Nanoemulsions for increased penetrability and sustained release of leishmanicidal compounds.

In the last decade, the World Health Organization has driven the development of drugs for topical use in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), the most prevalent clinical form of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease. The chemicals C6 I, TC1, and TC2 were reported as promising antileishmanial drugs. We aimed to develop a topical nanoformulation that enhances the advantageous effect of C6 I, TC1, and TC2, guaranteeing higher stability and bioavailability of the pharmacologically active components through the topical route. Nanoemulsions were prepared by ultrasonication based on oleic acid (0.5 g). A relation of Tween®-80/ethanol (1:3) and water was obtained; physicochemical characterization of all formulations was performed, and the preliminary stability and transdermal penetration of these nanoemulsions were also investigated. Newtonian-type fluids with high load capacity, 147-273 nm globule size, and -15 to -18 mV zeta potential were obtained with differential permeability rates in the first pig ear skin assay, first-order kinetics-release model for C6 I, and Weibull for TC1 and TC2. The nanoemulsion showed good stability, high encapsulation efficiency, and higher leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania braziliensis with lower cytotoxicity in U937 macrophages. In conclusion, nanoemulsions of ethanol-oleic acid/Tween®-80 increase the activity of compounds with leishmanicidal activity by increasing their penetration and sustained release.

In vivo studies of the effectiveness of novel N-halomethylated and non-halomethylated quaternary ammonium salts in the topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

The physicochemical properties of four N-halomethylated and one non-halomethylated ammonium salts, with proven in vitro antileishmanial activity, were determined according to pharmaceutical standard procedures. The effectiveness and toxicity of these compounds were assessed in hamsters infected with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and compared to that showed by meglumine antimoniate. Animals were followed during 90 days after the completion of treatment. Therapeutic response was determined according to the reduction of size of skin lesions. Toxicity was determined by the effect of compounds on body weight changes and serum levels of renal and hepatic metabolites. The effectiveness of compound 4 was similar to that showed by intralesional administration of meglumine antimoniate and better than that of the other ammonium salts. Levels of creatinine, alanine amino transferase, and blood urea nitrogen in serum were not significantly different between treatment groups, including healthy or untreated hamsters. Results imply that compound 4 has potential as a pharmaceutical active ingredient in the development of new and better formulations for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Nanopartículas de paladio soportadas en hidroxisales laminares: uso potencial en reacciones de Sonogashira / Palladium nanoparticles supported in laminar hydroxide salts: potential use in Sonogashira reactions / Nanopartículas de paládio suportadas em hidroxisais laminares: uso potencial em reacções de Sonogashira

Resumen En este artículo se reporta la síntesis de nanopartículas de paladio soportadas en hidroxisales de acetato de zinc y modificadas con un surfactante (LHS-Zn-Ac/Pd0 y LHS-Zn-Suf/Pd0 respectivamente), mediante inserción de [PdCl4]2- y su posterior reducción con etanol en reflujo. Con la inserción de surfactante, la distancia interlaminar de la hidroxisal de partida (LHS-Zn-Ac) se incrementó de 13,8 Å a 29,8 Å, mientras que los materiales finales, que contenían paladio metálico registraron distancias interlaminares de 22,4 Å y 29,4 Å para LHS-Zn-Ac/Pd0 y LHS-Zn-Suf/Pd0 respectivamente. Las hidroxisales de acetato de zinc y de surfactante con nanopartículas metálicas de paladio incorporadas fueron ensayadas como potenciales catalizadores en la reacción de Sonogashira partiendo de fenilacetileno y yoduros de arilo, particularmente yodobenceno o 2-yodofenol, dando lugar a difenilacetileno (32% de rendimiento de producto aislado y purificado) o 2-fenilbenzofurano (18%). Todos los materiales inorgánicos fueron caracterizados mediante las siguientes técnicas: difracción de rayos X (XRD), microscopia electrónica de barrido (SEM y SEM-EDS), microscopia electrónica de transmisión (TEM) y espectroscopía de Infrarrojo con Transformada de Fourier (FT-IR). Por su parte los compuestos orgánicos se caracterizaron por resonancia magnética nuclear (1H-NMR y 13C-NMR) y cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (GC-MS).

