Marcelo Zaldini Hernandes

Halogen atoms in the modern medicinal chemistry: hints for the drug design.

A significant number of drugs and drug candidates in clinical development are halogenated structures. For a long time, insertion of halogen atoms on hit or lead compounds was predominantly performed to exploit their steric effects, through the ability of these bulk atoms to occupy the binding site of molecular targets. However, halogens in drug - target complexes influence several processes rather than steric aspects alone. For example, the formation of halogen bonds in ligand-target complexes is now recognized as a kind of intermolecular interaction that favorably contributes to the stability of ligand-target complexes. This paper is aimed at introducing the fascinating versatility of halogen atoms. It starts summarizing the prevalence of halogenated drugs and their structural and pharmacological features. Next, we discuss the identification and prediction of halogen bonds in protein-ligand complexes, and how these bonds should be exploited. Interesting results of halogen insertions during the processes of hit-to-lead or lead-to-drug conversions are also detailed. Polyhalogenated anesthetics and protein kinase inhibitors that bear halogens are analyzed as cases studies. Thereby, this review serves as one guide for the virtual screening of libraries containing halogenated compounds and may be a source of inspiration for the medicinal chemists.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity of new arylidene-thiazolidine-2,4-diones as PPARγ ligands

Eight new 5-arylidene-3-benzyl-thiazolidine-2,4-diones with halide groups on their benzyl rings were synthesized and assayed in vivo to investigate their anti-inflammatory activities. These compounds showed considerable biological efficacy when compared to rosiglitazone, a potent and well-known agonist of PPARgamma, which was used as a reference drug. This suggests that the substituted 5-arylidene and 3-benzylidene groups play important roles in the anti-inflammatory properties of this class of compounds. Docking studies with these compounds indicated that they exhibit specific interactions with key residues located in the site of the PPARgamma structure, which corroborates the hypothesis that these molecules are potential ligands of PPARgamma. In addition, competition binding assays showed that four of these compounds bound directly to the ligand-binding domain of PPARgamma, with reduced affinity when compared to rosiglitazone. An important trend was observed between the docking scores and the anti-inflammatory activities of this set of molecules. The analysis of the docking results, which takes into account the hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions between the ligands and the target, explained why the 3-(2-bromo-benzyl)-5-(4-methanesulfonyl-benzylidene)-thiazolidine-2,4-dione compound had the best activity and the best docking score. Almost all of the stronger hydrophilic interactions occurred between the substituted 5-arylidene group of this compound and the residues of the binding site.

Quercetin as an inhibitor of snake venom secretory phospholipase A2

As polyphenolic compounds isolated from plants extracts, flavonoids have been applied to various pharmaceutical uses in recent decades due to their anti-inflammatory, cancer preventive, and cardiovascular protective activities. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the flavonoid quercetin on Crotalus durissus terrificus secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), an important protein involved in the release of arachidonic acid from phospholipid membranes. The protein was chemically modified by treatment with quercetin, which resulted in modifications in the secondary structure as evidenced through circular dichroism. In addition, quercetin was able to inhibit the enzymatic activity and some pharmacological activities of sPLA2, including its antibacterial activity, its ability to induce platelet aggregation, and its myotoxicity by approximately 40%, but was not able to reduce the inflammatory and neurotoxic activities of sPLA2. These results suggest the existence of two pharmacological sites in the protein, one that is correlated with the enzymatic site and another that is distinct from it. We also performed molecular docking to better understand the possible interactions between quercetin and sPLA2. Our docking data showed the existence of hydrogen-bonded, polar interactions and hydrophobic interactions, suggesting that other flavonoids with similar structures could bind to sPLA2. Further research is warranted to investigate the potential use of flavonoids as sPLA2 inhibitors.

Synthesis, Cruzain docking, and in vitro studies of aryl-4-oxothiazolylhydrazones against Trypanosoma cruzi.

Research in recent years has demonstrated that the Trypanosoma cruzi cysteine protease cruzain (TCC) is a valid chemotherapeutic target. Herein we describe a small library of aryl‐4‐oxothiazolylhydrazones that have been tested in assays against T. cruzi cell cultures. The docking studies carried out suggest that these compounds are potential ligands for the TCC enzyme. The most promising compound of this series, N‐(4‐oxo‐5‐ethyl‐2′‐thiazolin‐2‐yl)‐N′‐phenylthio‐(Z)‐ethylidenehydrazone (6 f), was shown to be very active at non‐cytotoxic concentrations in in vitro assays with mammalian cells and has a potency comparable with reference drugs such as nifurtimox (Nfx) and benznidazole (Bdz).

The encapsulation of β-lapachone in 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex into liposomes: a physicochemical evaluation and molecular modeling approach.

