Triazene drug metabolites. Part 17: Synthesis and plasma hydrolysis of acyloxymethyl carbamate derivatives of antitumour triazenes

In vitro multitarget activity of sulfadiazine substituted triazenes as antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and larvicidal agents

Multidrug resistance (MDR) causes difficulties in the treatment of infections and cancer. Research and development studies have become increasingly important for the strategy of preventing MDR. There is a need for new multitarget drug research and advancement to reduce the development of drug resistance in drug-drug interactions and reduce cost and toxic effects. This study aimed to determine the effects of multi-target triazene compounds on antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, cytotoxic, and larvicidal activities were investigated in vitro. A series of 12 novel of 1,3-diaryltriazene-substituted sulfadiazine (SDZ) derivatives were synthesized, and the obtained pure products characterized in detail by spectroscopic and analytic methods (FT-IR, 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, and melting points). The antibacterial and antifungal activities of these derivatives (AH1-12) were determined by broth microdilution method. All derivatives have been evaluated in cell-based assays for cytotoxic and antiviral activities against Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara. The larvicidal efficacy of these chemical compounds was also investigated by using Lucilia sericata (L. sericata) larvae. Twelve 1,3-diaryltriazene-substituted SDZ derivatives (AH1-12) were designed and developed as potent multitargeted compounds. Among them, the AH1 derivative showed the most antibacterial and antifungal activity. Besides, synthesized derivatives AH2, AH3, AH5, and AH7 showed higher antiviral activity than SDZ. All synthesized derivatives showed higher cytotoxic activity than SDZ. Also, they showed larvicidal activity at 72 h of the experiment. As a result, these compounds might be great leads for the development of next-generation multitargeted agents.

Anticancer Triazenes: from Bioprecursors to Hybrid Molecules

Triazenes are a very useful and diverse class of compounds that have been studied for their potential in the treatment of many tumors including brain tumor, leukemia and melanoma. Novel compounds of this class continue to be developed as either anticancer compounds or even with other therapeutic applications. This review focused on several types of triazenes from the simplest ones like 1,3-dialkyl-3-acyltriazenes to the more complex ones like combi-triazenes with an emphasis on how triazenes have been developed as effective antitumor agents.

Implication of linker length on cell cytotoxicity, pharmacokinetic and toxicity profile of gemcitabine-docetaxel combinatorial dual drug conjugate

The present study investigates effect of linkers [zero length (without linker), short length linker (glycine and lysine) and long length linker (PEG1000, PEG2000 and PEG3500)] on pharmacokinetics and toxicity of docetaxel (DTX) and gemcitabine (GEM) bio-conjugates. Conjugates were synthesized via carbodiimide chemistry and characterized by ¹H NMR and FTIR. Conjugation of DTX and GEM via linkers showed diverse physiochemical and plasma stability profile. Cellular uptake mechanism in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines revealed clathrin mediated internalization of bio-conjugates developed by using long length linkers, leading to higher cytotoxicity compared with free drug congeners. DTX-PEG3500-GEM and DTX-PEG2000-GEM demonstrated 4.21 and 3.81-fold higher AUC_(0-∞) of GEM in comparison with GEM alone. DTX-PEG2000-GEM and DTX-PEG3500-GEM exhibited reduced hepato-, nephro- and haemolytic toxicity as evident via histopathology, biochemical markers and SEM analysis of RBCs. Conclusively, PEG2000 and PEG3500 significantly improved pharmacokinetics without any sign of toxicity and hence can be explored further for the development of dual-drug conjugates for better therapeutic efficacy.

Nitroimidazoles for the treatment of TB: past, present and future

Tuberculosis remains a leading cause of death resulting from an infectious agent, and the spread of multi- and extensively drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis poses a threat to management of global health. New drugs that effectively shorten the duration of treatment and are active against drug-resistant strains of this pathogen are urgently required to develop effective chemotherapies to combat this disease. Two nitroimidazoles, PA-824 and OPC-67683, are currently in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of TB and the outcome of these may determine the future directions of drug development for anti-tubercular nitroimidazoles. In this review we summarize the development of these nitroimidazoles and alternative analogs in these series that may offer attractive alternatives to PA-824 and OPC-67683 for further development in the drug-discovery pipeline. Lastly, the potential pitfalls in the development of nitroimidazoles as drugs for TB are discussed.

