Hantzsch dihydropyridines: Privileged structures for the formation of well-defined gold nanostars.

Anisotropic and branched gold nanoparticles have great potential in optical, chemical and biomedical applications. However their syntheses involve multi-step protocols and the use of cytotoxic agents. Here, we report a novel one-step method for the preparation of gold nanostructures using only Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridines as mild reducing agents. The substituent pattern of the dihydropyridine nucleus was closely related to the ease of formation, morphology and stability of the nanoparticles. We observed nanostructures such as spheres, rods, triangles, pentagons, hexagons, flowers, stars and amorphous. We focused mainly on the synthesis and characterization of well-defined gold nanostars, which were produced quickly at room temperature (25°C) in high yield and homogeneity. These nanostars presented an average size of 68 nm with mostly four or six tips. Based on our findings, we propose that the growth of the nanostars occurs in the (111) lattice plane due to a preferential deposition of the gold atoms in the early stages of particle formation. Furthermore, the nanostars were easily modified with peptides remaining stable for more than six months in their colloidal state and showing a better stability than unmodified nanostars in different conditions. We report a new approach using dihydropyridines for the straightforward synthesis of gold nanostructures with controlled shape, feasible for use in future applications.

A novel dihydropyridine with 3-aryl meta-hydroxyl substitution blocks L-type calcium channels in rat cardiomyocytes.

RATIONALE: Dihydropyridines are widely used for the treatment of several cardiac diseases due to their blocking activity on L-type Ca(2+) channels and their renowned antioxidant properties. METHODS: We synthesized six novel dihydropyridine molecules and performed docking studies on the binding site of the L-type Ca(2+) channel. We used biochemical techniques on isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes to assess the efficacy of these molecules on their Ca(2+) channel-blocking activity and antioxidant properties. The Ca(2+) channel-blocking activity was evaluated by confocal microscopy on fluo-3AM loaded cardiomyocytes, as well as using patch clamp experiments. Antioxidant properties were evaluated by flow cytometry using the ROS sensitive dye 1,2,3 DHR. RESULTS: Our docking studies show that a novel compound with 3-OH substitution inserts into the active binding site of the L-type Ca(2+) channel previously described for nitrendipine. In biochemical assays, the novel meta-OH group in the aryl in C4 showed a high blocking effect on L-type Ca(2+) channel as opposed to para-substituted compounds. In the tests we performed, none of the molecules showed antioxidant properties. CONCLUSIONS: Only substitutions in C2, C3 and C5 of the aryl ring render dihydropyridine compounds with the capacity of blocking LTCC. Based on our docking studies, we postulate that the antioxidant activity requires a larger group than the meta-OH substitution in C2, C3 or C5 of the dihydropyridine ring.

Substituent Effect on the Photolability of 4-Aryl-1,4-Dihydropyridines.

The electronic nature of substituents attached to the 4-aryl moiety of 1,4-dihydropyridines strongly affects the photophysical and photochemical behavior of these family of compounds. The presence of an electron donor substituent on the 4-aryl moiety (or the absence of electron-withdrawing ones) modifies the luminescence lifetimes (τ < 100 ps) and diminishes the photodecomposition quantum yields. For electron-withdrawing substituents, the photodegradation quantum yield is affected by the media, changing more than two orders of magnitude as the polarity is increased. Studies in micellar media allow us to conclude that 4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridines are located near to the interface; however, the surface charge of micelles has no effect on the photodegradation rate constant or the photoproducts profile. The main conclusion of this work is that the photolability of 4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridines can be significantly reduced by the incorporation of antioxidant moieties.

The effect of 5-substitution on the electrochemical behavior and antitubercular activity of PA-824.

