Bojan Marković

Docking Studies and Anti-inflammatory Activity of β-Hydroxy-β-arylpropanoic Acids

The article describes a two-step synthesis of diastereomeric 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-(4-biphenylyl)butanoic acids. In the first step an intermediate α-bromo propanoic acid 1-ethoxyethyl ester was synthesized. The second step is a new modified Reformatsky reaction in presence of Zn in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at –5 to 10 °C between the previously synthesized intermediate and 4-acetylbiphenyl. Synthesis of the other studied β-hydroxy-β-arylpropanoic acids has already been reported. These β-hydroxy-β-arylpropanoic acids belong to the arylpropanoic acid class of compounds, structurally similar to the NSAIDs such as ibuprofen. The anti-inflammatory activity and gastric tolerability of the synthesized compounds were evaluated. Molecular docking experiments were carried out to identify potential COX-2 inhibitors among the β-hydroxy-β-aryl-alkanoic acids class. The results indicate that all compounds possess significant anti-inflammatory activity after oral administration and that the compounds 2-(9-(9-hydroxy-fluorenyl))-2-methylpropanoic acid (5) and 3-hydroxy-3,3-diphenyl-propanoic acid (3) possess the strongest anti-inflammatory activity, comparable to that of ibuprofen, a standard NSAID, and that none of tested substances or ibuprofen produced any significant gastric lesions.

17β-carboxamide steroids – in vitro prediction of human skin permeability and retention using PAMPA technique

In this paper, twenty-two 17β-carboxamide steroids were synthesized from five corticosteroids (hydrocortisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone and betamethasone) in two steps. The first step was periodic acid oxydation of these corticosteroids to corresponding cortienic acids and the second step was amidation of thus obtained cortienic acids with esterified l-amino acids. These compounds are potential soft corticosteroids with local anti-inflammatory activity in the skin. Parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) was applied in order to predict permeability and retention of these compounds in human skin. Comparison of permeability and retention parameters between 17β-carboxamide steroids and corresponding corticosteroids was performed. Compounds with significantly higher retention were identified and the derivative that does not have significantly higher permeability was underlined. Molecular structures of all compounds were optimized by use of Gaussian semiempirical/PM3 method. Geometrical, thermodynamic, physicochemical and electronical molecular parameters of the optimized structures were calculated and quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) analysis was performed in order to explain permeability and retention of these compounds. ANN-, PLS- and MLR-QSPR models were created. Quality of these models was evaluated by commonly used statistical parameters and the most reliable models were selected. Analyzing descriptors in the selected models, main molecular properties that influence permeability and retention in the PAMPA artificial membrane were identified. Based on these data, further structural modifications could be applied in order to increase retention without significant increase of permeability, which can positively affect potential local anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds. Selected QSPR models could be used as in silico tool for predicting human skin permeability and retention of novel 17β-carboxamide steroids without performing PAMPA experiments.

In vitro modeling of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor's absorption with chromatographic retention data and selected molecular descriptors.

Set of nine angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (enalapril, quinapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, cilazapril, ramipril, benazepril, perindopril and moexipril) were studied to evaluate the correlation between their intestinal absorption and salting-out thin-layer chromatography hydrophobicity parameters (RM(0) or C0) obtained by ascending technique applying four different salts, (NH4)2SO4, NH4NO3, NH4Cl and NaCl as mobile phases. The best correlations between KOWWIN logP and both hydrophobicity parameters, RM(0) and C0, (R(2)>0.850) were observed for NaCl (1.0-3.0M) while the lowest R(2) was obtained for (NH4)2SO4 (0.649 and 0.427, respectively) due to highest salting-out effect of (NH4)2SO4. The effect of selected inorganic salts in the salting-out mobile phases, on the solutes solubility and retention was evaluated. The topological polar surface area should be selected as independent variable (only this molecular descriptor showed low correlation with chromatographic hydrophobicity parameters) for multiple linear regression analysis, to obtain reliable correlation between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors intestinal absorption data and salting-out thin-layer chromatograpic hydrophobicity parameters. These correlations provide R(2)=0.823 for RM(0) or R(2)=0.799 for C0 indicating good relationship between predicted and literature available intestinal absorption (ranged from 22% to 70%) of investigated angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The proposed in vitro model was checked with three in addition experimentally analyzed drugs, zofenopril, trandolapril and captoril. The satisfactory absorption prediction was obtained for zofenopril and trandolapril, while divergence established for captopril resulted from considerably different structure.