Abstract This article reports the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles supported on zinc acetate hydroxysalts and modified with a surfactant (LHS-Zn-Ac/Pd0 and LHS-Zn-Suf/Pd0 respectively), by insertion of [PdCl4]2- and its subsequent reduction with ethanol at reflux. With the surfactant insertion, the interlaminar distance of the starting hydroxysalt (LHS-Zn-Ac) increased from 13.8 Å to 29.8 Å, while the final materials containing palladium metal registered interlaminar distances of 22.4 Å and 29.4 Å for LHS-Zn-Ac/Pd0 and LHS-Zn-Suf/Pd0 respectively. Zinc acetate hydroxysalt and surfactant with incorporated palladium metal nanoparticles were tested as potential catalysts in the Sonogashira reaction starting from phenylacetylene and aryl iodides, particularly iodobenzene or 2-iodophenol, giving diphenylacetylene (32% yield of isolated and purified product) or 2-phenylbenzofuran (18%). All inorganic materials were characterized by the following techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM and SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The organic compounds were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NTMR and 13C-NMR) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Resumo Neste artigo se reporta a síntese de nanopartículas de paládio suportadas em hidroxisais de acetato de zinco e modificadas com um surfactante (LHS-Zn-Ac/Pd0 e LHS-Zn-Suf/Pd0 respectivamente), mediante inserção de [PdCl4]2- para depois fazer uma redução com etanol em refluxo. Com a inserção do surfactante, a distância interlaminar da hidroxisal inicial (LHS-Zn-Ac) aumentou de 13,8 Å até 29,8 Å, enquanto que os materiais finais que continham paládio metálico registraram distâncias interlaminares de 22,4 Å até 29,4 Å para LHS-Zn-Ac/Pd0 e LHS-Zn-Suf/Pd0 respectivamente. As hidroxisais do acetato de zinco e do surfactante com nanopartículas metálicas de paládio incorporadas foram testados como potenciais catalisadores na reação de Sonogashira a partir de fenilacetileno e iodetos de arilo, particularmente iodobenzeno ou 2-iodofenol, levando respectivamente difenilacetileno (32% de rendimento de produto isolado e purificado) ou 2-fenilbenzofurano (18%). Todos os materiais inorgânicos foram caracterizados pelas seguintes técnicas: difração de raios X (XRD), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (SEM e SEM-EDS), Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão (TEM) e espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FT-IR). Por outro lado, os compostos orgânicos foram caracterizados por ressonância magnética nuclear (1H-NMR y 13C-NMR) e cromatografia gasosa acoplada à massa (GC-MS).

9-[(E)-2-feniletenil]antraceno Y 9-[(E)-2-(naftalen-2-il)etenil] antraceno COMO TRAMPAS PARA OXÍGENO SINGULETE: OXIDACIÓN FOTOSENSIBILIZADA Y EFECTO FOTODINÁMICO SOBRE PARÁSITOS Leishmania tarentolae / 9-[(E)-2-phenylethenyl]anthracene AND 9-[(E)-2-(naphthalen-2-yl)ethenyl] anthracene AS TRAPS FOR SINGLET OXYGEN: PHOTOSENSITIZED OXIDATION AND PHOTODYNAMIC EFFECT ON Leishmania tarentolae PARASITES

Introducción: El oxígeno singulete es una especie reactiva que se obtiene mediante transferencia energética usando un fotosensibilizador. Su cuantificación directa requiere de instrumentación costosa, por lo cual es necesario recurrir a métodos indirectos que tengan suficiente selectividad y bajo costo. Estos procedimientos se basan en la interceptación química del oxígeno singulete produciendo una especie que se pueda detectar por métodos analíticos convencionales. En este artículo se describe la utilización del 9-[(E)-2-feniletenil] antraceno 1 (PEA) y del 9-[(E)-2-(naftalen-2-il) etenil]antraceno 2 (NEA), como alternativas viables y económicas para la cuantificación indirecta del oxígeno singulete, en medios acuosos. Su ventaja radica en la fácil detección de la desactivación de su fluorescencia una vez son oxidados por el oxígeno singulete. Materiales y Métodos: Los compuestos se sintetizaron y caracterizaron siguiendo procedimientos previamente reportados. Su capacidad para atrapar oxígeno singulete se determinó siguiendo su oxidación fotosensibilizada en solución de H2O/THF y en parásitos de Leishmania tarentolae, empleando azul de metileno o rosa bengala como fotosensibilizadores. Las muestras experimentales se iluminaron con una lámpara de emisión de luz visible, y se utilizaron métodos espectroscópicos (absorción UV-Vis, fluorescencia, RMN-1H) y espectrometría de masas para monitorear el atrapamiento y fotooxidación. Resultados y Discusión: Las pruebas espectroscópicas demostraron la capacidad que tienen los compuestos PEA 1 y NEA 2 para atrapar oxígeno singulete en solución acuosa y dentro de parásitos de L. tarentolae. Estudios de viabilidad parasitaria demuestran que PEA 1 es citotóxico en la oscuridad y cuando los cultivos son expuestos a la luz, mientras que NEA 2 no es citotóxico en la oscuridad, pero sí lo es cuando el cultivo es expuesto a la luz. En conclusión, los compuestos estudiados pueden servir como sondas para detectar y medir la producción de oxígeno singulete en medio acuoso y potencialmente en cultivos celulares, aunque es recomendable evaluar su actividad citotóxica en la oscuridad y bajo iluminación en estos casos.

