Semifluorinated symmetrical diethers for intraocular use: synthesis, characterization, and in vitro biocompatibility.

Semifluorinated symmetrical diethers were synthesized using the William ether synthesis. These diethers should have similar properties to perfluorocarbons as are chemical inertness and high oxygen solubility, but in contrast a considerably lower density. With their lower density the damaging of the choroidal tissue of the eye observed with perfluorocarbons should be avoided. The synthesized diethers are inert compounds being stable against nucleophiles, oxidiziers and strong bases. Their density is in the range of 1.1-1.2 g/cm3. Besides the physical and chemical tests we conducted several in vitro biocompatibility tests. The tests comprised induction of hemolysis, the generation of C3a complement, the influence on the production of interleukin1beta, the influence on cell proliferation of a Raji and a Hela cell line (3H-Thymidine uptake) and finally the direct cytotoxic effect on these cell lines. All tested symmetrical diethers were positive in one or more tests and can be expected to be incompatible in vivo. Especially the "short" semifluorinated diethers [(CF3CH2O)2(CH2)3-6] showed a nearly total inhibition of cell proliferation or interleukin1beta release. Further variation of the compounds will be necessary to generate better biocompatible derivates.

Transmembrane 19F NMR chemical shift difference of fluorinated solutes in liposomes, erythrocytes and erythrocyte ghosts.

In erythrocytes suspended in isotonic medium, a number of fluorinated anions showed well resolved 19F NMR resonances from the solute populations in the intra- and extracellular compartments; the intracellular resonances were shifted to higher frequency (low field). In addition 19F NMR resonances of extracellular solutes were shifted to higher frequency when bovine serum albumin was incorporated into the extracellular medium. The dependence of 19F NMR chemical shift on protein concentration was also demonstrated using resealed red cell ghosts and liposomes; in the presence of external hemoglobin, lysozyme and bovine serum albumin, the shift of the external resonances was to higher frequency. In addition, significant high frequency shifts of 19F NMR resonances were evident along with an increase of temperature. The results of the present study further support the contention that the principal physical basis for the shifts is the disruption of direct hydrogen bonds between 19F of the solutes and (primarily) solvent H2O by protein hydration. The 'split peak' phenomenon is of general importance in biological systems where a transmembrane protein-concentration difference exists.

Rat liver metabolism and toxicity of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol.

2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE) is a metabolite of anesthetic agents and chlorofluorocarbon alternatives. Its toxicity in rats is a consequence of its metabolism to 2,2,2-trifluoroacetaldehyde (TFAld) and then to trifluoroacetic acid (TFAA). The enzymes involved in the toxic metabolic pathway have been investigated in this study. For the reaction of TFE to TFAld, the major hepatic metabolism associated with toxicity (as assessed by pyrazole-inhibitability) was NADPH dependent and occurred in the microsomes, whereas for TFAld conversion to TFAA, NADPH-dependent microsomal metabolism was significant, but mitochondrial and cytosolic metabolism in the presence of NADPH were also major contributors. NADPH-dependent hepatic microsomal metabolism of TFE to TFAld and TFAld to TFAA was inhibited by carbon monoxide, 2-allyl-2-isopropylacetamide, SKF-525A, metyrapone, imidazole, and pyrazole, and both reactions were oxygen dependent. The metabolism of TFE to TFAld was inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate, a specific inhibitor of cytochrome P450E1, and by a monoclonal antibody to P4502E1, whereas the metabolism of TFAld was inhibited by neither. Ethanol pretreatment of rats enhanced the Vmax for hepatic microsomal metabolism of TFE to TFAld from 5.3 to 9.7 nmol/mg protein/min, while for TFAld to TFAA the Vmax was increased from 4.3 to 6.5 and the Km was unaffected for both reactions. Phenobarbital pretreatment of the rats did not affect any of these kinetic parameters. Coadministration of ethanol and a lethal dose of TFE very markedly decreased the lethality. Both the lethality (LD50 0.21 to 0.44 g/kg) and the metabolic kinetic parameters [(Vmax/Km)H(Vmax/Km)D = 4.2] were affected markedly when deuterated TFE replaced TFE. In contrast, deuteration of TFAld did not affect its lethality or rates of metabolism, but did affect its Km. Taken together these results indicate that P4502E1 catalyzed toxicity-associated hepatic metabolism of TFE to TFAld, while TFAld metabolism was catalyzed by a P450 which was not P4502E1. The hepatic metabolism of TFAld was not associated with its toxicity, which has been determined previously to be associated with its intestinal metabolism.

19F nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of trifluoroethanol metabolites in the urine of the Sprague-Dawley rat.

2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol (TFE) is a common industrial solvent and a known metabolite of the inhalation anesthetics fluroxene (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl vinyl ether) and halothane (2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane). The water-soluble metabolites of TFE were identified in the urine of Sprague-Dawley rats using 19F NMR spectroscopy. In rats dosed with 0.21 g TFE/kg body weight, approximately one-half of the administered TFE was excreted as the trifluoroethyl glucuronide. The remaining TFE was oxidized, primarily to trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate, with a small percentage of the aldehyde oxidized further to trifluoroacetate. One additional fluorinated compound was found; after investigation, this was identified as a Schiff's base compound resulting from the addition of trifluoroacetaldehyde to urea. The time-dependent excretion of TFE metabolites was measured as a function of ethanol induction of hepatic enzymes. This study demonstrates the utility of 19F NMR for the analysis of drug metabolism in laboratory animals. In addition, the resistance of trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate to further oxidation, coupled with its reactivity with common cellular amines, indicates the potential toxicity of this metabolite to mammalian tissues.