The relationship between the structure of the headgroup of sphingolipids and their ability to form complex high axial ratio microstructures

Designing anticancer drugs via the achilles heel: ceramide, allylic ketones, and mitochondria

Published reports are reviewed as the basis of a proposal that an effective antineoplastic drug should contain several features: (a) resemblance to the natural lipid, ceramide; (b) an allylic alcohol and/or allylic ketone moiety; (c) a hydroxyl and/or a nitrogen atom near the allylic group; (d) conjugated double bonds as part of the allylic region. The drug should produce reactive oxygen species in tumor mitochondria, stimulate the generation of ceramide in the tumor, and condense with mitochondrial glutathione. It is pointed out that some antibiotics with these features are also active against cancer cells; perhaps anticancer drugs with these features will prove useful as antibiotics. Common problems in working with lipoidal substances are discussed.

Testosterone delivery using glutamide-based complex high axial ratio microstructures

Complex high axial ratio microstructures (CHARMs) were evaluated for delivery of testosterone in vivo. Methods to incorporate testosterone included noncovalent mixing and covalent attachment of testosterone to the lipid to form a prodrug monomer. When prepared by covalent attachment, testosterone-loaded CHARMs were resistant to in vitro spontaneous hydrolysis; when injected into rats, testosterone was released with biphasic kinetics consisting of a burst followed by a much slower phase. Some CHARM material associated with testosterone persisted at the site of injection for at least 9 days.