John N. Freskos

Multicompartment Polymer Nanostructures with Ratiometric Dual-Emission pH-Sensitivity

Pyrazine-labeled multicompartment nanostructures are shown to exhibit enhanced pH-responsive blue-shifted fluorescence emission intensities compared to their simpler core-shell spherical analogs. An amphiphilic linear triblock terpolymer of ethylene oxide, N-acryloxysuccinimide, and styrene, PEO(45)-b-PNAS(105)-b-PS(45), which lacks significant incompatibility for the hydrophobic block segments and undergoes gradual hydrolysis of the NAS units, underwent supramolecular assembly in mixtures of organic solvent and water to afford multicompartment micelles (MCMs) with a narrow size distribution. The assembly process was followed over time and found to evolve from individual polymer nanodroplets containing internally phase segregated domains, of increasing definition, and ultimately to dissociate into discrete micelles. Upon covalent cross-linking of the MCMs with pH-insensitive pyrazine-based diamino cross-linkers, pH-responsive, photonic multicompartment nanostructures (MCNs) were produced. These MCNs exhibited significant enhancement of overall structural stability, in comparison with the MCMs, and internal structural tunability through the cross-linking chemistry. Meanwhile, the complex compartmentalized morphology exerted unique pH-responsive fluorescence dual-emission properties, indicating promise in ratiometric pH-sensing applications.

Orally Active MMP-1 Sparing α-Tetrahydropyranyl and α-Piperidinyl Sulfone Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) Inhibitors with Efficacy in Cancer, Arthritis, and Cardiovascular Disease

α-Sulfone-α-piperidine and α-tetrahydropyranyl hydroxamates were explored that are potent inhibitors of MMPs-2, -9, and -13 that spare MMP-1, with oral efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth in mice and left-ventricular hypertrophy in rats and in the bovine cartilage degradation ex vivo explant system. α-Piperidine 19v (SC-78080/SD-2590) was selected for development toward the initial indication of cancer, while α-piperidine and α-tetrahydropyranyl hydroxamates 19w (SC-77964) and 9i (SC-77774), respectively, were identified as backup compounds.

Hydrophilic pyrazine dyes as exogenous fluorescent tracer agents for real-time point-of-care measurement of glomerular filtration rate.

Various hydrophilic pyrazine-bis(carboxamides) derived from 3,5-diamino-pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid bearing neutral and anionic groups were prepared and evaluated for use as fluorescent glomerular filtration rate (GFR) tracer agents. Among these, the dianionic d-serine pyrazine derivatives 2d and 2j, and the neutral dihydroxypropyl 2h, exhibited favorable physicochemical and clearance properties. In vitro studies show that 2d, 2h, and 2j have low plasma protein binding, a necessary condition for renal excretion. In vivo animal model results show that these three compounds exhibit a plasma clearance equivalent to iothalamate (a commonly considered gold standard GFR agent). In addition, these compounds have a higher urine recovery compared to iothalamate. Finally, the plasma clearance of 2d, 2h, and 2j remained unchanged upon blockage of the tubular secretion pathway with probenecid, a necessary condition for establishment of clearance via glomerular filtration only. Hence, 2d, 2h, and 2j are promising candidates for translation to the clinic as exogenous fluorescent tracer agents in real-time point-of-care monitoring of GFR.

Design of potent inhibitors of human beta-secretase. Part 2.

We describe an optimized series of acyclic hydroxyethylamine transition state isosteres of beta-secretase that incorporates a variety of P(2) side chains that yield potent inhibitors with excellent cellular activity. A 2.2A crystal structure of compound 13 is shown.

Exogenous fluorescent tracer agents based on pegylated pyrazine dyes for real-time point-of-care measurement of glomerular filtration rate

Novel pyrazine carboxamides bearing hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) moieties were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for use as fluorescent glomerular filtration rate (GFR) tracer agents. Among these, compounds 4d and 5c that contain about 48 ethylene oxide units in the PEG chain exhibited the most favorable physicochemical and renal clearance properties. In vitro studies show that these two compounds have low plasma protein binding, a necessary condition for renal excretion. In vivo animal model results show that 4d and 5c have a higher urine recovery of the injected dose than iothalamate (a commonly considered gold standard GFR agent). Pharmacokinetic studies show that these two compounds exhibit a plasma clearance equivalent to iothalamate, but with a faster (i.e. lower) terminal half-life than iothalamate (possibly from restricted distribution into the extracellular space due to large molecular size and hydrodynamic volume). Furthermore, the plasma clearance of 4d and 5c remained unchanged upon blockage of the tubular secretion pathway with probenecid, a necessary condition for establishment of clearance via glomerular filtration exclusively. Finally, noninvasive real-time monitoring of this class of compounds was demonstrated by pharmacokinetic clearance of 5c by optical measurements in rat model, which correlates strongly with plasma concentration of the tracer. Hence, 4d and 5c are promising candidates for translation to the clinic as exogenous fluorescent tracer agents in real-time point-of-care monitoring of GFR.

