Synthesis, CYP 450 evaluation, and docking simulation of novel 4-aminopyridine and coumarin derivatives.

Four series of novel compounds based on 4-aminopyridine, glatiramer acetate, pyrone, and coumarin backbones were sufficiently synthesized and identified by spectroscopic methods. CYP enzyme inhibition assays of five predominate human P450 isozymes indicate that all compounds, except for 4-hydrazide pyridine 1c, seem to be less toxic than 4-aminopyridine. Further investigation of the compounds using molecular docking experiments revealed different, the same, or stronger binding modes for most of the synthesized compounds, with both polar and hydrophobic interactions with the 1WDA and 1J95 receptors compared to benzoyl l-arginine amide and 4-aminopyridine, respectively. These results introduce the synthesized compounds as K+ channel blockers that could be considered for in vivo CNS disease studies.

DNA Binding and Recognition of a CC Mismatch in a DNA Duplex by Water-Soluble Peptidocalix[4]arenes: Synthesis and Applications.

Water-soluble peptidocalix[4]arenes were synthesized by the introduction of arginine-rich narrow groove-binding residues at lower rims through solid-phase synthesis. The study of binding of these water-soluble bidentate ligands to well-matched and mismatched DNA duplexes by fluorescent titrations, ethidium bromide (EB) displacement assays, DNA-melting experiments, and circular dichroism (CD) analysis revealed a sequence-dependent groove-binding mechanism.

Bioabsorbable stent quo vadis: a case for nano-theranostics.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the most commonly performed invasive medical procedures in medicine today. Since the first coronary balloon angioplasty in 1977, interventional cardiology has seen a wide array of developments in PCI. Bare metal stents (BMS) were soon superseded by the revolutionary drug-eluting stents (DES), which aimed to address the issue of restenosis found with BMS. However, evidence began to mount against DES, with late-stent thrombosis (ST) rates being higher than that of BMS. The bioabsorbable stent may be a promising alternative, providing vessel patency and support for the necessary time required and thereafter degrade into safe non-toxic compounds which are reabsorbed by the body. This temporary presence provides no triggers for ST, which is brought about by non-endothelialized stent struts and drug polymers remaining in vivo for extended periods of time. Likewise, nano-theranostics incorporated into a bioabsorbable stent of the future may provide an incredibly valuable single platform offering both therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities. Such a stent may allow delivery of therapeutic particles to specific sites thus keeping potential toxicity to a minimum, improved ease of tracking delivery in vivo by embedding imaging agents, controlled rate of therapy release and protection of the implanted therapy. Indeed, nanocarriers may allow an increased therapeutic index as well as offer novel post-stent implantation imaging and diagnostic methods for atherosclerosis, restenosis and thrombosis. It is envisioned that a nano-theranostic stent may well form the cornerstone of future stent designs in clinical practice.

An anti-CD34 antibody-functionalized clinical-grade POSS-PCU nanocomposite polymer for cardiovascular stent coating applications: a preliminary assessment of endothelial progenitor cell capture and hemocompatibility.

In situ endothelialization of cardiovascular implants has emerged in recent years as an attractive means of targeting the persistent problems of thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of immobilizing anti-CD34 antibodies onto a POSS-PCU nanocomposite polymer surface to sequester endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from human blood, and to characterize the surface properties and hemocompatibility of this surface. Amine-functionalized fumed silica was used to covalently conjugate anti-CD34 to the polymer surface. Water contact angle, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used for surface characterization. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were seeded on modified and pristine POSS-PCU polymer films. After 7 days, adhered cells were immunostained for the expression of EPC and endothelial cell markers, and assessed for the formation of EPC colonies. Hemocompatibility was assessed by thromboelastography, and platelet activation and adhesion assays. The number of EPC colonies formed on anti-CD34-coated POSS-PCU surfaces was not significantly higher than that of POSS-PCU (5.0±1.0 vs. 1.7±0.6, p>0.05). However, antibody conjugation significantly improved hemocompatibility, as seen from the prolonged reaction and clotting times, decreased angle and maximum amplitude (p<0.05), as well as decreased platelet adhesion (76.8±7.8 vs. 8.4±0.7, p<0.05) and activation. Here, we demonstrate that POSS-PCU surface immobilized anti-CD34 antibodies selectively captured CD34+ cells from peripheral blood, although only a minority of these were EPCs. Nevertheless, antibody conjugation significantly improves the hemocompatibility of POSS-PCU, and should therefore continue to be explored in combination with other strategies to improve the specificity of EPC capture to promote in situ endothelialization.

