Synthesis and antioxidant efficiency of a new amphiphilic spin-trap derived from PBN and lipoic acid

Nitrone-Trolox conjugate as an inhibitor of lipid oxidation: Towards synergistic antioxidant effects

Free radical scavengers like α-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) and 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox) have been widely used as protective agents in various biomimetic and biological models. A series of three amphiphilic Trolox and PBN derivatives have been designed by adding to those molecules a perfluorinated chain as well as a sugar group in order to render them amphiphilic. In this work, we have studied the interactions between these derivatives and lipid membranes to understand how they influence their ability to prevent membrane lipid oxidation. We showed the derivatives better inhibited the AAPH-induced oxidation of 1,2-dilinoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLiPC) small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) than the parent compounds. One of the derivatives, bearing both PBN and Trolox moieties on the same fluorinated carrier, exhibited a synergistic antioxidant effect by delaying the oxidation process. We next investigated the ability of the derivatives to interact with DLiPC membranes in order to better understand the differences observed regarding the antioxidant properties. Surface tension and fluorescence spectroscopy experiments revealed the derivatives exhibited the ability to form monolayers at the air/water interface and spontaneously penetrated lipid membranes, underlying pronounced hydrophobic properties in comparison to the parent compounds. We observed a correlation between the hydrophobic properties, the depth of penetration and the antioxidant properties and showed that the location of these derivatives in the membrane is a key parameter to rationalize their antioxidant efficiency. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations supported the understanding of the mechanism of action, highlighting various key physical-chemical descriptors.

NO and HNO donors, nitrones, and nitroxides: Past, present, and future

The biological effects attributed to nitric oxide (^• NO) and nitroxyl (HNO) have been extensively studied, propelling their array of putative clinical applications beyond cardiovascular disorders toward other age-related diseases, like cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. In this context, the unique properties and reactivity of the N-O bond enabled the development of several classes of compounds with potential clinical interest, among which ^• NO and HNO donors, nitrones, and nitroxides are of particular importance. Although primarily studied for their application as cardioprotective agents and/or molecular probes for radical detection, continuous efforts have unveiled a wide range of pharmacological activities and, ultimately, therapeutic applications. These efforts are of particular significance for diseases in which oxidative stress plays a key pathogenic role, as shown by a growing volume of in vitro and in vivo preclinical data. Although in its early stages, these efforts may provide valuable guidelines for the development of new and effective N-O-based drugs for age-related disorders. In this report, we review recent advances in the chemistry of NO and HNO donors, nitrones, and nitroxides and discuss its pharmacological significance and potential therapeutic application.

Nitrones reverse hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction in bovine aortic endothelial cells

Hyperglycemia has been implicated in the development of endothelial dysfunction through heightened ROS production. Since nitrones reverse endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) dysfunction, increase antioxidant enzyme activity, and suppress pro-apoptotic signaling pathway and mitochondrial dysfunction from ROS-induced toxicity, the objective of this study was to determine whether nitrone spin traps DMPO, PBN and PBN-LA were effective at duplicating these effects and improving glucose uptake in an in vitro model of hyperglycemia-induced dysfunction using bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). BAEC were cultured in DMEM medium with low (5.5mM glucose, LG) or high glucose (50mM, HG) for 14 days to model in vivo hyperglycemia as experienced in humans with metabolic disease. Improvements in cell viability, intracellular oxidative stress, NO and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)​ levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, glucose transport, and activity of antioxidant enzymes were measured from single treatment of BAEC with nitrones for 24h after hyperglycemia. Chronic hyperglycemia significantly increased intracellular ROS by 50%, decreased cell viability by 25%, reduced NO bioavailability by 50%, and decreased (BH4) levels by 15% thereby decreasing NO production. Intracellular glucose transport and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were also decreased by 50% and 25% respectively. Nitrone (PBN and DMPO, 50 μM) treatment of BAEC grown in hyperglycemic conditions resulted in the normalization of outcome measures except for SOD and catalase activities. Our findings demonstrate that the nitrones reverse the deleterious effects of hyperglycemia in BAEC. We believe that in vivo testing of these nitrone compounds in models of cardiometabolic disease is warranted.

