In Vitro, In Silico, and In Vivo Analyses of Novel Aromatic Amidines against Trypanosoma cruzi.

Five bis-arylimidamides were assayed as anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agents by in vitro, in silico, and in vivo approaches. None were considered to be pan-assay interference compounds. They had a favorable pharmacokinetic landscape and were active against trypomastigotes and intracellular forms, and in combination with benznidazole, they gave no interaction. The most selective agent (28SMB032) tested in vivo led to a 40% reduction in parasitemia (0.1 mg/kg of body weight/5 days intraperitoneally) but without mortality protection. In silico target fishing suggested DNA as the main target, but ultrastructural data did not match.

In vitro and in vivo biological effects of novel arylimidamide derivatives against Trypanosoma cruzi.

Chagas disease (CD), a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a serious public health problem in several Latin American countries. The available chemotherapies for CD have limited efficacy and exhibit undesirable side effects. Aromatic diamidines and arylimidamides (AIAs) have shown broad-spectrum activity against intracellular parasites, including T. cruzi. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the biological activity of eight novel AIAs (16DAP002, 16SAB079, 18SAB075, 23SMB022, 23SMB026, 23SMB054, 26SMB070, and 27SMB009) against experimental models of T. cruzi infection in vitro and in vivo. Our data show that none of the compounds induced a loss of cellular viability up to 32 µM. Two AIAs, 18SAB075 and 16DAP002, exhibited good in vitro activity against different parasite strains (Y and Tulahuen) and against the two relevant forms of the parasite for mammalian hosts. Due to the excellent selective indexes of 18SAB075, this AIA was moved to in vivo tests for acute toxicity and parasite efficacy; nontoxic doses (no-observed-adverse-effect level [NOAEL], 50 mg/kg) were employed in the tests for parasite efficacy. In experimental models of acute T. cruzi infection, 18SAB075 reduced parasitemia levels only up to 50% and led to 40% protection against mortality (at 5 mg/kg of body weight), being less effective than the reference drug, benznidazole.

Antiprotozoal activity of dicationic 3,5-diphenylisoxazoles, their prodrugs and aza-analogues.

Fifty novel prodrugs and aza-analogues of 3,5-bis(4-amidinophenyl)isoxazole and its derivatives were prepared. Eighteen of the 24 aza-analogues exhibited IC50 values below 25 nM against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense or Plasmodium falciparum. Six compounds had antitrypanosomal IC50 values below 10 nM. Twelve analogues showed similar antiplasmodial activities, including three with sub-nanomolar potencies. Forty-four diamidines (including 16 aza-analogues) and the 26 prodrugs were evaluated for efficacy in mice infected with T. b. rhodesiense STIB900. Six diamidines cured 4/4 mice at daily 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal doses for 4 days, giving results far superior to pentamidine and furamidine. One prodrug attained 3/4 cures at daily 25 mg/kg oral doses for 4 days.

Synthesis and in vitro antiprotozoal activity of bisbenzofuran cations.

Forty three cationic bisbenzofurans were synthesized either by interaction of o-hydroxyaldehydes with alpha-halogenated ketones followed by intramolecular ring closure or by a copper- or palladium-mediated heteroannulation of substituted o-iodophenols with terminal acetylenes. In vitro antiprotozoal activities of compounds 1-43 against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani and cytotoxicity against mammalian cells were influenced by the position and the type of cationic substituents as well as the length of the carbon linker between aromatic moieties. One bisamidine displayed an antitrypanosomal efficacy comparable to that of pentamidine and melarsoprol. Twenty two compounds were more potent than pentamidine and seven dications were more effective than artemisinin against P. falciparum. Eight bisbenzofurans displayed activity against L. donovani superior to that of pentamidine. Overall, bisamidines connected by two-carbon linkers exhibited the highest efficacies against T. b. rhodesiense, P. falciparum, and L. donovani.

Synthesis and in vitro antiprotozoal activities of dicationic 3,5-diphenylisoxazoles.

