A new approach to quantitative NMR: fluoroquinolones analysis by evaluating the chemical shift displacements.

Quantitative NMR spectroscopy is always an attractive goal as the identity and quantity could be simultaneously determined. Although significant advancements have been achieved in this field it is common that all reported quantitative NMR methods perform the analysis by utilizing the average integral intensities of selected signals. During the calculation of the area under NMR peaks several response problems can occur which should always be treated carefully to overcome inaccuracies. In the method proposed in this work the quantitative information is obtained utilizing the measurement of selected protons chemical shift displacements which is a quite straightforward and highly reproducible process. The (1)H NMR spectra of multiple fluoroquinolone (FQ) solutions revealed that the chemical shifts of protons, especially the aromatic ones, were concentration dependent for all tested compounds, as a result of extensive self-association phenomena. In the present work a novel methodology is described for the quantitation of several FQs based on this dependence. The proposed method was applied to Ciprofloxacin solutions over a wide range of concentrations. Evaluation of the obtained data presented acceptable characteristics regarding accuracy, precision, and robustness. The applicability limitations of this method were found to be posed by current instrumentation, mainly by the magnetic field frequency e.g. the slope of the response function achieved with a 400MHz instrument was twice the one achieved at 200MHz. The pH effect was negligible from pD 2.5 to 5.5. The phenomenon appeared in a pattern that can be applied for a plethora of drug categories revealing self-association phenomena in a range of concentration determined by the magnet strength of the instrument.

Study of structural features and thermodynamic parameters, determining the chromatographic behaviour of drug-cyclodextrin complexes.

The chromatographic behaviour of host-guest inclusion complexes was studied, in order to predict the optimal conditions for their accurate analysis and overcome the significant analytical errors generated by the presence of cyclodextrins. Complexes of tolfenamic acid and ketoprofen with beta-cyclodextrtin (betaCD), 2-hydroxypropyl-betaCD (HPbetaCD) and methyl-betaCD (MebetaCD) prepared in different molar ratios, were studied. Since the drug release from cyclodextrins' complexes is a prerequisite for its accurate quantitation, several parameters affecting the dissociation during the analysis were evaluated. In an attempt to explain the drug release mechanism from cyclodextrins, during HPLC analysis, the possible correlation of the NMR structural findings with the binding constants and the thermodynamic quantities of complexation were examined, in relation to their chromatographic behaviour. Finally, the presence of the solvation spheres around the supramolecules, which affect the complex stability, is suggested to be crucial for our chromatographic findings. Particularly, entropy change in the system is considered the most critical factor, determining the time required for dissociation of drug-cyclodextrin complexes, during drug quantitation.

Chromatographic behaviour of naproxen-cyclodextrin complexes stationary phase C8 alkyl chain as competitor for the drug release from cyclodextrin cavity.

Cyclodextrins are known to alter the absorptivity of the guest molecules, therefore, analytical methods that are based on the spectrophotometric data present accuracy problems. In this work, using RP-HPLC methods for naproxen-cyclodextrins quantitation, extensive analytical inaccuracies are detected. Competitive complexation technique is utilised in an attempt to develop an analytical method enabling the determination of naproxen as a free drug. For this reason, stationary phases with silica ligands that can function as competing agents were used, thus contributing to the drug release. The release of the drug from cyclodextrins complexes is achieved by modification of the thermodynamic parameters that determine the stability constant, by changing: the interactions with the mobile phase components (e.g. pH, organic modifier, competitive agents) and the interactions with the stationary phase ligands (C8). After studying the parameters affecting the interaction between the alkyl-chain C8 and naproxen:cyclodextrin complexes, we developed and validated a new specific method for the accurate determination of the drug. Consecutive accumulation of the cyclodextrins molecules on the stationary phase was studied.

Antimicrobial activity of beta-lactam antibiotics against clinical pathogens after molecular inclusion in several cyclodextrins. A novel approach to bacterial resistance.

