Comparative analytical profiling of bevacizumab biosimilars marketed in India: a national control laboratory study.

In this study, analytical profiling of the bevacizumab (BVZ) biosimilars (N = 3) approved in India were evaluated for charge heterogeneity, isoelectric focusing, aggregation and in vitro potency analysis. The charge variants were characterized using high performance cation-exchange chromatography (CEX-HPLC), capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF). cIEF was also used for estimation of isoelectric point (pI value). In addition, aggregate analysis was done using size exclusion high performance chromatography (SEC-HPLC). The cell-based inhibition of proliferation assay using HUVEC cells, indirect ELISA and Western blot were performed for in vitro biological activity. In addition of cell-based cytotoxicity assay was also performed and found no cytotoxic effect on both HuT78 and WIL2S cells by bevacizumab biosimilars. The significant variations in acidic (p < 0.0001) and basic variants (p < 0.0001), pI value (p = 0.0035), aggregates (p = 0.0306) of biosimilars were found as compared to innovator product; however, cell-based potency analysis (p = 0.6047) and indirect ELISA (p = 0.1611) have shown no significant difference in the biological activity. The banding patterns of all biosimilars in western blot were found similar to the innovator product. The comparatively higher basic variants in the biosimilars were attributing to the high pI value of biosimilars to that of innovator product, although these variations were not affecting the biological activity of the biosimiars. This is a unique study, wherein the independent analysis by a National Control Laboratory (NCL) will not only help the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) to assess the quality and consistency in manufacturing of BVZ biosimilars marketed in India but also facilitate the uptake of BVZ biosimilars, and sustainable access to new medicines against the anti-angiogenic therapy.

Corneal targeted nanoparticles for sustained natamycin delivery and their PK/PD indices: an approach to reduce dose and dosing frequency.

Natamycin is the only approved medication for the treatment of mycotic keratitis. Current dosage regimen include one drop of natamycin suspension (5% w/v) instilled in the conjunctival sac at hourly or two hourly intervals for several days which has poor patient compliance. The purpose of the present study was to design a corneal targeted nanoformulation in order to reduce dose and dosing frequency of natamycin and evaluate its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic indices in comparison with clinical marketed preparation. The nanoparticles prepared by nanoprecipitation method were in nanometer size range with high entrapment efficiency and positive surface charge. In-vitro release studies indicated prolonged release of natamycin up to 8h. In-vitro antifungal activity was comparable with marketed preparation. The performance of nanoformulations was evaluated in rabbit eyes. The concentration of natamycin in tear fluid was determined by using LC-MS/MS. The pharmacokinetic parameters such as area under the curve, t½ and mean residence time were significantly higher and clearance was significantly lower for nanoformulations with that of marketed preparation. The optimized dosing schedule to maintain natamycin concentration above tenfold of MIC90 was one instillation in every 5h. Moreover, 1/5th dose reduction of nanoformulation was also effective.

Synthesis of 2,3,6-trideoxy sugar triazole hybrids as potential new broad spectrum antimicrobial agents.

Here, we describe a molecular hybridization inspired design and synthesis of novel 6-triazolyl 2,3,6-trideoxy sugars as promising new broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents using click chemistry in key step. These compounds showed MIC between 0.39 and 50 µg/mL against different native and resistant bacteria and fungi with no toxicity. Among them, compound 29 was the most active molecule with MIC 0.78 µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae and 3.12 µg/mL against methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus. Compound 26 was the most potent anti-fungal candidate with MIC 0.39 µg/mL against Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Compound 46 was found to be promising with broad-spectrum activity against both bacterial and fungal strains. The bioinformatic studies involving bacteria's protein co-crystals prompted penicillin binding protein-2 as the most likely target of these compounds.

Design and characterization of short antimicrobial peptides using leucine zipper templates with selectivity towards microorganisms.