Inception to actualization: next generation coronary stent coatings incorporating nanotechnology.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is used to treat blocked coronary arteries. Bare-metal stents (BMS) were first used in PCI but often necessitated repair procedures due to in-stent restenosis. Drug-eluting stents (DES) were developed to address this problem as the stent-incorporated anti-proliferative drugs prevented restenosis. However late-stent thrombosis arose with the use of DES due to polymer hypersensitivity and impaired re-endothelialization. Evidence suggests that using a combination of biofunctionalized polymers and antibody/peptide motifs can prevent thrombosis while ensuring in situ endothelialization. The advent of nanotechnology has engendered techniques like layer-by-layer self-assembly, and localized drug and gene delivery using nanoparticles. Therefore, this review seeks to explore the convergence of biotechnology and nanotechnology for the next generation coronary stent coatings, with an emphasis on its development from bench to beside.

Nanotechnology-based gene-eluting stents.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death in the world. Coronary stenting in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has revolutionized the field of cardiology. Coronary stenting is seen as a less invasive procedure compared to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Two main types of stents currently exist in the market: bare-metal stents (BMS) and drug-eluting stents (DES). DES were developed in response to problems associated with BMS use, like neointimal hyperplasia leading to restenosis. However, the use of DES engendered other problems as well, like late stent thrombosis (ST), which is a serious and lethal complication. Gene-eluting stents (GES) have recently been proposed as a novel method of circumventing problems seen in BMS and DES. Utilizing nanotechnology, sustained and localized delivery of genes can mitigate problems of restenosis and late ST by accelerating the regenerative capacity of re-endothelialization. Therefore this review seeks to explore the realm of GES as a novel alternative to BMS and DES, and its potential implications in the field of nanotechnology and regenerative medicine.

Surface modification of a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane poly(carbonate-urea) urethane (POSS-PCU) nanocomposite polymer as a stent coating for enhanced capture of endothelial progenitor cells.

An unmet need exists for the development of next-generation multifunctional nanocomposite materials for biomedical applications, particularly in the field of cardiovascular regenerative biology. Herein, we describe the preparation and characterization of a novel polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane poly(carbonate-urea) urethane (POSS-PCU) nanocomposite polymer with covalently attached anti-CD34 antibodies to enhance capture of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC). This material may be used as a new coating for bare metal stents used after balloon angioplasty to improve re-endothelialization. Biophysical characterization techniques were used to assess POSS-PCU and its subsequent functionalization with anti-CD34 antibodies. Results indicated successful covalent attachment of anti-CD34 antibodies on the surface of POSS-PCU leading to an increased propensity for EPC capture, whilst maintaining in vitro biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. POSS-PCU has already been used in 3 first-in-man studies, as a bypass graft, lacrimal duct and a bioartificial trachea. We therefore postulate that its superior biocompatibility and unique biophysical properties would render it an ideal candidate for coating medical devices, with stents as a prime example. Taken together, anti-CD34 functionalized POSS-PCU could form the basis of a nano-inspired polymer platform for the next generation stent coatings.

Overview of experimental models of the blood-brain barrier in CNS drug discovery.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a physical and metabolic entity that isolates the brain from the systemic circulation. The barrier consists of tight junctions between endothelial cells that contain egress transporters and catabolic enzymes. To cross the BBB, a drug must possess the appropriate physicochemical properties to achieve a sufficient time-concentration profile in brain interstitial fluid (ISF). In this overview, we review techniques to measure BBB permeation, which is evidenced by the free concentration of compound in brain ISF over time. We consider a number of measurement techniques, including in vivo microdialysis and brain receptor occupancy following perfusion. Consideration is also given to the endothelial and nonendothelial cell systems used to assess both the BBB permeation of a test compound and its interactions with egress transporters, and computer models employed for predicting passive permeation and the probability of interactions with BBB transporters.

Translational CNS medicines research.

The major imperative of the pharmaceutical industry is to effectively translate insights gained from basic research into new medicines. This task is toughest for CNS disorders. Compared with non-CNS drugs, CNS drugs take longer to get to market and their attrition rate is greater. This is principally because of the complexity of the human brain (the cause of many brain disorders remains unknown), the liability of CNS drugs to cause CNS side effects (which limits their use) and the requirement of CNS medicines to cross the blood-CNS barrier (BCNSB) (which restricts their ability to interact with their CNS target). In this review we consider the factors that are important in translating neuroscience research into CNS medicines.

Nerve regeneration with aid of nanotechnology and cellular engineering.

Repairing nerve defects with large gaps remains one of the most operative challenges for surgeons. Incomplete recovery from peripheral nerve injuries can produce a diversity of negative outcomes, including numbness, impairment of sensory or motor function, possibility of developing chronic pain, and devastating permanent disability. In the last few years, numerous microsurgical techniques, such as coaptation, nerve autograft, and different biological or polymeric nerve conduits, have been developed to reconstruct a long segment of damaged peripheral nerve. A few of these techniques are promising and have become popular among surgeons. Advancements in the field of tissue engineering have led to development of synthetic nerve conduits as an alternative for the nerve autograft technique, which is the current practice to bridge nerve defects with gaps larger than 30 mm. However, to date, despite significant progress in this field, no material has been found to be an ideal alternative to the nerve autograft. This article briefly reviews major up-to-date published studies using different materials as an alternative to the nerve autograft to bridge peripheral nerve gaps in an attempt to assess their ability to support and enhance nerve regeneration and their prospective drawbacks, and also highlights the promising hope for nerve regeneration with the next generation of nerve conduits, which has been significantly enhanced with the tissue engineering approach, especially with the aid of nanotechnology in development of the three-dimensional scaffold. The goal is to determine potential alternatives for nerve regeneration and repair that are simply and directly applicable in clinical conditions.