A PAMPA Assay as Fast Predictive Model of Passive Human Skin Permeability of New Synthesized Corticosteroid C-21 Esters

The permeation properties of twenty newly synthesized α-alkoxyalkanoyl and α-aryloxyalkanoyl C-21 esters of standard corticosteroids: Fluocinolone acetonide, dexamethasone, triamcinolone acetonide and hydrocortisone were established using a PAMPA assay (70% silicone oil and 30% isopropyl myristate). The data were compared with parent corticosteroids with addition of mometasone furoate and hydrocortisone acetate. All newly synthesized corticosteroid C-21 esters have effective permeability coefficients higher then -6, mostly followed with high values of retention factors and low permeation. The examined compounds were grouped through relationship between obtained retention factors and permeation parameters (groups I–III). The classification confirmed group I (membrane retentions as well as permeation lower then 30%) for all corticosteroid standards except mometasone furoate, a potent topical corticosteroid which, with high membrane retention (81%) and low permeation (7.7%) fits into group III. The largest number of new synthesized corticosteroids C-21 esters, among them all fluocinolone acetonide C-21 esters, have high membrane retentions (32.4%–86.5%) and low permeations (1.3%–27.1%), fitting in group III. The classification was related to previously obtained anti-inflammatory activity data for the fluocinolone acetonide C-21 esters series. According to the PAMPA results the new synthesized esters could be considered as potential new prodrugs with useful benefit/risk ratio.

Correlation between ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography hydrophobicity data for evaluation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors absorption.

In this research seven ACE inhibitors (enalapril, quinapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, cilazapril, ramipril, benazepril) were studied to evaluate the correlation between their absorption and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) and reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography (RP-TLC) hydrophobicity data (φ(0) or C(0) parameters, respectively). Their absorption values were in the range of 25-60%, while calculated KOWWIN logP values were from -0.94 to 6.61. Additionally, perindopril (absorption 70%, KOWWIN logP 2.59) and moexipril (absorption 22%, KOWWIN logP 3.36) were introduced for the theoretical considerations due to their high/low absorption values which were on the opposite sites in comparison with the majority of ACE inhibitors (25-60%). In the theoretical considerations it was shown that the solubility data (logS) must be considered, as independent variable, simultaneously with KOWWIN logP to obtain reliable correlation (r(2)=0.7208) between absorption and ACE inhibitors lipophilicity. As the main topic of this study, the relationships between literature available and absorption data predicted by multiple linear regression (MLR) using logS values besides chromatographically obtained hydrophobicity parameters C(0) (r(2)=0.6424) or φ(0) (r(2)=0.6762) were studied proving that these parameters could be used in ACE inhibitors absorption evaluation. The UHPLC-MS method provides the direct application of experimentally obtained φ(0) values that is the advantage of this method. For better MLR correlation of ACE inhibitors absorption with C(0) parameters (RP-TLC) and logS, mathematical conversion of C(0) parameters to logC(0) values was necessary based on requisite for probability value of regression analysis (P<0.05). The accordance and differences between hydrophobicity parameters obtained by UHPLC-MS and RP-TLC were defined.

Sex-Dependent Anti-Stress Effect of an α5 Subunit Containing GABAA Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulator

Rationale: Current first-line treatments for stress-related disorders such as major depressive disorder (MDD) act on monoaminergic systems and take weeks to achieve a therapeutic effect with poor response and low remission rates. Recent research has implicated the GABAergic system in the pathophysiology of depression, including deficits in interneurons targeting the dendritic compartment of cortical pyramidal cells. Objectives: The present study evaluates whether SH-053-2’F-R-CH3 (denoted “α5-PAM”), a positive allosteric modulator selective for α5-subunit containing GABAA receptors found predominantly on cortical pyramidal cell dendrites, has anti-stress effects. Methods: Female and male C57BL6/J mice were exposed to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) and treated with α5-PAM acutely (30 min prior to assessing behavior) or chronically before being assessed behaviorally. Results: Acute and chronic α5-PAM treatments produce a pattern of decreased stress-induced behaviors (denoted as “behavioral emotionality”) across various tests in female, but not in male mice. Behavioral Z-scores calculated across a panel of tests designed to best model the range and heterogeneity of human symptomatology confirmed that acute and chronic α5-PAM treatments consistently produce significant decreases in behavioral emotionality in several independent cohorts of females. The behavioral responses to α5-PAM could not be completely accounted for by differences in drug brain disposition between female and male mice. In mice exposed to UCMS, expression of the Gabra5 gene was increased in the frontal cortex after acute treatment and in the hippocampus after chronic treatment with α5-PAM in females only, and these expression changes correlated with behavioral emotionality. Conclusion: We showed that acute and chronic positive modulation of α5 subunit-containing GABAA receptors elicit anti-stress effects in a sex-dependent manner, suggesting novel therapeutic modalities.

Oxytocin in corticosterone-induced chronic stress model: Focus on adrenal gland function

Chronic stress conditions can lead to considerable and extensible changes in physiological and psychological performances, and in emergence of risk for various somatic diseases. On the other hand, the neuropeptide oxytocin is reported to increase the resistance of the organism to stress and modulate activity of autonomic nervous system. Chronic corticosterone administration is used as a rat model for a state observed in terms of chronic stress exposure, when negative feedback mechanism of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity is disrupted. In our study, we aimed to investigate whether chronic administration of oxytocin (10 IU/400μL/day for 14days, s.c.) influenced adrenal gland morphology and activity in adult male Wistar rats during long-term corticosterone administration via drinking water (100mg/L for 21days). We examined the influence of treatments on the levels of adrenal gland hormones, corticosterone, adrenaline and noradrenaline, as well as their response to an acute stress challenge evoked by 15-min forced swimming. In addition, the expression of two main monoamine transporters, the noradrenaline transporter (NAT) and vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) in adrenal medulla was measured in the rats exposed to acute stress. Our results showed that oxytocin treatment prevented corticosterone-induced decrease in body weight gain, attenuated adrenal gland atrophy by increasing glandular weight, and the area of the zona fasciculate and reticularis. Chronic corticosterone intake blunted the response of all measured hormones to acute stress, whereas concomitant oxytocin treatment reversed adrenaline and noradrenaline response to acute stress. Furthermore, in adrenal medulla, oxytocin produced significant vasodilatation and stimulated expression of both catecholamine transporters detected both on mRNA and protein level. Our data suggest that oxytocin, by reducing atrophy of adrenal gland, and by increasing catecholamine storage capacity, may be beneficial in conditions accompanied with high glucocorticoid levels, such as chronic stress exposure.