Design and synthesis of antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid hybrids

The design and synthesis of hybrid molecules encompassing two pharmacophores in one molecular scaffold is a well-established approach to the synthesis of more potent drugs with dual activity. In this chapter, we will present the most important synthetic methodologies we have applied for the preparation of hybrid compounds containing the "universal antioxidant" alpha-lipoic acid. Experimental details for the synthesis and purification techniques of specific examples of molecules will be given. The synthesized molecules combine antioxidant activity with a variety of other biological activities such as protection against reperfusion arrhythmias, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory activity.

New heteroaryl nitrones with spin trap properties: Identification of a 4-furoxanyl derivative with excellent properties to be used in biological systems

A new series of heteroaryl nitrones, 1-7, bearing furoxanyl and thiadiazolyl moieties, were evaluated for their free radical-trapping properties. The physicochemical characterization by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) demonstrated its capability to trap and stabilize oxygen-, carbon-, sulfur-, and nitrogen-centered free radicals. The 4-furoxanyl nitrone 3 (FxBN), alpha(Z)-(3-methylfuroxan-4-yl)-N-tert-butylnitrone, showed appropriate solubility in aqueous solution and taking into account that this physicochemical property is very important for biological applications, we studied it deeply in terms of its trapping and kinetic behaviors. For this, kinetic studies of the hydroxyl adduct decay gave rate constants k(ST) of 1.22x10(10)dm(3)mol(-1)s(-1) and half-live up to 7200s at physiological pH, without any artifactual signals. The ability of FxBN to directly traps and stabilizes superoxide free radical, with a half-life of 1620s at physiological pH, was also demonstrated. Besides, FxBN-hydroxyl and -superoxide adducts exhibited distinct and characteristic EPR spectral patterns. Finally, we confirmed the ability of FxBN to act as spin trap in a specific biological system, that is, in the free radical production of experimental anti-trypanosomatid drugs using Trypanosoma cruzi microsomes as biological system. Moreover, previous observations of low FxBN toxicity transform it in a good candidate for in vivo spin trapping.

A New Amphiphilic Derivative,N-{[4-(Lactobionamido)methyl]benzylidene}- 1,1-dimethyl-2-(octylsulfanyl)ethylamineN-Oxide, Has a Protective Effect Against Copper-Induced Fulminant Hepatitis inLong–Evans Cinnamon Rats at an Extremely Low Concentration Compared with Its Original Formα-Phenyl-N-(tert-butyl) Nitrone

An amphiphilic alpha-phenyl-N-(tert-butyl) nitrone (PBN) derivative, N-{[4-(lactobionamido)methyl]benzylidene}-1,1-dimethyl-2-(octylsulfanyl)ethylamine N-oxide (LPBNSH), newly synthesized from its original form PBN in hopes of clinical use, was intraperitoneally administered to Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats every 2 days at the concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg. We found that LPBNSH protected against copper-induced hepatitis with jaundice in LEC rats at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg, which were extremely low compared with that of PBN. It also effectively prevented the loss of body weight, reduced the death rate, and suppressed the increase in serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase values arising from fulminant hepatitis with jaundice at the same concentrations. Similar results were observed when PBN was administered at the concentration of 150 mg/kg. Immunohistochemical analysis of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and measurement of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the liver showed that LPBNSH largely suppressed the formation of these oxidative products at same concentrations. No difference in the abnormal accumulation of copper in the liver between the LPBNSH administered and control groups was observed. From these results, it was concluded that LPBNSH exhibited liver-protective effects against fulminant hepatitis with jaundice at ca. 1/1000, 500 the molar concentration of PBN and, therefore, was clinically promising.