Nitroimidazole PA-824 is part of an exciting new class of compounds currently undergoing clinical evaluation as novel TB therapeutics. The recently elucidated mechanism of action of PA-824 involves reduction of the nitroimidazole ring and subsequent nitric oxide release. The importance of this compound and its unique activity prompted us to explore how substitution of the nitroimidazole ring would affect electrochemical reduction and antitubercular activity. We prepared analogs of PA-824 with bromo, chloro, cyano, and amino substituents in the 5-position of the aromatic ring. We found that substitution of the imidazole ring greatly influences reduction and the stability of the corresponding nitro radical anion. Further, the antitubercular activities of the bromo and chloro analogs may indicate that an alternate nitroreductase pathway within Mycobacterium tuberculosis exists.

Nitroaryl-1,4-dihydropyridines as antioxidants against rat liver microsomes oxidation induced by iron/ascorbate, nitrofurantoin and naphthalene.

1,4-Dihydropyridines (DHPs) used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, are calcium channel antagonists and also antioxidant agents. These drugs are metabolized through cytochrome P(450) oxidative system, majority localized in the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum. Several lipophilic drugs generate oxidative stress to be metabolized by this cellular system. Thus, DHP antioxidant properties may prevent the oxidative stress associated with hepatic biotransformation of drugs. In this work, we tested the antioxidant capacity of several synthetic nitro-phenyl-DHPs. These compounds (I-IV) inhibited the microsomal lipid peroxidation, UDPGT oxidative activation and microsomal thiols oxidation; all phenomena induced by Fe(3+)/ascorbate, a generator system of oxygen free radicals. As the same manner, these compounds inhibited the oxygen consumption induced by Cu(2+)/ascorbate in the absence of microsomes. Furthermore, compound III (2,6-dimethyl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridin-3,5-ethyl-dicarboxylate) and compound V (N-ethyl-2,6-dimethyl-4-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridin-3,5-methyl-dicarboxylate) inhibited the microsomal lipid peroxidation induced by Nitrofurantoin and naphthalene in the presence of NADPH. Oxidative stress induced on endoplasmic reticulum may alter the biotransformation of drugs, so, modifying their plasmatic concentrations and therapeutic effects. When drugs which are activated by biotransformation are administered together with antioxidant drugs, such as DHPs, oxidative stress induced in situ may be prevented.

Oxidation of C4-hydroxyphenyl 1,4-dihydropyridines in dimethylsulfoxide and its reactivity towards alkylperoxyl radicals in aqueous medium.

This work reports the electrochemical oxidation of three newly synthesized C4-hydroxyphenyl-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives in dimethylsulfoxide. The reactivity of the compounds with ABAP-derived alkylperoxyl radicals in aqueous buffer pH 7.4, was also studied. The oxidation mechanism involves the formation of the unstable dihydropyridyl radical, which was confirmed by controlled-potential electrolysis (CPE) and ESR experiments. The final product of the CPE, that is, pyridine derivative, was identified by GC-MS technique for the three derivatives. A direct reactivity of the synthesized compounds toward ABAP-derived alkylperoxyl radicals was found. The pyridine derivative was identified by GC-MS as the final product of the reaction. Results reveal that this type of 1,4-DHPs significantly reacts with the radicals, even compared with commercial 1,4-DHP drugs with a well-known antioxidant ability.

Analyses by GC-MS and GC-MS-MS of the Hantzsch synthesis products using hydroxy- and methoxy-aromatic aldehydes.

EI mass spectra of products of the dihydropyridine Hantzsch synthesis using hydroxy and methoxy aldehydes as starting materials are reported. The reaction products (C-4 hydroxy- and methoxyphenyl-1,4-dihydropyridines and chromeno[3,4,c]-pyridines) were derivatized with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoracetamide to be analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques. Fragmentation pathways for 1,4-dihydropyridines and chromeno-pyridines are proposed. The study provides (mainly through MS-MS technique) useful data for the confirmation of the structure of the compounds and also is a valuable tool for further analytical purposes to follow both photostability and reactivity studies with free radicals for these types of compounds.

Voltammetric behavior of zaleplon and its differential pulse polarographic determination in capsules.