Design of antimicrobial peptides with selective activity towards microorganisms is an important step towards the development of new antimicrobial agents. Leucine zipper sequence has been implicated in cytotoxic activity of naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides; moreover, this motif has been utilized for the design of novel antimicrobial peptides with modulated cytotoxicity. To understand further the impact of substitution of amino acids at 'a' and/or 'd' position of a leucine zipper sequence of an antimicrobial peptides on its antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties four short peptides (14-residue) were designed on the basis of a leucine zipper sequence without or with replacement of leucine residues in its 'a' and 'd' positions with D-leucine or alanine or proline residue. The original short leucine zipper peptide (SLZP) and its D-leucine substituted analog, DLSA showed comparable activity against the tested Gram-positive and negative bacteria and the fungal strains. The alanine substituted analog (ASA) though showed appreciable activity against the tested bacteria, it showed to some extent lower activity against the tested fungi. However, the proline substituted analog (PSA) showed lower activity against the tested bacterial or fungal strains. Interestingly, DLSA, ASA and PSA showed significantly lower cytotoxicity than SLZP against both human red blood cells (hRBCs) and murine 3T3 cells. Cytotoxic and bactericidal properties of these peptides matched with peptide-induced damage/permeabilization of mammalian cells and bacteria or their mimetic lipid vesicles suggesting cell membrane could be the target of these peptides. As evidenced by tryptophan fluorescence and acrylamide quenching studies the peptides showed similarities either in interaction or in their localization within the bacterial membrane mimetic negatively charged lipid vesicles. Only SLZP showed localization inside the mammalian membrane mimetic zwitterionic lipid vesicles. The results show significant scope for designing antimicrobial agents with selectivity towards microorganisms by substituting leucine residues at 'a' and/or 'd' positions of a leucine zipper sequence of an antimicrobial peptide with different amino acids.

Characterization of antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antiendotoxin properties of short peptides with different hydrophobic amino acids at "a" and "d" positions of a heptad repeat sequence.

To understand the influence of different hydrophobic amino acids at "a" and "d" positions of a heptad repeat sequence on antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antiendotoxin properties, four 15-residue peptides with leucine (LRP), phenylalanine (FRP), valine (VRP), and alanine (ARP) residues at these positions were designed, synthesized, and characterized. Although valine is similarly hydrophobic to leucine and phenylalanine, VRP showed significantly lesser cytotoxicity than LRP and FRP; further, the replacement of leucines with valines at "a" and "d" positions of melittin-heptads drastically reduced its cytotoxicity. However, all four peptides exhibited significant antimicrobial activities that correlate well with their interactions with mammalian and bacterial cell membranes and the corresponding lipid vesicles. LRP most efficiently neutralized the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators like NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 in macrophages followed by FRP, VRP, and ARP. The results could be useful for designing short antimicrobial and antiendotoxin peptides with understanding the basis of their activity.

Micelles catalyzed chemo- and regio-selective one pot and one step synthesis of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(alkyl and arylsulfanyl)-1,4-benzoquinones and 2,5-diaminosubstituted-1,4-benzoquinones "In-Water" and their biological evaluation as antibacterial and antifungal agents.

Chemo- and regio-selective one pot and one step synthesis of novel 2,3,5,6-tetrakis (substituted thio)cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-diones (4d-14), 2,5-dichloro-3,6-diaminocyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-diones and 2,5-diaminocyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-diones (16) by economical green methodology approach using LD (Laundry detergent) as a catalyst "In-Water" by nucleophilic addition and substitution reactions of 1,4-benzoquinone and chloranil with sulfur and nitrogen nucleophiles in high yields has been demonstrated. The antifungal profile of 4 and 16 indicates that compounds 4d and 16f had better antifungal activity compared to clinically prevalent antifungal drugs Fluconazole, 5-Fluorocytosine and Clotrimazole against Sporothrix schenckii and Trichophyton mentagraphytes. 16f had also been found to possess better antibacterial activity compared to Ampicillin in vitro against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Compound 16f did not exhibit any toxicity towards mammalian cells L929.

Micelles catalyzed chemoselective synthesis 'in water' and biological evaluation of oxygen containing hetero-1,4-naphthoquinones as potential antifungal agents.

