Dodecyl creatine ester-loaded nanoemulsion as a promising therapy for creatine transporter deficiency.

Creatine transporter (CrT) deficiency is an X-linked intellectual disability caused by mutations of CrT. Aim: This work focus on the preclinical development of a new therapeutic approach based on a microemulsion (ME) as drug delivery system for dodecyl creatine ester (DCE). Materials & methods: DCE-ME was prepared by titration method. Novel object recognition (NOR) tests were performed before and after DCE-ME treatment on Slc6a8-/y mice. Results: Intranasal administration with DCE-ME improved NOR performance in Slc6a8-/y mice. Slc6a8-/y mice treated with DCE-ME had increased striatal ATP levels mainly in the striatum compared with vehicle-treated Slc6a8-/y mice which was associated with increased expression of synaptic markers. Conclusion: These results highlight the potential value of DCE-ME as promising therapy for creatine transporter deficiency.

Dodecyl creatine ester and lipid nanocapsule: a double strategy for the treatment of creatine transporter deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Creatine transporter (CT) deficiency is characterized by mutations in the gene encoding CT, leading to impaired transport of creatine at the cell membrane. Patients with this disease would thus benefit from replenishment of creatine inside the brain cells. AIM: We report a therapeutic strategy based on the use of dodecyl creatine ester incorporated into lipid nanocapsules (LNCs). MATERIALS & METHODS: The dodecyl creatine ester was incorporated in the shells of LNCs using Transcutol(®) (Gattefossé SAS, Saint-Priest, France). The interactions of dodecyl creatine ester encapsulated in LNCs with an in vitro cell-based blood-brain barrier model was studied. The entry of the dodecyl creatine ester encapsulated in LNCs and the conversion of dodecyl creatine ester to creatine in the cells were also studied in the pathological context of CT deficiency. RESULTS & DISCUSSION: We showed that these LNCs can cross the blood-brain barrier and enter brain endothelial cells. In human fibroblasts lacking functional CT, all or part of the dodecyl creatine ester was released from the LNCs and biotransformed to creatine, thus indicating the value of this strategy in this therapeutic context.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new creatine fatty esters revealed dodecyl creatine ester as a promising drug candidate for the treatment of the creatine transporter deficiency.

The creatine transporter deficiency is a neurological disease caused by impairment of the creatine transporter SLC6A8, resulting in mental retardation associated with a complete absence of creatine within the brain and cellular energy perturbation of neuronal cells. One of the therapeutic hypotheses was to administer lipophilic creatine derivatives which are (1) thought to have better permeability through the cell membrane and (2) would not rely on the activity of SLC6A8 to penetrate the brain. Here, we synthesized creatine fatty esters through original organic chemistry process. A screening on an in vitro rat primary cell-based blood-brain barrier model and on a rat primary neuronal cells model demonstrated interesting properties of these prodrugs to incorporate into endothelial, astroglial, and neuronal cells according to a structure-activity relationship. Dodecyl creatine ester showed then a 20-fold increase in creatine content in pathological human fibroblasts compared with the endogenous creatine content, stating that it could be a promising drug candidate.

Phosphine-catalyzed construction of sulfur heterocycles.

A simple and efficient method for constructing sulfur heterocycles was developed using a phosphine-catalyzed tandem umpolung addition and intramolecular cyclization of bifunctional sulfur pronucleophiles on arylpropiolates. The reaction offers a promising route to synthetically useful as well as biologically active heterocycles under neutral conditions.

Design and synthesis of chemiluminescent probes for the detection of cholinesterase activity.

Acetylcholinesterase is one of the most widely used and studied enzymes. Not only does this enzyme regulate neurotransmission (and thus play a key role in neurodegenerative processes) but it is also a prime target for pest control agents and warfare agents. Above all, due to its particularly high turnover rate, acetylcholinesterase is among the most efficient reporter enzymes yet described (for use as enzymatic tracer in immunoassays, for instance). However, its activity is detected through a colorimetric reagent, the Ellman reagent, which displays low detection limits and is often subject to background perturbations. In the course of our search for a more sensitive detection assay, we describe here a first-generation 1,2-dioxetane chemiluminescent probe, based on chemically induced electron exchange luminescence, which has an approximately 10 times lower detection limit than the Ellman colorimetric assay (2.5 x 10(-19) mol for Electrophorus electricus AChE in its tetrameric form).