Development of a water-soluble matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor as an intra-arterial infusion drug for prevention of restenosis after angioplasty

Discovery of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors as anti-skin photoaging agents

Photodamage is the result of prolonged exposure of the skin to sunlight. This exposure causes an overexpression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), leading to the abnormal degradation of collagen in the skin tissue and resulting in skin aging and damage. This review presents a detailed overview of MMPs as a potential target for addressing skin aging. Specifically, we elucidated the precise mechanisms by which MMP inhibitors exert their anti-photoaging effects. Furthermore, we comprehensively analyzed the current research progress on MMP inhibitors that demonstrate significant inhibitory activity against MMPs and anti-skin photoaging effects. The review also provides insights into the structure-activity relationships of these inhibitors. Our objective in conducting this review is to provide valuable practical information to researchers engaged in investigations on anti-skin photoaging.

Recent advances in MMP inhibitor design

The search for an MMP inhibitor with anticancer efficacy is a nearly three-decade endeavor. This inhibitor is yet to be found. The reasons for this failure include shortcomings in the chemistry of these compounds (including broad MMP sub-type selectivity, metabolic lability, and toxicity) as well as the emerging, and arguably extraordinary, complexity of MMP cell (and cancer) biology. Together these suggest that the successful anticancer inhibitor must possess MMP selectivity against the MMP subtype whose involvement is critical, yet highly temporally (with respect to metastatic progression) and mechanistically (with respect to matrix degradation) regulated. This review summarizes the progression of chemical structure and mechanistic thinking toward these objectives, with emphasis on the disappointment, the perseverance, and the resilient optimism that such an inhibitor is there to be discovered.

Development of a polymeric matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor as a bioactive stent coating material for prevention of restenosis

Drug-eluting stents have been developed to prevent restenosis derived from excessive growth of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) after stenting. In almost every case, however, less- or non-biocompatible polymers were selected for the platform material for impregnating drugs on the stent strut. Consideration was given principally to the physical properties of the polymers, such as their adhesion to the strut and the drug dispersibility in the polymeric matrix. In this study, we designed a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI)-derivatized hydrophobic polymer (PMMPI) for use as a bioactive material for stent coating. This was a copolymer of n-butylmethacrylate and a vinyl monomer of synthetic MMPI (N-Hydroxy-5-carboxyethylcarbonyloxy-2(S)-methy-4(S)-(4-phenoxybenzoyl)amino-pentanamide: ONO-M11-335) with a molecular weight of about 32,000 and MMPI content of 45 per molecule. The precursor of the MMPI monomer produced significant activity in temporally inhibiting SMC proliferation without any cellular damage. After coating with the PMMPI, adhesion and proliferation of SMCs were manifestly prevented even when a small amount of MMPI was released from the polymer. The MMPI-immobilized surface may thus be effective for inhibiting both adhesion and proliferation of SMCs, which is the first step toward in vivo experimentation. It is very much expected that coating stent struts with PMMPI containing an appropriate combination of impregnated drugs will provide a powerful tool for prevention of restenosis with little cytotoxicity.

Future challenges facing the development of specific active-site-directed synthetic inhibitors of MMPs

Despite a deep knowledge on the 3D-structure of several catalytic domains of MMPs, the development of highly specific synthetic active-site-directed inhibitors of MMPs, able to differentiate the different members of this protease family, remains a strong challenge. Due to the flexible nature of MMP active-site, the development of specific MMP inhibitors will need to combine sophisticated theoretical and experimental approaches to decipher in each MMP the specific structural and dynamic features that can be exploited to obtain the desired selectivity.

Solvent-Dependent Coordination Polymers: Cobalt Complexes of 3,5-Dinitrobenzoic Acid and 3,5-Dinitro-4-methylbenzoic Acid with 4,4‘-Bipyrdine

The synthesis, structure elucidation, and analysis of the self-assembly of Co(II) complexes of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid and 3,5-dinitro-4-methylbenzoic acid with 4,4'-bipyridine have been reported. Formation of the complexes and the self-assembly in the three-dimensional structures have been found to be dependent on the solvents (such as acetone, dimethly sulfoxide, etc.) employed for the synthesis of the aggregates. 3,5-Dinitrobenzoic acid forms two coordination polymers, 1a and 1b, from methanol and a mixture of methanol and acetone solvents, respectively, with entirely different recognition patterns. Similarly, 3,5-dinitro-4-methylbenzoic acid also forms two coordination complexes, 2a and 2b, incorporating the solvent of the reaction medium into the crystal lattice. Complex 2a forms a solvated channel structure, whereas 2b gives a bilayered structure, with the layers being separated by solvent of crystallization (dimethyl sulfoxide) molecules. All the complexes have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Complexes 1b, 2a, and 2b crystallize in a monoclinic lattice, but 1a adopts a tetragonal lattice. The unit cell dimensions are, for 1a, a = 8.095(1) A, b = 8.095(1) A, c = 46.283 (6) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 90 degrees, and gamma = 90 degrees (space group P4(3)2(1)2, Z = 4), for 1b, a = 22.774(2) A, b = 11.375 (1) A, c = 22.533(2) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 104.15(1) degrees, and gamma = 90 degrees (space group P2(1)/c, Z = 4), for 2a, a = 17.657(6) A, b = 18.709(4) A, c = 21.044(6) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 108.68(3) degrees, and gamma = 90 degrees (space group, C2/c, Z = 8), and, for 2b, a = 11.025(5) A, b = 15.139(4) A, c = 11.443(4) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 97.48(3) degrees, and gamma = 90 degrees (space group P2/n, Z = 2). In all the complexes 1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b, the basic interaction between Co(II) and 4,4'-bipyridine remains the same with the formation of linear Co-N dative bonds, but the carboxylates display various modes of interaction with Co(II). The average Co-N and Co-O distances are 2.161 and 2.108 A, respectively.