Various oxygen containing 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives have been synthesized chemoselectively by an economical, viable green methodology approach using water as solvent with or without surfactants such as Triton X-100, SDS, LD (laundry detergent), and TBAB, a phase transfer catalyst and evaluated for their in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activity. The antifungal profile of 3, 4a, 4b, and 6 indicated that compounds 3a, 3b, 4b, 6a, and 6c have potent antifungal activity compared to clinically prevalent antifungal drugs Fluconazole and Amphotericin-B against Sporothrix schenckii, Trichophyton mentagraphytes, and Candida parapsilosis and compound 3b has been found to be a lead antifungal agent for further study.

Synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of novel 8-fluoro Norfloxacin derivatives as potential probes for methicillin and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

A series of novel 8-fluoro Norfloxacin derivatives and the hybrids of its piperazinyl derivatives incorporated with 1,3,5-triazine and pyrimidine were synthesized. All the above compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin & vancomycin-resistant S. aureus. Among all, compounds having Morpholine, N-methyl/phenyl/benzyl/pyrimidinyl piperazines and n-butylamine substitution at C-7 position, have shown increased potency in comparison to norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of glycal-derived novel tetrahydrofuran 1,2,3-triazoles by 'click' chemistry.

Thirteen new 1,2,3-triazoles (5a-e, 15a-d, 17a-b, 19, and 21) were synthesized by 'click' reaction of sugar-derived azides with commercially available acetylenes. The synthesized triazoles were tested in vitro for their biological activity, and compound 5b displayed both antibacterial and antifungal activities at an MIC value of 12.5 microg/mL, while compounds 15b and 19 showed antibacterial activity at an MIC value of 25 microg/mL.

Synthesis of nitroimidazole derived oxazolidinones as antibacterial agents.

A series of N-alkylated derivatives of nitroimidazolyl oxazolidinones 6a-i with various substituent at N-1 position of the nitroimidazole were synthesized and their in-vitro antibacterial activities were evaluated against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The 6a was found to be most potent compound in the series with MIC at 0.097 microg/mL against Bacillus cereus MTCC 430.). Both 6a and 6f did not exhibit any toxicity towards mammalian cell L929.

Novel 4-N-substituted aryl but-3-ene-1,2-dione derivatives of piperazinyloxazolidinones as antibacterial agents.

Novel (5S)-N-[3-(3-fluoro-4-{4-[2-oxo-4-(substituted aryl)-but-3-enoyl]-piperazin-1-yl}-phenyl)-2-oxo-oxazolidin-5-ylmethyl]-acetamide 3a-j analogues were synthesized and their in vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated. Most of the compounds of series showed superior in vitro activity against Gram-positive resistant strains than linezolid. Compound 3f is the most potent compound in the series with 0.04-0.39 microg/mL MIC.

Design and synthesis of bile acid-based amino sterols as antimicrobial agents.

New bile acid-based amino sterols were synthesized in good yields from C-3beta-oxiranes as key intermediates. These derivatives were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial properties against human pathogens. These compounds showed better antibacterial activity as compared to antifungal activity. Compounds 21 and 22 showed comparable antibacterial activity to gentamicin against Staphylococcus aureus with IC50 values of 5.14 and 4.46 microg/mL. This is the first report for the synthesis of C-3beta-oxiranes on the steroids having A/B cis ring junction and these oxiranes have been used for the synthesis of amino sterols 17, 18, 21, and 22.

Synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of isoxazolinyl oxazolidinones: Search for potent antibacterial.

A series of (5S) N-(3-{3-fluoro-4-[4-(3-aryl-4,5-dihydro-isoxazole-5-carbonyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-phenyl}-2-oxo-oxazolidin-5-ylmethyl)-acetamide(6a-o) were synthesized and their in vitro antibacterial activity against various resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were evaluated. Most of the synthesized compounds showed 2 to 10 fold lower MIC values compared to linezolid against Staphylococcus aureusATCC 25923, ATCC 70069, ATCC 29213,Bacillus cereusMTCC 430,Enterococcus faecalisMTCC439,Klebsiella pneumoniaeATCC 27736, and Streptococcus pyogens.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel nitrogen and sulfur containing hetero-1,4-naphthoquinones as potent antifungal and antibacterial agents.