Recognition and uptake by specific cellular receptors and transport systems for cyclodextrins have been demonstrated. Based on this concept, natural and synthetically modified cyclodextrins were used as drug carriers. Several beta-lactam antibiotics were selected and their inclusion complexes with different cyclodextrins were prepared (molar ratio ranging from 1:1 to 1:3). The complex formation, in aqueous solution, was monitored and optimum complexation conditions were selected. The inclusion of the active molecules in the cyclodextrin cavity was confirmed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Specific HPLC methods for the quantitation of antibiotics in the presence of cyclodextrins were developed and their chemical stability under complexation conditions was confirmed. Antimicrobial activity of drug-cyclodextrin complexes, in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), were compared with the corresponding values of uncomplexed free molecules. A wide range of clinical pathogens and known beta-lactamase-producing strains were tested. The activity of the cyclodextrin-included antibiotics was increased, particularly against Gram-negative clinical strains. The nature and degree of substitution on cyclodextrin macromolecules may be the predominant factor in the observed improvement in antimicrobial activity. We believe that the proposed methodology is a novel approach to the microbial resistance problem and will trigger research towards the development of new cyclodextrin derivatives bearing the ability to increase the uptake of included antimicrobial molecules through intensification of the corresponding molecular recognition phenomena.

Molecular, crystal and solution structure of a beta-cyclodextrin complex with the bromide salt of 2-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)tricyclo[3.3.1.1(3,7)]decan-2-ol, a potent antimicrobial drug.

The pharmacological properties of a cyclomaltoheptaose (beta-cyclodextrin) series of adamantane-group-bearing compounds that exhibit potent antibacterial activity have been studied, both isolated and in complex with beta-cyclodextrins (betaCDs). In this work, the structure of the bromide salt of 2-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-tricyclo[3.3.1.1(3,7)]decan-2-ol(A DM-10) complexed with betaCD and ten water molecules was studied in the solid state by X-ray crystallography and in solution by NMR spectroscopy. X-ray crystallographic studies of the complex were performed both at room and cryogenic temperatures. The long aliphatic chain of ADM-10 adopts a single conformation at low temperature in contrast to what is observed at room temperature, where two side chain conformations are seen. Both NMR and X-ray crystallography studies indicate that the adamantane moiety of ADM-10 is buried in the betaCD cavity. Chemical shifts in NMR experiments can be explained on the basis of the crystal structure of the complex.

Thermal properties of adamantanol derivatives and their beta-cyclodextrin complexes in phosphatidylcholine bilayers.

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) has been applied to study the thermal properties of the membrane perturbing antibacterial octyl- and dodecyl-bromide salts of quaternary dimethylamino adamantanol (ADM-8 and ADM-12 correspondingly) incorporated in free or complexed form with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) into dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) containing bilayers. The DSC results showed that the studied compounds exert pronounced thermotropic changes in DPPC bilayers when inserted as free molecules. These effects are reduced when are present in a complex form with beta-CD. Since the studied compounds exert destructive effects in membrane bilayers their insertion in membrane bilayers as complexes with cyclodextrin may result in differentiation of their activity. The obtained results suggest that their complexation with beta-CD may improve their biological profile. It also increases their aqueous solubility, a limited factor for their use as drugs.

Anti-inflammatory properties of new adamantane derivatives. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation.

A series of adamantane-containing molecules consisting of two lipophilic centers which are linked by different bridges (oxime esters, oxime ethers, amides, and symmetric alcohols), were designed and synthesized as anti-inflammatory agents. Their anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated as their ability to inhibit phlogistic-induced mouse paw edema. Some of the tested compounds exhibited activity comparable to that of diclofenac, others had a weaker activity, while some oxime esters proved to enhance the inflammatory response. In all cases, activity was dose-dependent. The deacylated compound 10 was found to be the most active of the series, inhibiting inflammation due to Baker's yeast, the mechanism of which involves mainly the activation of lipoxygenase and/or complement systems, a property which is absent from most selective cyclooxygenase only inhibiting non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

An improved HPLC method overcoming Beer's law deviations arising from supramolecular interactions in tolfenamic acid and cyclodextrins complexes.

Inclusion complexes of tolfenamic acid (TA), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, with methyl-beta cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-beta cyclodextrin were prepared and characterised. Spectrophotometric, chromatographic (RP-HPLC) and 1H NMR studies of the complexes were conducted. It was observed that cyclodextrins influence TA's molar absorptivity leading to Beer's law deviation. Consequently, the accuracy problem arose, urged for the application of specific chromatographic conditions for the determination of TA in the presence of CDs. A new HPLC method was developed and validated. TA was analysed on a C18 column 5 microm (150 x 4.6 mm), using a column thermostat regulated at 30 degrees C. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-phosphate buffer solution (pH 3.2; 0.07 M) (90:10 v/v) and the flow rate was set at 2.0 ml min(-1). The detector was operated at 286 nm. TA was successfully determined, overcoming the problems arising from the presence of cyclodextrins.