Synthesis and in vitro antimalarial activity of a series of bisquinoline and bispyrrolo[1,2a]quinoxaline compounds.

Series of bisquinolines 4-15 and bispyrrolo[1,2a]quinoxalines 16-20 containing various polyamine linkers were synthesized. The aqueous solubility and distribution coefficient were experimentally determined. The compounds were screened for antimalarial activity alongside chloroquine against D10 and Dd2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The growth inhibitory effects of biscompounds 4-9 were assessed against various cancer cell lines. The aqueous solubility was found to increase with an increase in potential protonation sites. Bisquinolines 8 and 9 featuring triethylenetetramine and N,N'-bis(3-aminopropyl)ethylene-diamine linkers, respectively, were the most active of all synthesized compounds. They were found as potent as chloroquine against D10 but significantly more potent against the Dd2 strain, with good selectivity towards parasitic cells. Compound 4 containing a diethylenetriamine bridge displayed the most important anticancer activity of the series, and was a more effective antiproliferative inhibitor than etoposide against all three TK10, UACC62 and MCF7 cancer cell lines.

Synthesis and in vitro human skin penetration of oligo- and polymeric ethylene glycol carbonates of zidovudine and stavudine.

In continuation of studies focusing on the transdermal delivery of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, the skin permeation ability of synthesized homologous series of both oligomeric and polymeric ethylene glycol (PEG) carbonates of zidovudine (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, AZT, CAS 30516-87-1) and stavudine (2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrothymine, d4T, CAS 3056-17-5) was evaluated in vitro through excised human skin in phosphate buffered solution (PBS) (0.01 M, pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C by using Franz cell diffusion methodology. The results revealed that all the derivatives permeated the skin regardless of the series. However, the derivative having three ethylene glycol repeating units was the most effective permeant in each series. The skin permeation rates of zidovudine and stavudine were enhanced by factors in the 2-4, and 1-3 range through these carbonates, respectively.

In-vitro transdermal penetration of cytarabine and its N4-alkylamide derivatives.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to synthesise and determine the transdermal penetration of cytarabine alkylamide derivatives and assess the correlation of flux with physicochemical properties. METHODS: The alkylamide derivatives of cytarabine were synthesised by acylation at the N4-amino group by the mixed anhydride method. The in-vitro permeation studies were performed using the Franz diffusion cell methodology. Furthermore, partition coefficients (n-octanol-water) and aqueous solubility of the N4-alkylamide derivatives of cytarabine were determined in order to obtain information about their lipophilicity and hydrophilicity. KEY FINDINGS: The N4-alkylamides of cytarabine (acetyl, butanoyl, hexanoyl, octanoyl, and decanoyl derivatives) showed decreased hydrophilicity and increased lipophilicity. The log D values of the alkylamides were higher than that of the parent compound and increased linearly as the alkyl chain lengthened. N4-hexanoyl-4-amino-1-[(2R,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl] pyrimidin-2-one) showed the highest median steady-state flux (J(ss)) of 89.0 nmol/cm(2) per h in the series, which shows a high statistical difference with the parent compound flux value (3.70 nmol/cm(2) per h). CONCLUSIONS: The prodrug approach appears to be a promising strategy for the enhancement of transdermal penetration of cytarabine.

Synthesis and in vitro transdermal penetration of methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) carbonate and carbamate derivatives of lamivudine (3TC).

The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro transdermal permeation through the human stratum corneum (SC) of the antiretroviral (ARV) drug lamivudine (3TC) (1) and its synthesised methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) carbamates and carbonates in phosphate buffer solution and with the use of Pheroid as delivery system and to establish a relationship, if any, with selected physicochemical properties. The synthesis and in vitro human skin permeation flux of three N4-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) carbamates (3)-(5) and three 6'-O-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) carbonates (6)-(8) of lamivudine are reported. The derivatives were synthesised in a two-step process by coupling activated MPEG oligomers of various chain lengths to either the 4-amino or 6'-hydroxy group of lamivudine. Irrespective of the oligomeric series of derivatives (carbamate or carbonate), the aqueous solubility increases as the MPEG chain lengthens while the solubility in octanol (lipophilicity) remained almost constant. Regardless of the mechanism of diffusion viz. passive (in PBS) or use of enhancer (Pheroid), no derivative penetrate the skin better than the parent drug itself. The use of Pheroid even appeared to significantly retard the skin permeation.

Synthesis and in vitro transdermal penetration of methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) carbonate derivatives of stavudine.

The objective of this study was to synthesize derivatives of the anti-HIV drug stavudine (d4T) with more favourable physicochemical properties for transdermal delivery in an effort to increase transdermal penetration of stavudine and thus reduce the severe side effects associated with the dose-dependent oral therapy. The synthesis, hydrolytic stability, and in vitro human skin permeation flux of a series of novel methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) carbonates of stavudine are reported. The carbonates were synthesized in a two-step process by coupling the MPEG promoiety of various chain lengths to C-5' of d4T. In kinetic studies the carbonates proved to be markedly stable in weakly acidic phosphate medium (pH 5.0) with half-lives ranging from 16 to 58 days. The aqueous solubility increased as the ethylene oxide chain lengthened. However, there was no significant increase in the estimated solubility in octanol. In vitro in the phosphate buffer (200 mM; pH 5.0) almost all carbonates permeate the human skin. However, the most effective penetrant, the derivative with 3 ethylene oxide units in the side chain, exhibited a flux of 26.1 nmol/cm(2)/h as compared to 59.15 nmol/cm(2)/h of the parent drug stavudine. Thus, no permeation enhancement was observed during this study.