α-Amino-β-sulphone hydroxamates as potent MMP-13 inhibitors that spare MMP-1

Abstract A series of α-amino-β-sulphone hydroxamates was prepared and evaluated for potency versus MMP-13 and selectivity versus MMP-1. Various substituents were employed on the α-amino group (P1 position), as well as different groups attached to the sulphone group extending into P1′. Low nanomolar potency was obtained for MMP-13 with selectivity versus MMP-1 of >1000× for a number of analogues.

Influence of Nanostructure Morphology on Host Capacity and Kinetics of Guest Release

Nano-objects have gained wide interest as potential drugdelivery systems due to their unique properties that combine the internal capacity for loading cargo, an external surface area for the conjugation of ligands to direct their interactions with biological receptors, and dimensions that allow for extended biological circulation, together with their exceptional manipulability in size, shape, and the capacity to encapsulate hydrophobic or hydrophilic drugs. Today, there are several nanoscopic therapeutic systems clinically approved for usage and many more in various phases of clinical trials. [ 1 ] For example, SMANCS is a clinically approved polymer–protein conjugate between poly(styreneco -maleic acid) (PSco -MA) and neocarzinostatin (NCS). [ 2 ] Typically used as a formulation with Lipiodol, the therapeutic effect of the macromolecule relies on passive targeting to tumors by utilizing the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. DOXIL and Abraxane are also clinically approved, passive-targeting cancer chemotherapeutics that consists of PEGylated liposomes/doxorubicin (DOX) and albumin proteins loaded with paclitaxel, respectively. The former encapsulates water-soluble DOX within the interior of the liposome while the latter allows water-insoluble paclitaxel molecules to reside within the hydrophobic pockets of albumin. Both examples share two critical traits: the nanoscopic size of the drug–polymer composite and stealthy characteristics. The hydrodynamic diameter of DOXIL particles is ca. 90 nm and 110 nm for Abraxane particles (see Supporting Information (SI)). PEGylation provides the drug-encapsulating liposome a stealthy character in vivo and albumin is abundant in serum and, therefore, naturally uninteresting to the immune system. These simple, passivetargeting drug-delivery agents have found success in treating

A fundamental investigation of cross-linking efficiencies within discrete nanostructures, using the cross-linker as a reporting molecule

Various bi-functional pyrazine-based chromophores were used as cross-linkers to probe directly the efficiencies of their incorporation into the shell of block copolymer micelles. In addition, the block copolymer micelles were made to carry pre-installed reactive functionalities along the central block of an amphiphilic triblock copolymer. Unique photo-physical characteristics were observed, depending upon the type of pyrazine cross-linker, the conditions used for cross-linking and the stoichiometries applied.

Identification, synthesis and SAR of amino substituted pyrido(3,2b)pyrazinones as potent and selective PDE5 inhibitors

A new class of potent and selective PDE5 inhibitors is disclosed. Guided by X-ray crystallographic data, optimization of an HTS lead led to the discovery of a series of 2-aryl, (N8)-alkyl substituted-6-aminosubstituted pyrido[3,2b]pyrazinones which show potent inhibition of the PDE5 enzyme. Synthetic details and some structure-activity relationships are also presented.

Tunable dual-emitting shell-crosslinked nano-objects as single-component ratiometric pH-sensing materials

Dual-emitting photonic nano-objects that can sense changes in the environmental pH are designed based on shell-crosslinked micelles assembled from amphiphilic block copolymers and crosslinked with pH-insensitive chromophores. The chromophoric crosslinkers are tetra-functionalized pyrazine molecules that bear a set of terminal aliphatic amine groups and a set of anilino amine groups, which demonstrate morphology-dependent reactivities towards the poly(acrylic acid) shell domain of the nano-objects. The extent to which the anilino amine groups react with the nano-object shell is shown to affect the hypsochromic shift (blue-shift). The ratio of fluorescence intensity at 496 nm over that of 560 nm is dependent upon the solution pH. We report, herein, observations on the pH-sensitive dual-emission photophysical properties of rod-shaped or spherical nano-objects, whose shell domains offer two distinct platforms for amidation reactions to occur-through formation of activated esters upon addition of carbodiimide or pre-installation of activated ester groups. We demonstrate that physical manipulations (changes in morphology or particle dimensions) or chemical manipulations of the crosslinking reaction (the order of installation of activated esters) lead to fine tuning of dual-emission over ca. 60 nm in a physiologically relevant pH range. Rod-shaped shell-crosslinked nanostructures with poly(p-hydroxystyrene) core show blue-shift as a function of increasing pH while spherical shell-crosslinked nanostructures with polystyrene core and poly(ethylene oxide) corona exhibit blue-shift as a function of decreasing pH.