Human skin permeation of 3-O-alkyl carbamate prodrugs of naltrexone

N-Monoalkyl and N,N-dialkyl carbamate prodrugs of naltrexone (NTX), an opioid antagonist, were synthesized and their in vitro permeation across human skin was determined. Relevant physicochemical properties were also determined. Most prodrugs exhibited lower melting points, lower aqueous solubilities, and higher oil solubilities than NTX. The flux values from N-monoalkyl carbamate prodrugs were significantly higher than those from NTX and N,N-dialkyl carbamates. The melting points of N-monoalkyl carbamate prodrugs were quite low compared to the N,N-dialkyl carbamate prodrugs and NTX. Heats of fusion for the N,N-dialkyl carbamate prodrugs were higher than that for NTX. N-Monoalkyl carbamate prodrugs had higher stratum corneum/vehicle partition coefficients than their N,N-dialkyl counterparts. Higher percent prodrug bioconversion to NTX in skin appeared to be related to increased skin flux. N,N-Dialkyl carbamate prodrugs were more stable in buffer and in plasma than N-monoalkyl carbamate prodrugs. In conclusion, N-monoalkyl carbamate prodrugs of NTX improved the systemic delivery of NTX across human skin in vitro. N,N-Dialkyl substitution in the prodrug moiety decreased skin permeation and plasma hydrolysis to the parent drug. The cross-sectional area of the carbamate head group was the major determinant of flux of the N-monoalkyl and N,N-dialkyl carbamate prodrugs of NTX.

An exploratory ab initio study of the SN2 reaction of 1,3,3-trimethyltriazene with halide ions

Methyltriazene and the O6 oxygen of guanine are believed to undergo a bimolecular nucleophilic substitution (SN2) reaction to form methylguanine, which is proposed to be responsible for the cytotoxic properties of triazene-containing anti-neoplastic agents, such as Dacarbazine. To better understand the proposed mechanism of triazene-containing anti-neoplastic agents, a series of ab initio studies investigating the SN2 reaction between methyltriazenes and halide ions were undertaken. The results of our investigation of the SN2 reaction between 1,3,3-trimethyltriazene and the halide ions are presented here.Key words: triazene, trimethyltriazene, Dacarbazine, Temozolomide, bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction.

First Synthesis of 2′-Deoxyfluoropuromycin Analogues: Experimental Insight into the Mechanism of the Staudinger Reaction

The N(6),N(6)-dedimethyl-2'-deoxyfluoro analogue of puromycin (= 3'-deoxy-N(6),N(6)-dimethyl-3'-[O-methyltyrosylamido]adenosine), its 2',3'-regioisomer and a 3'-cytidyl-5'-(2'-deoxyfluoro)puromycyl dinucleotide analogue were synthesized following an approach involving i) the diastereospecific nitrite-assisted formation of a lyxo nucleosidic 2',3'-epoxide from an adenosine-2',3'-ditriflate derivative in a biphasic solvent mixture; ii) the regio- and stereoselective epoxide ring opening with sodium azide under mildly acidic aqueous conditions, iii) the stereospecific introduction of the fluor atom using DAST and iv) the reaction between the nucleosidyl or dinucleotidyl azide and an active ester of the N-protected amino acid using highly efficient solution conditions for the Staudinger-Vilarrasa coupling, to obtain the corresponding carboxamide directly from the in situ formed iminophosphorane. This coupling reaction furnished sterically quite demanding amides in 94 % isolated yields under very mild conditions and should therefore be of a more general value. Under certain reaction conditions we isolated (amino)acyltriazene derivatives from which dinitrogen was not eliminated. These secondary products are trapped and stabilized witnesses of the first intermediate of the Staudinger reaction, the phosphatriazenes (phosphazides, triazaphosphadienes) which usually eliminate dinitrogen in situ and rapidly rearrange into iminophosphoranes, unless they are derived from conjugated or sterically bulky azides and phosphines. The acyltriazenes could either be thermally decomposed or converted to the corresponding N-alkyl carboxamides through proton-assisted elimination of dinitrogen. All compounds were carefully characterized through MS spectrometry, (1)H, (19)F, (31)P and (13)C NMR spectroscopy.

Human skin permeation of branched-chain 3-0-alkyl ester and carbonate prodrugs of naltrexone

PURPOSE

Physicochemical characterization and in vitro human skin diffusion studies of branched-chain ester and carbonate prodrugs of naltrexone (NTX) were compared and contrasted with straight-chain ester and carbonate NTX prodrugs.

METHODS

Human skin permeation rates, thermal parameters, solubilities in mineral oil and buffer, and stabilities in buffer and plasma were determined. Partition coefficients between stratum corneum and vehicle were determined for straight- and branched-chain esters with the same number of carbon atoms.