In this work both the electrochemical behavior and the analysis of the hypnotic pyrazolopyrimidine derivative zaleplon were studied. Zaleplon in ethanol-0.1M Britton Robinson buffer solution (30-70) showed 2 irreversible, well-defined cathodic responses in the pH range of 2-12 using differential pulse polarography (DPP), tast polarography, and cyclic voltammetry. From chronocoulometric studies, it was possible to conclude that one electron was transferred in each reduction peak or wave. For analytical purposes, the DPP technique working at pH 4.5 for peak I was selected, which exhibited adequate repeatability, reproducibility, and selectivity. The recovery was 99.97 +/- 1.52%, and the detection and quantitation limits were 5.13 x 10(-7)M and 1.11 x 10(-6)M, respectively. The DPP method was applied successfully to the individual assay of capsules in order to verify the content uniformity of zaleplon. Treatment of the sample is not required because the excipients do not interfere, the method is not time consuming, and it is less expensive than column liquid chromatography.

Reaction of 5-aminosalicylic acid with peroxyl radicals: protection and recovery by ascorbic acid and amino acids.

PURPOSE: The aims of the study are to analyze the interaction between 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and peroxyl radicals and to evaluate the effect of some endogenous compounds such as ascorbic acid and amino acids on the oxidation of 5-ASA induced by 2,2'-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride. METHODS: The consumption and/or the recovery of 5-ASA (7.6 microM) exposed to a peroxyl radical source [2,2'-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane)] was followed by techniques such as spectrofluorescence, high-performance liquid chromatography, and differential pulse voltammetry. RESULTS: 5-Aminosalicylic acid was found to readily react with peroxyl radicals at micromolar concentrations and to protect c-Phycocyanin in a very similar fashion to that shown by Trolox. Exposure of 5-ASA to peroxyl radicals led to its oxidation into the corresponding quinone-imine. Disappearance of 5-ASA was prevented by tryptophan, cysteine, glutathione, and ascorbic acid. Furthermore, some of these compounds induced the partial (cysteine and glutathione) or total (ascorbic acid) recovery of 5-ASA when added after its almost total consumption. CONCLUSIONS: 5-Aminosalicylic acid is a very efficient peroxyl radical scavenger. The 5-ASA oxidation by peroxyl radicals was prevented by ascorbic acid, cysteine, and glutathione. In addition, 5-ASA can be regenerated by these endogenous compounds, which would be a valuable mechanism to preserve 5-ASA in tissues undergoing oxidative stress conditions.

Stability study of simvastatin under hydrolytic conditions assessed by liquid chromatography.

In this work, a liquid chromatography stability-indicating method was developed and applied to study the hydrolytic behavior of simvastatin in different pH values and temperatures. The selected chromatographic conditions were a C18 column; acetonitrile-28 mM phosphate buffer solution, pH 4 (65 + 35) as the mobile phase; 251 degrees C column temperature; and flow rate 1 mL/min. The developed method exhibited an adequate repeatability and reproducibility (coefficient of variation 0.54 and 0.74%, respectively) and a recovery higher than 98%. Furthermore, the detection and quantification limits were 9.1 x 10(-7) and 2.8 x 10(-6) M, respectively. The degradation of simvastatin fitted to pseudo-first order kinetics. The degradation was pH dependent, being much higher at alkaline pH than at acid pH. Activation energy, kinetic rate constants (k) at different temperatures, the half life (t1/2) and the time for 10% degradation to occur (t90) values are also reported.

Reactivity of 1,4-dihydropyridines toward SIN-1-derived peroxynitrite.