A series of 2-Arylamino-3-chloro-1,4-naphthoquinones (3), 2-Amino-3-arylsulfanyl-1,4-naphthoquinones (5), 2-Arylamino-3-arylsulfanyl-1,4-naphthoquinones (6), Dihydrobenzo[f]naphtho[2,3-b][1,4]thiazepine-6,11-diones (9) (via Pictet-Spengler cyclization), Isoindoline-1,3-dione derivatives of 1,4-naphthoquinone (13), 2,2'-(1,4-Dioxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalene-2,3-diyl)bis(methylene)dibenzonitrile (14), 13-Amino-12-substituted-6H-benzo[e]naphtho [2,3-b][1,4]diazepine-6,11(12H)-diones (15-16), 2-Chloro-3-arylsulfanyl-1,4-naphthoquinones (17-18) and 3-Methyl-6H-benzo[b]phenothiazine-6,11(12H)-dione (19) were synthesized and studied for their antifungal and antibacterial activities. The results indicate that compounds 3b, 5a and 5b have potent antifungal activity. Amongst the most promising antifungal compounds, 3b showed better antifungal activity than clinically prevalent antifungal drug Fluconazole (MIC(50)=2.0 microg/mL) against Sporothrix schenckii (MIC(50)=1.56 microg/mL), significant profile against Candida albicans (MIC(50)=1.56 microg/mL), Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC(50)=0.78 microg/mL) and Trichophyton mentagraphytes (MIC(50)=1.56 microg/mL) and same antifungal activity when compared with Amphotericin-B against C. neoformans (MIC(50)=0.78 microg/mL). Compounds 3b, 5a and 5b also showed promising antibacterial activity.

Solution-phase synthesis of a library of carbapeptide analogues based on glycosylamino acid scaffolds and their in silico screening and antimicrobial evaluation.

A well-organized and efficient approach toward the solution phase synthesis of a library of carbapeptide analogues based on glycosyl amino ester scaffold is described. The reported synthetic route involves a five step preparation of heptofuranuronamides 6a-h and octopyranuronamide 7e from glycosyl amino esters 1 and 7, respectively. Coupling of glycosyl amino esters 1 or 7 with three different N-Fmoc protected amino acids afford the N-Fmoc protected intermediates 2a-c and 7a. Deprotection of Fmoc group in 2a-c and 7a with piperidine gave respective compounds 3a-c and 7b with free amine. Subsequent coupling of 3a-c and 7b with different aromatic acids furnishes respective heptofuranuronates 4a-h and octopyranuronate 7c in good yields. The latter, on ester hydrolysis by LiOH gave the corresponding glycopeptide analogues 5a-h and 7d with terminal carboxyl group. The carboxyl group in these compounds was amidated with oxalyl chloride/ NH(4)OH to afford heptofuranuronamides 6a-h and octopyranuronamides 7e. In vitro screening of all compounds displayed moderate antifungal, antitubercular, and general antibacterial activities. Reverse docking calculations involving over 841 protein drug targets have identified two potential targets for these compounds. These results will form the basis for synthesizing second-generation antimicrobial compounds.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of 1,2,3-triazole containing fluconazole analogues.

Fluconazole based novel mimics containing 1,2,3-triazole were designed and synthesized as antifungal agents. Their antifungal activities were evaluated in vitro by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Compounds 12, 15, and 16 were found to be more potent against Candida fungal pathogens than control drugs fluconazole and amphotericin B. The studies presented here provide structural modification of fluconazole to give 1,2,3-trazole containing molecules. Furthermore, these molecules were evaluated in vivo against Candida albicans intravenous challenge in Swiss mice and antiproliferative activities were tested against human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B and human epithelial carcinoma A431. It was found that compound 12 resulted in 97.4% reduction in fungal load in mice and did not show any profound proliferative effect at lower dose (0.001 mg/ml).