Itaconate, an endogenous immunomodulator from the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, shows therapeutic effects in various disease models, but is highly polar with poor cellular permeability. We previously reported a novel, topical itaconate derivative, SCD-153, for the treatment of alopecia areata. Here, we present the discovery of orally available itaconate derivatives for systemic and skin disorders. Four sets of prodrugs were synthesized using pivaloyloxymethyl (POM), isopropyloxycarbonyloxymethyl (POC), (5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxol-4-yl) methyl (ODOL), and 3-(hexadecyloxy)propyl (HDP) pro-moieties pairing with itaconic acid (IA), 1-methyl itaconate (1-MI), and 4-methyl itaconate (4-MI). Among these, POC-based prodrugs (P2, P9, P13) showed favorable stability, permeability, and pharmacokinetics. Notably, P2 and P13 significantly inhibited Poly(I:C)/IFNγ-induced inflammatory cytokines in human epidermal keratinocytes. Oral studies demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetics releasing micromolar concentrations of IA or 4-MI from P2 and P13, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of prodrug strategies to enhance itaconate's cellular permeability and oral bioavailability, paving the way for clinical translation.
- MeSH
- aplikace orální MeSH
- krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- objevování léků MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * chemie farmakologie chemická syntéza farmakokinetika MeSH
- sukcináty * chemie farmakologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- itaconic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
- prekurzory léčiv * MeSH
- sukcináty * MeSH
Amphotericin B (AmB) is one of the most effective antifungal drugs, with a strong, dose-dependent activity against most Candida and Aspergillus species responsible for life-threatening infections. However, AmB is severely toxic, which hinders its broad use. In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that prodrugging AmB considerably decreases AmB toxicity without affecting its fungicidal activity. For this purpose, we modified the AmB structure by attaching a designer phosphate promoiety, thereby switching off its mode of action and preventing its toxic effects. The original fungicidal activity of AmB was then restored upon prodrug activation by host plasma enzymes. These AmB prodrugs showed a safer toxicity profile than commercial AmB deoxycholate in Candida and Aspergillus species and significantly prolonged larval survival of infected Galleria mellonella larvae. Based on these findings, prodrugging toxic antifungals may be a viable strategy for broadening the antifungal arsenal, opening up opportunities for targeted prodrug design.
- Klíčová slova
- Amphotericin, Antifungal, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Fungal infection, Galleria mellonella, Prodrugs, Toxicity,
- MeSH
- amfotericin B * farmakologie MeSH
- antifungální látky * farmakologie chemie chemická syntéza MeSH
- Aspergillus účinky léků MeSH
- Candida účinky léků MeSH
- larva účinky léků MeSH
- mikrobiální testy citlivosti * MeSH
- molekulární struktura MeSH
- můry účinky léků MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * farmakologie chemie chemická syntéza MeSH
- vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
- vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- amfotericin B * MeSH
- antifungální látky * MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * MeSH
Platinum(IV) compounds possess distinct properties that set them apart from platinum(II) compounds. Often designed as prodrugs, they are reduced within cancer cells to their active platinum(II) form, enabling their cytotoxic effects. Their versatility also lies in their ability to be functionalized and conjugated with bioactive molecules to enhance cancer cell targeting. This report introduces new prodrugs that combine antitumor cisplatin with axially coordinated eugenol, leveraging their synergistic action to target cancer stem cells. A third bioactive ligand, 4-phenylbutyrate or octanoate, was added to further enhance biological activity, creating 'triple action' prodrugs. These new platinum(IV) prodrugs offer a novel approach to cancer therapy by improving targeting, increasing efficacy, overcoming drug resistance, and reducing tumor invasiveness while sparing healthy tissue.