Introduction: Singlet oxygen is a reactive species obtained via energy transfer using a photosensitizer. Its direct quantification requires expensive instrumentation, so it is necessary to use indirect methods having sufficient selectivity and low cost. These procedures are based on the chemical interception of singlet oxygen producing a species that can be detected using conventional analytical methods. This article describes the utilization of 9-[(E)-2-phenylethenyl]anthracene 1 (PEA) and 9-[(E)-2-(naphtalen-2-yl)ethenyl]anthracene 2 (NEA) as suitable and economic alternatives for the indirect quantification of singlet oxygen in aqueous media. Their advantage is the easy detection of their fluorescence once they are oxidized by singlet oxygen. Materials and Methods: Compounds were synthesized and characterized following procedures previously reported. Their capacity to trap singlet oxygen was determined by monitoring their photosensitized oxidation in either a H2O/THF solution or within Leishmania tarentolae parasites, utilizing methylene blue or rose bengal as photosensitizers. Experimental samples were illuminated with a lamp emitting visible light, while spectroscopical techniques (absorption, fluorescence, 1 H-NMR) and mass spectrometry were used to monitor trapping and photooxidation. Results and Discussion: Spectroscopical evidence demonstrates that both PEA 1 and NEA 2 are capable of trapping singlet oxygen in both aqueous media and within L. tarentolae parasites. Viability studies demonstrate that PEA 1 is cytotoxic in the dark and when parasite cultures were exposed to light, while NEA 2 does not show dark cytotoxicity, but is toxic when cultures were exposed to light. It can be concluded that both compounds under study may be utilized as probes to detect and quantify the production of singlet oxygen in aqueous media and potentially in cell cultures, although it is recommended to evaluate their cytotoxic activity both in the dark and upon light exposure in these cases.

Synthesis of Novel Quaternary Ammonium Salts and Their in Vitro Antileishmanial Activity and U-937 Cell Cytotoxicity.

This work describes the synthesis of a series of quaternary ammonium salts and the assessment of their in vitro antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity. A preliminary discussion on a structure-activity relationship of the compounds is also included. Three series of quaternary ammonium salts were prepared: (i) halomethylated quaternary ammonium salts (series I); (ii) non-halogenated quaternary ammonium salts (series II) and (iii) halomethylated choline analogs (series III). Assessments of their in vitro cytotoxicity in human promonocytic cells U-937 and antileishmanial activity in axenic amastigotes of L. (Viannia) panamensis (M/HOM/87/UA140-pIR-eGFP) were carried out using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) micromethod. Antileishmanial activity was also tested in intracellular amastigotes of L. (V) panamensis using flow cytometry. High toxicity for human U937 cells was found with most of the compounds, which exhibited Lethal Concentration 50 (LC50) values in the range of 9 to 46 µg/mL. Most of the compounds evidenced antileishmanial activity. In axenic amastigotes, the antileishmanial activity varied from 14 to 57 µg/mL, while in intracellular amastigotes their activity varied from 17 to 50 µg/mL. N-Chloromethyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-(4,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-yl)ammonium iodide (1a), N-iodomethyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-(4,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-yl)ammonium iodide (2a), N,N,N-trimethyl-N-(4,4-diphenylbut-3-en-1-yl)ammonium iodide (3a) and N,N,N-trimethyl-N-(5,5-diphenylpent-4-en-1-yl)ammonium iodide (3b) turned out to be the most active compounds against intracellular amastigotes of L. (V) panamensis, with EC50 values varying between 24.7 for compound 3b and 38.4 µg/mL for compound 1a. Thus, these compounds represents new "hits" in the development of leishmanicidal drugs.

Crystal structures of three new N-halo-methyl-ated quaternary ammonium salts.

In the crystals of the title N-halo-methyl-ated quaternary ammonium salts, C19H23IN(+)·I(-), (I) [systematic name: N-(4,4-di-phenyl-but-3-en-1-yl)-N-iodo-methyl-N,N-di-methyl-ammonium iodide], C20H25IN(+)·I(-), (II) [systematic name: N-(5,5-di-phenyl-pent-4-en-1-yl)-N-iodo-methyl-N,N-di-methyl-ammonium iodide], and C21H27IN(+)·I(-), (III) [systematic name: N-(6,6-di-phenyl-hex-5-en-1-yl)-N-iodo-methyl-N,N-di-methyl-ammonium iodide], there are short I⋯I(-) inter-actions of 3.564 (4), 3.506 (1) and 3.557 (1) Šfor compounds (I), (II) and (III), respectively. Compound (I) crystallizes in the Sohncke group P21 as an 'enanti-opure' compound and is therefore a potential material for NLO properties. In the crystal of compound (I), mol-ecules are linked by C-H⋯I(-) and C-H⋯π inter-actions which, together with the I⋯I(-) inter-actions, lead to the formation of ribbons along [100]. In (II), there are only C-H⋯I(-) inter-actions which, together with the I⋯I(-) inter-actions, lead to the formation of helices along [010]. In (III), apart from the I⋯I(-) inter-actions, there are no significant inter-molecular inter-actions present.