloroform as solvent. Results from Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) show that this imprinted sorbent exhibits good recognition and high affinity for tramadol. Selectivity of molecularly imprinted polympers (MIP) was evaluated by comparing several substances with similar molecular structures to that of tramadol. Controlled release of tramadol from MIPs was investigated through in vitro dissolution tests and by measuring the absorbance at λmax of 272 nm by (HPLC-UV). The dissolution media employed were hydrochloric acid pH 3.0 and phosphate buffers, pH 5.0 and 7.4, maintained at 37 and 25 ± 0.5°C. The results show the ability of MIP polymers to control tramadol release. In all cases, the release of MIPs was deferred for a longer time as compared to NMIP. At a pH of 7.4 and 25°C slower release of tramadol imprinted polymer occurred.

Design and synthesis of C-ring lactone- and lactam-based podophyllotoxin analogues as anticancer agents

A series of novel podophyllotoxin (PDT) analogues was synthesized in which the lactone moiety was shifted to C ring. Some of the derivatives were also synthesized with modified A ring. Analogues 23 and 25 exhibited potent in vitro cytotoxicity against colon cancer (CaCO(2)) cell line. p-Demethylated E-ring analogues exhibited better potency than the corresponding methylated analogues. These analogues showed toxicity comparable to PDT against human erythrocytes albeit at much higher concentrations (100 microg/ml) than their cytotoxicity values.

A novel biotransformation process of 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin to 4'-demethylepipodophyllic acid by Bacillus fusiformis CICC 20463, Part II: process optimization

This work optimized the novel biotransformation process of 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin (DMEP) into 4'-demethylepipodophyllic acid (DMEPA) by Bacillus fusiformis CICC 20463. Firstly, the biotransformation process was significantly affected by medium composition. 5 g/L of yeast extract and 10 g/L of peptone were optimal for DMEPA production (i.e., 2.81 + or - 0.21 mg/L), while not beneficial for the cell growth of B. fusiformis. This indicated that the biosynthesis of DMEPA was not corresponded well to the cell growth of B. fusiformis. 40 g/L of sucrose was optimal for DMEPA production (i.e., 2.94 + or - 0.17 mg/L), and 3 g/L of NaCl was the best for DMEPA production (i.e., 4.10 + or - 0.18 mg/L). Secondly, the production of DMEPA was significantly enhanced by the control of substrate concentration and culture pH. 100 mg/L of substrate was optimal for DMEPA production (i.e., 6.47 + or - 0.35 mg/L), and DMEPA concentration was enhanced to 38.78 mg/L by controlling culture pH at 9.0 in the stirred-tank bioreactors. The fundamental information obtained in this study provides a simple and efficient way to produce DMEPA by biotransformation.

Plant-based anticancer molecules: a chemical and biological profile of some important leads

A number of natural products, with diverse chemical structures, have been isolated as anticancer agents. Several potential lead molecules such as camptothecin, vincristine, vinblastine, taxol, podophyllotoxin, combretastatins, etc. have been isolated from plants and many of them have been modified to yield better analogues for activity, toxicity or solubility. Several successful molecules like topotecan, irinotecan, taxotere, etoposide, teniposide, etc. also have emerged as drugs upon modification of these natural leads and many more are yet to come. In this review, the authors have focused on four important anticancer leads, that is, camptothecin, taxol, combretastatin A-4 and podophyllotoxin. Their chemistry, structure and activity relationships, biological activities, modes of action, analogue synthesis and future prospects have been discussed.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new 4beta-anilino- and 4beta-imido-substituted podophyllotoxin congeners

A series of C-4-anilino- and C-4-imido-substituted new podophyllotoxin congeners have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their cytotoxicity and DNA topoisomerase-II (topo-II) inhibition potential. Some of these compounds have exhibited promising in vitro anticancer and topo-II inhibition activity.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of novel derivatives of 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin

Nine novel 4beta-N-substituted-5-FU-4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as potential antitumor agents. All of the target compounds showed more significant cytotoxic activity against HL-60 and A-549 in vitro than VP-16 and 5-FU. Among them, 4beta-N-substituted-phenylalanine 5-Fu pentyl ester-4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin (9 g) was found to exhibit most potent cytotoxic activity against HL-60 and A-549 cell (IC50 is 0.04 and <0.01 microM, respectively).