- Klíčová slova
- Cancer stem cells, Cisplatin, Eugenol, Platinum(IV), Spheroids,
- MeSH
- cisplatina * farmakologie MeSH
- eugenol * farmakologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádorové kmenové buňky * účinky léků patologie MeSH
- nádory tračníku * farmakoterapie patologie MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * farmakologie chemie MeSH
- protinádorové látky * farmakologie chemie MeSH
- synergismus léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- cisplatina * MeSH
- eugenol * MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * MeSH
- protinádorové látky * MeSH
Bioorthogonal reactions that enable switching molecular functions by breaking chemical bonds have gained prominence, with the tetrazine-mediated cleavage of trans-cyclooctene caged compounds (click-to-release) being particularly noteworthy for its high versatility, biocompatibility, and fast reaction rates. Despite several recent advances, the development of highly reactive tetrazines enabling quantitative elimination from trans-cyclooctene linkers remains challenging. In this study, we present the synthesis and application of sulfo-tetrazines, a class of derivatives featuring phenolic hydroxyl groups with increased acidity constants (pKa). This unique property leads to accelerated elimination and complete release of the caged molecules within minutes. Moreover, the inclusion of sulfonate groups provides a valuable synthetic handle, enabling further derivatization into sulfonamides, modified with diverse substituents. Significantly, we demonstrate the utility of sulfo-tetrazines in efficiently activating fluorogenic compounds and prodrugs in living cells, offering exciting prospects for their application in bioorthogonal chemistry.
- Klíčová slova
- bioorthogonal chemistry, cleavage reactions, click chemistry, click-to-release, tetrazines,
- MeSH
- click chemie MeSH
- fluorescenční barviva chemie MeSH
- koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- molekulární struktura MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv chemie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- fluorescenční barviva MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv MeSH
Herein, we describe the general design, synthesis, characterization, and biological activity of new multitargeting Pt(IV) prodrugs that combine antitumor cisplatin and dasatinib, a potent inhibitor of Src kinase. These prodrugs exhibit impressive antiproliferative and anti-invasive activities in tumor cell lines in both two-dimensional (2D) monolayers of cell cultures and three-dimensional (3D) spheroids. We show that the cisplatin moiety and dasatinib in the investigated Pt(IV) complexes are both involved in the mechanism of action in MCF7 breast cancer cells and act synergistically. Thus, combining dasatinib and cisplatin into one molecule, compared to using individual components in a mix, may bring several advantages, such as significantly higher activity in cancer cell lines and higher selectivity for tumor cells. Most importantly, Pt(IV)-dasatinib complexes hold significant promise for potential anticancer therapies by targeting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, thus preventing the spread and metastasis of tumors, a value unachievable by a simple combination of both individual components.
- MeSH
- cisplatina * farmakologie MeSH
- dasatinib * farmakologie chemie chemická syntéza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- MFC-7 buňky MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- organoplatinové sloučeniny farmakologie chemie chemická syntéza MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * farmakologie chemie chemická syntéza MeSH
- proliferace buněk účinky léků MeSH
- protinádorové látky * farmakologie chemie chemická syntéza MeSH
- screeningové testy protinádorových léčiv MeSH
- synergismus léků * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- cisplatina * MeSH
- dasatinib * MeSH
- organoplatinové sloučeniny MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * MeSH
- protinádorové látky * MeSH
The development of new antiviral agents such as nucleoside analogues or acyclic nucleotide analogues (ANPs) and prodrugs thereof is an ongoing task. We report on the synthesis of three types of lipophilic triphosphate analogues of (R)-PMPA and dialkylated diphosphate analogues of (R)-PMPA. A highly selective release of the different nucleotide analogues ((R)-PMPA-DP, (R)-PMPA-MP, and (R)-PMPA) from these compounds was achieved. All dialkylated (R)-PMPA-prodrugs proved to be very stable in PBS as well as in CEM/0 cell extracts and human plasma. In primer extension assays, both the monoalkylated and the dialkylated (R)-PMPA-DP derivatives acted as (R)-PMPA-DP as a substrate for HIV-RT. In contrast, no incorporation events were observed using human polymerase γ. The dialkylated (R)-PMPA-compounds exhibited significant anti-HIV efficacy in HIV-1/2 infected cells (CEM/0 and CEM/TK-). Remarkably, the dialkylated (R)-PMPA-MP derivative 9a showed a 326-fold improved activity as compared to (R)-PMPA in HIV-2 infected CEM/TK- cells as well as a very high SI of 14,000. We are convinced that this study may significantly contribute to advancing antiviral agents developed based on nucleotide analogues in the future.