RESULTS

Branched prodrugs had lower melting points, lower buffer solubilities, and higher mineral oil solubilities than NTX. The transdermal flux values from all of these branched prodrugs were significantly lower than flux values from the straight-chain ester and the methyl carbonate prodrugs. Straight-chain prodrugs had higher partition coefficient values and higher calculated thermodynamic activities than their branched-chain counterparts. The prodrug hydrolysis to NTX in buffer and plasma was slower for prodrugs with increased branching.

CONCLUSIONS

Branched-chain prodrugs with bulky moieties had smaller stratum corneum-vehicle partition coefficients and lower thermodynamic activities that resulted in smaller transdermal flux values than straight-chain prodrugs.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of methyltriazene prodrugs simultaneously releasing DNA-methylating agents and the antiresistance drug O(6)-benzylguanine

Active resistance of tumor cells against DNA alkylating agents arises by the production of high levels of the DNA repair protein O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT). This resistance during treatment with, for example, the anticancer agent temozolomide can be reversed by administration of O(6)-benzylguanine, a purine that transfers its benzyl group to AGT and irreversibly inactivates it. Stimulated by the favorable therapeutic properties of temozolomide we designed and synthesized DNA-methylating triazenes built on the antiresistance benzylguanine ring system. The condensation reaction between 2-nitrosopurines and acylhydrazines proved to be very suitable to prepare acylated methyltriazenes. Fine-tuning of the release rate of both the methylating agent (diazomethane) and of O(6)-benzylguanine was accomplished by variation of the hydrolysis-sensitive acyl substituent in 5. Hydrolysis studies were performed with (1)H NMR and revealed that the p-nitrophenyl substituted triazene 26 showed an optimal hydrolysis rate (t(1/2) = 23 min) and almost 100% selectivity for the desired fragmentation route. In vitro antitumor studies in the 60 human tumor cell line panel of the National Cancer Institute confirmed the superior properties of p-nitrophenyl-protected methyl triazene 26, showing mean IC(50) values of 10 microM compared to 100 microM for temozolomide. In analogy with temozolomide, triazene 26 showed however low preference for each of the cancer subpanels, with IC(50) values between 8 and 14 microM.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of triazenoindazoles and triazenopyrazoles: a comparative study

Several triazenoindazoles and triazenopyrazoles were prepared transforming the appropriate aminoindazoles and aminopyrazoles in the corresponding diazonium salts which were reacted with dimethylamine, diethylamine and pyrrolidine. All the triazenes were tested for their antiproliferative activity against K562, HL60, L1210 and MCF7 cell lines. The biological data showed that the benzocondensation plays a positive role on the antiproliferative activity. The (1)H-NMR spectra showed that the rotational barrier around the N(2)-N(3) bond in the triazene group can be influenced both by the position of this group in the indazole nucleus and by the substitution pattern in the benzene moiety.

An ab initio study of conformations and sigmatropic shifts in triazene and its mono-, di-, and trimethyl derivatives

A computational study of triazene, methyltriazene, dimethyltriazene, and trimethyltriazene is presented. A number of different conformers are analyzed and rationalized using hyperconjugation and steric interaction arguments. The transition states for rotation, inversion, and proton and methyl shifts (including water-mediated) are found and the barriers determined.Key words: triazene, ab initio, methyltriazene, 1,3-proton shift.

Synthesis, stability and in vitro dermal evaluation of aminocarbonyloxymethyl esters as prodrugs of carboxylic acid agents

Aminocarbonyloxymethyl esters based on (S)-amino acid carriers were synthesised and evaluated as potential prodrugs of carboxylic acid agents. In addition, the compounds were evaluated as topical prodrugs with the aim of improving the dermal delivery of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents: naproxen and flufenamic acid. The lipophilicities of these compounds were determined and their hydrolyses in aqueous solutions and in human plasma were examined. Compounds containing a secondary carbamate group were hydrolysed at pH 7.4 by two different routes: (i) direct nucleophilic attack at the ester carbonyl carbon leading to the release of the parent carboxylic acid and (ii) intramolecular rearrangement involving an O-->N acyl migration, leading to the formation of the corresponding amide. The rearrangement pathway is highly dependent on the size of the carboxylic acid and amino acid substituents, being eliminated when the amino acid is valine or leucine. In contrast, compounds decomposed in plasma exclusively through ester hydrolysis, most releasing the parent carboxylic acid quantitatively with half-lives shorter than 5 min. The permeation of selected prodrugs across excised postmortem human skin was studied in vitro. All prodrugs evaluated exhibited a lower flux than the corresponding parent carboxylic acid. The poor skin permeation observed for compounds is most probably due to their low aqueous solubility and high partition coefficient.