3,5-bis(4-amidinophenyl)isoxazole (3)-an analogue of 2,5-bis(4-amidinophenyl)furan (furamidine) in which the central furan ring is replaced by isoxazole-and 42 novel analogues were prepared by two general synthetic pathways. The 43 isoxazole derivatives were assayed against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (T. brucei rhodesiense) STIB900, Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) K1, and rat myoblast L6 cells (for cytotoxicity) in vitro. Eleven compounds (3, 13, 16-18, 22, 26, 29, 31, 37, and 41) exhibited antitrypanosomal IC50 values less than 10 nM, five of which displayed cytotoxic indices (ratios of cytotoxic IC50 to antiprotozoal IC50 values) at least 10 times higher than that of furamidine. Eighteen compounds (4-8, 12, 14, 18-22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, and 43) were more active against P. falciparum than furamidine, with IC50 values less than 15 nM. Fourteen of these compounds had cytotoxic indices ranging between 10 and 120 times higher than that of furamidine, and five analogues exhibited high selectivity for P. falciparum over T. brucei rhodesiense.

Synthesis and antiprotozoal activities of benzyl phenyl ether diamidine derivatives.

Sixty-two cationic benzyl phenyl ether derivatives (36 amidines and 26 prodrugs) were prepared and assayed for activities in vitro and in vivo against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (STIB900), and in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum (K1) and Leishmania donovani axenic amastigotes. 3-Amidinobenzyl 4-amidino-2-iodo-6-methoxyphenyl ether dihydrochloride (55, IC50 = 3.0 nM) and seven other compounds exhibited IC50 values below 10 nM against T. b. rhodesiense in vitro. The 2-bromo-4,4'-diamidino analogue 19 (IC50 = 4.0 nM) and 12 other analogues were more potent than pentamidine (IC50 = 46 nM) against P. falciparum. The 3',4-diamidino-2,6-diiodo analogue 49 (IC50 = 1.4 µM) and two other compounds were more effective than pentamidine (IC50 = 1.8 µM) against L. donovani. A prodrug, 3',4-bis(N″-methoxy)amidino-2-bromo derivative 38, was the most efficacious against trypanosome infected mice, attaining 4/4 cures in four daily 25 mg/kg oral doses, and the 2-chloro-4,4'-diamidine 18 cured 3/4 mice in four daily 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal doses.

Pharmacophore model for pentamidine analogs active against Plasmodium falciparum.

Pentamidine and its analogs constitute a class of compounds that are known to be active against Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the most dangerous malarial infection. Malaria is a widespread disease known to affect hundreds of millions of people and presents a perceivable threat of spreading. Hence, there is a need for well-defined scaffolds that lead to new, effective treatment. Here we present a pentamidine-based pharmacophore constructed using GALAHAD that would aid targeted synthesis of leads with enhanced properties, as well as the development of lead scaffolds. The study was supported by high-quality biological in vitro data of 22 compounds against the P. falciparum strains NF54 and K1. The model established reveals the importance of hydrophobic phenyl rings with polar oxygen and amidine substituents and the hydrophobic linking chain for the activity against malaria.

Synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of cationic 1,4-diphenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazoles.

Novel dicationic triazoles 1-60 were synthesized by the Pinner method from the corresponding dinitriles, prepared via the copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The type and the placement of cationic moieties as well as the nature of aromatic substituents influenced in vitro antiprotozoal activities of compounds 1-60 against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani and their cytotoxicity for mammalian cells. Eight congeners displayed antitrypanosomal IC(50) values below 10 nM. Thirty-nine dications were more potent against P. falciparum than pentamidine (IC(50) = 58 nM), and eight analogues were more active than artemisinin (IC(50) = 6 nM). Diimidazoline 60 exhibited antiplasmodial IC(50) value of 0.6 nM. Seven congeners administered at 4 x 5 mg/kg by the intraperitoneal route cured at least three out of four animals in the acute mouse model of African trypanosomiasis. At 4 x 1 mg/kg, diamidine 46 displayed better antitrypanosomal efficacy than melarsoprol, curing all infected mice.

Synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of pyridyl analogues of pentamidine.

A series of novel pyridyl analogues 1-18 of antiprotozoal drug 1,5-bis(4-amidinophenoxy)pentane (pentamidine) has been synthesized and tested for in vitro activities against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani, and for cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Antiprotozoal properties of compounds 1-18 depended on the placement of cationic moieties on the pyridine rings as well as the nature of substituents on the amidine groups. Diamidine 6 with cationic moieties adjacent to pyridine nitrogen atoms was the most promising compound in the series showing superior in vitro activities against T. brucei rhodesiense, P. falciparum, and L. donovani compared to pentamidine. An oral prodrug of diamidine 6, diamidoxime 9, administered at 25 mg/kg daily for 4 days, exhibited excellent antitrypanosomal efficacy in vivo curing all infected animals in the STIB900 acute mouse model of trypanosomiasis.