- Klíčová slova
- Antiviral compounds, DNA polymerase, Nucleoside, Prodrug, Reverse transcriptase, Triphosphate,
- MeSH
- adenin MeSH
- HIV-2 MeSH
- látky proti HIV * chemie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nukleotidy MeSH
- organofosfonáty * chemie MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * chemie MeSH
- tenofovir farmakologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- adenin MeSH
- látky proti HIV * MeSH
- nukleotidy MeSH
- organofosfonáty * MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * MeSH
- tenofovir MeSH
The glutamine antagonist 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) exhibits remarkable anticancer efficacy; however, its therapeutic potential is hindered by its toxicity to gastrointestinal (GI) tissues. We recently reported the discovery of DRP-104, a tumor-targeted DON prodrug with excellent efficacy and tolerability, which is currently in clinical trials. However, DRP-104 exhibits limited aqueous solubility, and the instability of its isopropyl ester promoiety leads to the formation of an inactive M1-metabolite, reducing overall systemic prodrug exposure. Herein, we aimed to synthesize DON prodrugs with various ester and amide promoieties with improved solubility, GI stability, and DON tumor delivery. Twenty-one prodrugs were synthesized and characterized in stability and pharmacokinetics studies. Of these, P11, tert-butyl-(S)-6-diazo-2-((S)-2-(2-(dimethylamino)acetamido)-3-phenylpropanamido)-5-oxo-hexanoate, showed excellent metabolic stability in plasma and intestinal homogenate, high aqueous solubility, and high tumor DON exposures and preserved the ideal tumor-targeting profile of DRP-104. In conclusion, we report a new generation of glutamine antagonist prodrugs with improved physicochemical and pharmacokinetic attributes.
- MeSH
- acetamidy * chemie farmakologie MeSH
- diazooxonorleucin farmakokinetika MeSH
- estery terapeutické užití MeSH
- glutamin MeSH
- indoly * chemie farmakologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádory * farmakoterapie MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * chemie farmakologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
- Názvy látek
- acetamidy * MeSH
- diazooxonorleucin MeSH
- estery MeSH
- glutamin MeSH
- indoly * MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * MeSH
- sirpiglenastat MeSH Prohlížeč
Encapsulation into liposomes is a formulation strategy that can improve efficacy and reduce side effects of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that exhibit poor biodistribution or pharmacokinetics when administered alone. However, many APIs are unsuitable for liposomal formulations intended for parenteral administration due to their inherent physicochemical properties─lipid bilayer permeability and water-lipid equilibrium partitioning coefficient. Too high permeability results in premature leakage from liposomes, while too low permeability means the API is not able to pass across biological barriers. There are several options for solving this issue: (i) change of the lipid bilayer composition, (ii) addition of a permeability enhancer, or (iii) modification of the chemical structure of the API to design a prodrug. The latter approach was taken in the present work, and the effect of small changes in the molecular structure of the API on its permeation rate across a lipidic bilayer was systematically explored utilizing computer simulations. An in silico methodology for prodrug design based on the COSMOperm approach has been proposed and applied to four APIs (abiraterone, cytarabine, 5-fluorouracil, and paliperidone). It is shown that the addition of aliphatic hydrocarbon chains via ester or amide bonds can render the molecule more lipophilic and increase its permeability by approximately 1 order of magnitude for each 2 carbon atoms added, while the formation of fructose adducts can provide a more hydrophilic character to the molecule and reduce its lipid partitioning. While partitioning was found to depend only on the size and type of the added group, permeability was found to depend also on the added group location. Overall, it has been shown that both permeability and lipid partitioning coefficient can be systematically shifted into the desired liposome formulability window by appropriate group contributions to the parental drug. This can significantly increase the portfolio of APIs for which liposome or lipid nanoparticle formulations become feasible.