Parenteral nanoemulsions as promising carriers for brain delivery of risperidone: Design, characterization and in vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation.

This paper describes design and evaluation of parenteral lecithin-based nanoemulsions intended for brain delivery of risperidone, a poorly water-soluble psychopharmacological drug. The nanoemulsions were prepared through cold/hot high pressure homogenization and characterized regarding droplet size, polydispersity, surface charge, morphology, drug-vehicle interactions, and physical stability. To estimate the simultaneous influence of nanoemulsion formulation and preparation parameters--co-emulsifier type, aqueous phase type, homogenization temperature--on the critical quality attributes of developed nanoemulsions, a general factorial experimental design was applied. From the established design space and stability data, promising risperidone-loaded nanoemulsions (mean size about 160 nm, size distribution <0.15, zeta potential around -50 mV), containing sodium oleate in the aqueous phase and polysorbate 80, poloxamer 188 or Solutol(®) HS15 as co-emulsifier, were produced by hot homogenization and their ability to improve risperidone delivery to the brain was assessed in rats. Pharmacokinetic study demonstrated erratic brain profiles of risperidone following intraperitoneal administration in selected nanoemulsions, most probably due to their different droplet surface properties (different composition of the stabilizing layer). Namely, polysorbate 80-costabilized nanoemulsion showed increased (1.4-7.4-fold higher) risperidone brain availability compared to other nanoemulsions and drug solution, suggesting this nanoemulsion as a promising carrier worth exploring further for brain targeting.

An application of second-order UV-derivative spectrophotometry for study of solvolysis of a novel fluocinolone acetonide ester.

A novel topical corticosteroid FA-21-PhP, 2-phenoxypropionate ester of fluocinolone acetonide, has been synthesized in order to investigate the possibility of decreasing systemic side effects. In this study model system for in vitro solvolytic reaction of FA-21-PhP has been analyzed in ethanol/water (90:10, v/v) with excess of sodium hydrogen carbonate. The selected conditions have been used as in vitro model for activation of corticosteroid C-21 ester prodrug. The second-order derivative spectrophotometric method (DS) using zero-crossing technique was developed for monitoring ternary mixture of solvolysis. Fluocinolone acetonide (FA) as a solvolyte was determined in the mixture in the concentration range 0.062-0.312 mM using amplitude (2)D(274.96). Experimentally determined LOD value was 0.0295 mM. The accuracy of proposed DS method was confirmed with HPLC referent method. Peak area of parent ester FA-21-PhP was used for solvolysis monitoring to ensure the initial stage of changes. Linear relationship in HPLC assay for parent ester was obtained in the concentration range 0.054-0.54 mM, with experimentally determined LOD value of 0.0041 mM. Investigated solvolytic reaction in the presence of excess of NaHCO(3) proceeded via a pseudo-first-order kinetic with significant correlation coefficients 0.9891 and 0.9997 for DS and HPLC, respectively. The values of solvolysis rate constant calculated according to DS and HPLC methods are in good accordance 0.038 and 0.043 h(-1), respectively.

Docking Studies, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of β-aryl-β-hydroxy propanoic Acids for Anti-inflammatory Activity.

BACKGROUND Nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are numerous and widely used for more than 60 years, but there is still a strong need for developing novel selective NSAIDs. The need is justified by the fact that nonselective NSAIDs can produce serious gastric side effects and that some of the selective NSAID are withdrawn due to their cardiotoxic side effects. METHODS Eight β-hydroxy-β-arylpropanoic acids, which belong to the arylpropanoic acid class of compounds, structurally similar to some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), were docked into 3D catalytic site of both cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Seven out of those eight acids were synthesized using already published modification of Reformatsky reaction additionally optimized by increasing temperature. Synthesized compounds were tested in vivo in order to elucidate anti-inflammatory activity, gastric tolerability and impact on liver function of rats. RESULTS Results of docking studies have indicated that all compounds have potential to selectively inhibit COX-2 isoform, but that the compounds containing polar substituents on phenyl ring are better inhibitors. Results of carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema test have shown that all compounds exhibit dose dependence and good gastric tolerability and none of the tested compounds have shown negative effect on liver function compared to ibuprofen. CONCLUSION The compound containing polar nitro group in para position has shown the best docking results, anti-inflammatory activity, low hepatotoxicity and good gastric tolerability.