Synthesis and antiprotozoal properties of pentamidine congeners bearing the benzofuran motif.

Forty-eight cationically substituted pentamidine congeners possessing benzofuran rings were synthesized by a copper mediated heteroannulation of substituted o-iodophenols with phenyl acetylenes. Activities of compounds 1-48 against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani and cytotoxicities for mammalian cells were influenced by the nature of cationic substituents, placement of the benzofuran fragment, and the length of the carbon linker between aromatic moieties. Several dications exhibited superior antiplasmodial and antileishmanial potencies compared to pentamidine.

Synthesis and antiprotozoal activities of dicationic bis(phenoxymethyl)benzenes, bis(phenoxymethyl)naphthalenes, and bis(benzyloxy)naphthalenes.

A series of 37 dicationically substituted bis(phenoxymethyl)benzene bis(phenoxymethyl)naphthalene, and bis(benzyloxy)naphthalene analogues of pentamidine was prepared and evaluated for antiprotozoal activities and cytotoxicity in in vitro. 1,3-Bis(4-amidinophenoxymethyl)benzene (1) was the most active against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (IC(50)=2.1 nM). 1,3-Bis[4-(N-isopropylamidino)phenoxymethyl]benzene (2) was most active against Plasmodium falciparum (IC(50)=3.6 nM) and displayed a selectivity index more than 50 times greater than that of pentamidine. Several other compounds displayed lower antiplasmodial IC(50) values and higher selectivity indices relative to pentamidine. 1,4-Bis(4-amidinophenoxymethyl)benzene (14) was the most active against Leishmania donovani (IC(50)=1.3 microM). Compound 2 displayed the greatest activity against T. b. rhodesiense in vivo, curing three of four infected mice dosed intraperitoneally at 5 mg/kg x 4 days.

Structure-activity study of pentamidine analogues as antiprotozoal agents.

Diamidine 1 (pentamidine) and 65 analogues (2-66) have been tested for in vitro antiprotozoal activities against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani, and for cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Dications 32, 64, and 66 exhibited antitrypanosomal potencies equal or greater than melarsoprol (IC(50) = 4 nM). Nine congeners (2-4, 12, 27, 30, and 64-66) were more active against P. falciparum than artemisinin (IC(50) = 6 nM). Eight compounds (12, 32, 33, 44, 59, 62, 64, and 66) exhibited equal or better antileishmanial activities than 1 (IC(50) = 1.8 microM). Several congeners were more active than 1 in vivo, curing at least 2/4 infected animals in the acute mouse model of trypanosomiasis. The diimidazoline 66 was the most promising compound in the series, showing excellent in vitro activities and high selectivities against T. b. rhodesiense, P. falciparum, and L. donovani combined with high antitrypanosomal efficacy in vivo.

Synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of cationic 2-phenylbenzofurans.

A series of cationically substituted 2-phenylbenzofurans 1- 49 have been synthesized, and their in vitro antiprotozoal properties against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Plasmodium falciparum, and Leishmania donovani, as well as cytotoxicity against mammalian cells, have been evaluated. Eight dications exhibited antitrypanosomal activities comparable to that of pentamidine and melarsoprol. Twenty-six compounds were more active than pentamidine, and seven dications demonstrated increased activities against P. falciparum than artemisinin. Five congeners were more active against L. donovani than pentamidine. Introduction of methoxy or hydroxy groups in the 7- and/or 2'-position afforded derivatives that were highly selective against T. b. rhodesiense, P. falciparum, and L. donovani. Fourteen 2-phenylbenzofurans displayed excellent in vivo efficacies in the acute mouse model of trypanosomiasis, curing 3/4 or 4/4 animals at 4 x 5 mg/kg. Diamidine 1 and di( N-isopropyl)amidine 45, administered at 4 x 1 mg/kg, exhibited potency comparable to that of melarsoprol, providing 3/4 and 2/4 cures, respectively.