PURPOSE: To study the reactivity of C4-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines (1,4-DHP), with either secondary or tertiary nitrogen in the dihydropyridine ring, toward SIN-1-derived peroxynitrite in aqueous media at pH 7.4. METHODS: Reactivity was followed by changes in the absorptivity of the UV-Vis bands corresponding to 1,4-DHP. Gas Chromatography/ Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spin trap techniques were used to characterize the final product and the intermediates of the reaction, respectively. RESULTS: 1,4-DHPs significantly reacted toward peroxynitrite at varied rates, according to the calculated kinetic rate constants. By EPR spectroscopy, a carbon-centered radical from the 1,4-DHP was intercepted with N-tert-butylamine-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN), as the intermediate for the reaction with peroxynitrite. Likewise, the oxidized derivative (i.e., the pyridine) was identified as the final product of the reaction by GC-MS. By using the technique of deuterium kinetic isotope effect, the participation of the hydrogen of the 1-position on the 1,4-DHP ring was shown not to be the rate-limiting step of the reaction. CONCLUSIONS: The direct participation of the 1,4-DHP derivatives in the quenching of SIN-1-derived peroxynitrite has been demonstrated. Kinetic rate constant of tested 1,4-DHP toward peroxynitrite showed a direct relationship with the oxidation peak potential values; that is, compounds reacting faster were more easily oxidized.

Relative reactivity of dihydropyridine derivatives to electrogenerated superoxide ion in DMSO solutions: a voltammetric approach.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reaction of a large series of pharmacologically significant 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) compounds with superoxide (O2.-) in dimethylsulfoxide using differential pulse voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis. METHODS: Differential pulse voltammetry was used to track the consumption of O2.-, and controlled potential electrolysis was used to electrogenerate O2.-. RESULTS: With the addition of 1,4-DHP, the oxidation peak current of O2.- decreased concentration dependently, suggesting that 1,4-DHP reacts with O2.-, that is, 1,4-DHP scavenges O2.- in dimethylsulfoxide. CONCLUSIONS: very easy and direct voltammetric procedure to study the relative reactivity of different 1,4-DHP with O2.- is proposed. Using the proposed method we have found that all commercial 1,4-DHP reacts with O2.-. The following order of rates was obtained: felodipine > or = vitamin E > isradipine > nimodipine > furnidipine > nitrendipine > nisoldipine > nifedipine. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the hydrogen at the N-position of 1,4-DHP compounds could be released as a proton in the presence of O2.-, thus the electrogenerated O2.- worked as a proton acceptor to 1,4-DHP.

Electrochemical and EPR characterization of 1,4-dihydropyridines. Reactivity towards alkyl radicals.

This work reports the electrochemical oxidation of a series of three synthesized 4-substituted-1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives in different electrolytic media. Also, an EPR characterization of intermediates and the reactivity of derivatives towards ABAP-derived alkyl radicals are reported. Dynamic, differential pulse and cyclic voltammetry studies on a glassy carbon electrode showed an irreversible single-peak due to the oxidation of the 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) ring via 2-electrons to the corresponding pyridine derivative. Levich plots were linear in different media, indicating that the oxidation process is diffusion-controlled. Calculated diffusion coefficients did not exhibit significant differences between the derivatives in the same medium. The oxidation mechanism follows the general pathway (electron, H+, electron, H+) with formation of an unstable pyridinium radical. One-electron oxidation intermediate was confirmed with controlled potential electrolysis (CPE) and EPR experiments. On applying N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN) and 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) as the spin trap, these unstable radical intermediates from the oxidation of 1,4-DHP derivatives were intercepted. The final product of the CPE, i.e. pyridine derivative, was identified by GC-MS technique. Direct reactivity of the synthesized compounds towards alkyl radicals was demonstrated by UV-Vis. spectroscopy and GC-MS technique. Results indicate that these derivatives significantly react with the radicals, even compared with a well-known antioxidant drug such as nisoldipine.

Trypanosoma cruzi: effect and mode of action of nitroimidazole and nitrofuran derivatives.