- Klíčová slova
- COSMOperm, lipid bilayer, partitioning coefficient, permeability, prodrug,
- MeSH
- fluoruracil MeSH
- lipidové dvojvrstvy chemie MeSH
- liposomy * chemie MeSH
- permeabilita MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * chemie MeSH
- tkáňová distribuce MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Názvy látek
- fluoruracil MeSH
- lipidové dvojvrstvy MeSH
- liposomy * MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv * MeSH
This study describes the discovery of novel prodrugs bearing tyrosine derivatives instead of the phenol moiety present in FDA-approved tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF). The synthesis was optimized to afford diastereomeric mixtures of novel prodrugs in one pot (yields up to 86%), and the epimers were resolved using a chiral HPLC column into fast-eluting and slow-eluting epimers. In human lymphocytes, the most efficient tyrosine-based prodrug reached a single-digit picomolar EC50 value against HIV-1 and nearly 300-fold higher selectivity index (SI) compared to TAF. In human hepatocytes, the most efficient prodrugs exhibited subnanomolar EC50 values for HBV and up to 26-fold higher SI compared to TAF. Metabolic studies demonstrated markedly higher cellular uptake of the prodrugs and substantially higher levels of released tenofovir inside the cells compared to TAF. These promising results provide a strong foundation for further evaluation of the reported prodrugs and their potential utility in the development of highly potent antivirals.
- MeSH
- amidy chemie MeSH
- antivirové látky chemie farmakologie MeSH
- fenol chemie MeSH
- hepatocyty virologie MeSH
- HIV-1 účinky léků MeSH
- kyseliny fosforečné chemie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
- objevování léků * MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv chemie farmakologie MeSH
- stereoizomerie MeSH
- tenofovir chemie farmakologie MeSH
- tyrosin chemie MeSH
- virus hepatitidy B účinky léků MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Názvy látek
- amidy MeSH
- antivirové látky MeSH
- fenol MeSH
- kyseliny fosforečné MeSH
- phosphoramidic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
- prekurzory léčiv MeSH
- tenofovir MeSH
- tyrosin MeSH
Four ferrocene derivatives - ferrocenecarboxylic acid, ferrocenium salt, ferroceneboronic acid, and aminoferrocene - were characterized electrochemically, and their cytotoxicity was probed using cancer cells (line MG-63). We related the observed cytotoxicity with the determined redox potentials of these four ferrocenes - aminoferrocene with its lowest redox potential exhibited the highest cytotoxicity. Thus, we synthesized four derivatives consisting of aminoferrocene and phenylboronic acid residue with the intent to employ them as ROS-activated prodrugs (ROS - reactive oxygen species). We characterized them and studied their time-dependent stability in aqueous environments. Then, we performed electrochemical measurements at oxidative conditions to confirm ROS-responsivity of the synthesized molecules. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the synthesized molecules was tested using cancer MG-63 cells and noncancerous NIH-3T3 cells. The experiments revealed sought behaviour, especially for para-regioisomers of synthesized ferrocenyliminoboronates.
- Klíčová slova
- Aminoferrocene, Electrochemical characterization, Ferrocenyliminoboronates, MG-63, ROS-activated prodrugs, Redox-dependent cytotoxicity,
- MeSH
- kyseliny boronové chemie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- metaloceny chemie farmakologie MeSH
- molekulární struktura MeSH
- myši MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- oxidace-redukce MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv chemie farmakologie MeSH
- reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus MeSH
- viabilita buněk účinky léků MeSH
- železnaté sloučeniny chemie farmakologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Názvy látek
- benzeneboronic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
- ferrocene MeSH Prohlížeč
- ferrocenecarboxylic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
- ferrocenium MeSH Prohlížeč
- kyseliny boronové MeSH
- metaloceny MeSH
- prekurzory léčiv MeSH
- reaktivní formy kyslíku MeSH
- železnaté sloučeniny MeSH