The aim of this study was to encapsulate lapachone (β-lap) or inclusion complex (β-lap:HPβ-CD) in liposomes and to evaluate their physicochemical characteristics. In addition, the investigation of the main aspects of the interaction between β-lap and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβ-CD), using both experimental and molecular modeling approaches was discussed. Furthermore, the in vitro drug release kinetics was evaluated. First, a phase solubility study of β-lap in HPβ-CD was performed and the β-lap:HPβ-CD was prepared by the freeze-drying technique. A 302-fold increase of solubility was achieved for β-lap in HPβ-CD solution with a constant of association K(1:1) of 961 M(-1) and a complexation efficiency of β-lap of 0.1538. (1)H NMR, TG, DSC, IR, Raman and SEM indicated a change in the molecular environment of β-lap in the inclusion complex. Molecular modeling confirms these results suggesting that β-lap was included in the cavity of HPβ-CD, with an intermolecular interaction energy of -23.67 kJ mol(-1). β-lap:HPβ-CD and β-lap-loaded liposomes presented encapsulation efficiencies of 93% and 97%, respectively. The kinetic rate constants of 183.95±1.82 μg/h and 216.25±2.34 μg/h were calculated for β-lap and β-lap:HPβ-CD-loaded liposomes, respectively. In conclusion, molecular modeling elucidates the formation of the inclusion complex, stabilized through hydrogen bonds, and the encapsulation of β-lap and β-lap:HPβ-CD into liposomes could provide an alternative means leading eventually to its use in cancer research.

2-Pyridyl thiazoles as novel anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agents: structural design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation.

The present work reports on the synthesis, anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activities and docking studies of a novel series of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3-thiazoles derived from 2-pyridine thiosemicarbazone. The majority of these compounds are potent cruzain inhibitors and showed excellent inhibition on the trypomastigote form of the parasite, and the resulting structure-activity relationships are discussed. Together, these data present a novel series of thiazolyl hydrazones with potential effects against Chagas disease and they could be important leads in continuing development against Chagas disease.

The Use of Solid Dispersion Systems in Hydrophilic Carriers to Increase Benznidazole Solubility

The present study investigates the release mechanism of benznidazole (BNZ) in solid dispersions with polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 6000) and polyvinylpirrolydone K-30 (PVP K-30), with a view to observing the increase in solubility of BNZ in water in the presence of these two hydrophilic polymers. The interaction of BNZ with the polymers was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transformation infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and in vitro dissolution tests, and a theoretical study of molecular modeling was also carried out. The drug-polymer interaction was studied trough molecular modeling, using density functional theory with the B3LYP exchange correlation function. The corrected interaction energies were calculated to be -20.9 kJ/mol with PVP and -6.6 kJ/mol with PEG. The experimental and theoretical results indicate that a powerful interaction occurred between BNZ and the polymers, which was especially strong in the case of PVP, and that this interaction contributed to improvement of BNZ solubility.

Structural investigation of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi 2-iminothiazolidin-4-ones allows the identification of agents with efficacy in infected mice.

We modified the thiazolidinic ring at positions N3, C4, and C5, yielding compounds 6-24. Compounds with a phenyl at position N3, 15-19, 22-24, exhibited better inhibitory properties for cruzain and against the parasite than 2-iminothiazolidin-4-one 5. We were able to identify one high-efficacy trypanocidal compound, 2-minothiazolidin-4-one 18, which inhibited the activity of cruzain and the proliferation of epimastigotes and was cidal for trypomastigotes but was not toxic for splenocytes. Having located some of the structural determinants of the trypanocidal properties, we subsequently wished to determine if the exchange of the thiazolidine for a thiazole ring leaves the functional properties unaffected. We therefore tested thiazoles 26-45 and observed that they did not inhibit cruzain, but they exhibited trypanocidal effects. Parasite development was severely impaired when treated with 18, thus reinforcing the notion that this class of heterocycles can lead to useful cidal agents for Chagas disease.

Studies toward the structural optimization of novel thiazolylhydrazone-based potent antitrypanosomal agents

In previous studies, we identified promising anti-Trypanosoma cruzi cruzain inhibitors based on thiazolylhydrazones. To optimize this series, a number of medicinal chemistry directions were explored and new thiazolylhydrazones and thiosemicarbazones were thus synthesized. Potent cruzain inhibitors were identified, such as thiazolylhydrazones 3b and 3j, which exhibited IC(50) of 200-400nM. Furthermore, molecular docking studies showed concordance with experimentally derived structure-activity relationships (SAR) data. In the course of this work, lead compounds exhibiting in vitro activity against both the epimastigote and trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi were identified and in vivo general toxicity analysis was subsequently performed. Novel SAR were documented, including the importance of the thiocarbonyl carbon attached to the thiazolyl ring and the direct comparison between thiosemicarbazones and thiazolylhydrazones.

Interaction of Morphine With a New α2-Adrenoceptor Agonist in Mice

UNLABELLED Finding new chemicals or adjuvants with analgesic effects in the central nervous system is clinically relevant due to the limited number of drugs with these properties. Here, we present PT-31, which is chemically related to 3-benzyl-imidazolidine, with an analgesic profile that results from alpha(2)-adrenoceptor activation. Intraperitoneal administration of PT-31 dose-dependently produced antinociception in the hot plate test, and interacted synergistically with morphine. This effect was completely reversed by yohimbine, a non-selective antagonist of alpha(2)-adrenoceptors, and by BRL 44408, a selective alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor antagonist. The combination of morphine and PT-31 produced greater antinociceptive activity than either alone, and isobolographic analysis revealed a synergistic interaction between these compounds. Docking results confirm the high affinity of the PT-31 ligand at the alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor. PERSPECTIVE This study introduces a new analgesic compound (PT-31) that acts via alpha(2A)-adrenoceptor activation. A significant increase in analgesia was observed when co-administered with morphine. PT-31 is an interesting new substance for pain therapy.