With the aim of determining the actual target(s) of nitro-group bearing compounds considered as possible leads for the development of drugs against Chagas' disease, we studied in parallel nitrofurans and nitroimidazoles. We investigated nine representative compounds for the following properties: efficacy on different Trypanosoma cruzi strains, redox cyclers, inhibition of respiration, production of corresponding nitroso derivatives and intracellular thiol scavengers. Our results indicate that nifurtimox and related compounds act as redox cyclers, whereas the most active in the series, the 5-nitroimidazole megazol essentially acts as thiol scavenger particularly for trypanothione, the cofactor for trypanothione reductase, an essential enzyme in the detoxification process.

Differential pulse voltammetric assay of lercanidipine in tablets.

Lercanidipine in ethanol-0.04M Britton-Robinson buffer (20 + 80) gives an irreversible anodic response on a glassy carbon electrode in a broad pH range (2-12) that depends on pH. This signal can be attributed to oxidation of the 1,4-dihydropyridine ring to give the corresponding pyridine derivative. For analytical purposes, differential pulse voltammetry at pH 4 was selected. Under these conditions, good values of both within- and interday reproducibility were obtained, with coefficient of variation (CV) values of 1.56 and 1.70%, respectively, for 10 successive runs. For quantitation, the calibration curve method was used for lercanidipine concentrations ranging from 1 x 10(-5) to 1 x 10(-4) M. The detection and quantitation limits were 1.39 x 10(-5) and 1.49 x 10(-5), respectively. A liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical detection was used for comparison. The voltammetric method showed good selectivity with respect to both excipients and degradation products. The recovery study exhibited a CV of 0.94% and an average recovery of 98.3%, and it was not necessary to treat the sample before the analysis. The method was successfully applied to the individual tablet assay of lercanidipine in commercial tablets.

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometric study of non-commercial C-4-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines and their oxidized derivatives.

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the calcium-channel antagonists C-4-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines, and their corresponding N-ethyl derivatives, is presented. Also, the electrochemical oxidation and the reactivity of the compounds with alkyl radicals derived from 2,2'-azobis-(2-amidinopropane) were monitored by GC/MS. Mass spectral fragmentation patterns for the C-4-substituted 1,4-dihydropy-ridine parent drugs were significantly different from those of their oxidation products, generated either by electrochemical oxidation or by reaction with alkyl radicals. However, for N-ethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine compounds it was not possible to detect the final products (pyridinium salts) using these experimental conditions.

Inhibitory effect of vanillin-like compounds on respiration and growth of adenocarcinoma TA3 and its multiresistant variant TA3-MTX-R.

The effects of some imine and amine derivatives of vanillin on the respiration rate of mouse mammary adenocarcinoma TA3 line, its multiresistant variant TA3-MTX-R line and mouse hepatocytes, together with their respective mitochondrial fractions, are described. These derivatives inhibit respiration in both tumour cell lines more effectively than vanillin in the absence or presence of the uncoupler CCCP. Since both types of derivatives block the electron flow, mainly through the NADH-CoQ span, they behave as oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors. Thus, they prevent ATP synthesis and alter cellular processes requiring energy, which would lead to cellular death. Amine derivatives of vanillin present a similar effect on both tumour cell lines, being amine C the most efficient inhibitor. Moreover, mouse hepatocytes are about 4-fold less sensitive to amine C than tumour cells. These amine derivatives are better inhibitors than the corresponding imines; probably because they should interact better with the respiratory chain reaction site.

Implicancias farmacocinéticas asociadas al uso de fármacos como racematos o enantiómeros puros / Pharmacokinetic implications associated to drugs use as racemates or pure enantiomers

This article critically reviews the recent specialized literature concerning the influence of the stereochemical nature of quiral drugs on the pharmacokinetic process and its pharmacological implications. Evidence is presented indicating that as a function of the type of the enantiomer administered, profound differences in the pharmacokinetic profile, e.g. absorption, distribution, biotransformation and elimination can occur. As s consequence of the enentioselective nature of the drug-organism interaction, major differences in the therapeutic responses can be envisaged depending on whether the drug is administered as a pure enantomer or as a racemic mixture