Neurochemical changes in a double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease fed a pro-oxidant diet.

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) causing neurodegeneration and decreased monoamine neurotransmitters. We investigated the effect of administration of a pro-oxidant diet on the levels of monoamines and metabolites in the brains of wildtype and transgenic mice expressing mutant APP and PS-1 (TASTPM mice). Three-month-old TASTPM and wildtype (C57BL6/J) mice were fed either normal or pro-oxidant diet for 3 months. The neocortex, cerebellum, hippocampus and striatum were assayed for their monoamine and monoamine metabolite content using HPLC with electrochemical detection. Striatal tyrosine hydroxylase (TOH) levels were analysed by Western blotting. In the striatum, female TASTPM mice had higher levels of DOPAC and male TASTPM mice had higher levels of 5-HIAA compared to wildtype mice. Administration of pro-oxidant diet increased striatal MHPG, turnover of NA and 5-HT levels in female TASTPM mice compared to TASTPM mice fed control diet. The pro-oxidant diet also decreased DOPAC levels in female TASTPM mice compared to those fed control diet. Striatal TOH did not depend on diet, gender or genotype. In the neocortex, the TASTPM genotype increased levels of 5-HIAA in male mice fed control diet compared to wildtype mice. In the cerebellum, the TASTPM genotype led to decreased levels of HVA (male mice only) and also decreased turnover of DA (female mice only) compared to wildtype mice. These data suggest a sparing of monoaminergic neurones in the cortex, striatum and hippocampus of TASTPM mice fed pro-oxidant diet and could be indicative of increased activity in corticostriatal circuits. The decreased cerebellar levels of HVA and turnover of DA in TASTPM mice hint at possible axonal degeneration within this subregion.

Measurement of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of neuroactive compounds.

The need to discover and develop safe and effective new medicines is greatest for disorders of the CNS. A core requirement for an effective neurotherapeutic agent is an ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and remain in the brain interstitial fluid (ISF) for a sufficient duration and concentration to evoke the desired therapeutic effect. Measuring the free concentration of a neuroactive compound in brain ISF is therefore an essential step in the critical path towards the development of a CNS medicine. In vivo microdialysis provides a powerful method for the measurement of endogenous and exogenous substances in the ISF surrounding the probe and so it represents an important tool in CNS drug discovery. It can also be used to measure the pharmacodynamic response of neuroactive compounds by measuring neurotransmitters and second messengers. Another approach to measure both pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of neuroactive compounds is the measurement of receptor occupancy, which has the advantage of being applicable to the study of humans as well as experimental animals. Measurement of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of neuroactive compounds clearly improve understanding of the efficacy and safety of drug candidates, which improves both the efficiency and the effectiveness of CNS medicines research.

Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, the blood-brain barrier, and central nervous system drug discovery.

The worldwide market for therapies for CNS disorders is worth more than 50 billion dollars and is set to grow substantially in the years ahead. This is because: 1) the incidence of many CNS disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and Parkinson's disease) increase exponentially after age 65 and 2) the number of people in the world over 65 is about to increase sharply because of a marked rise in fertility after World War II. However, CNS research and development are associated with significant challenges: it takes longer to get a CNS drug to market (12-16 years) compared with a non-CNS drug (10-12 years) and there is a higher attrition rate for CNS drug candidates than for non-CNS drug candidates. This is attributable to a variety of factors, including the complexity of the brain, the liability of CNS drugs to cause CNS side effects, and the requirement of CNS drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This review focuses on BBB penetration, along with pharmacokinetics and drug metabolism, in the process of the discovery and development of safe and effective medicines for CNS disorders.

The pivotal role of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics in the discovery and development of new medicines.

An appropriate drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) profile remains a major hurdle to reducing risk and improving productivity in pharmaceutical R&D, accounting for approximately 40% of all drug failures. For orally administered drugs, failure is often attributable to low intestinal absorption and/or high clearance, causing poor and variable bioavailability. Additional reasons for failure include drug-drug interactions and the presence of active metabolites. With a poor pharmacokinetic profile, it can be difficult to achieve the dose profile required for therapeutic efficacy. The main role that DMPK plays in drug discovery is therefore the prediction of drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics in humans. Successful prediction can be expected to reduce the rate of attrition during drug discovery and development. This has led to the recognition that DMPK is an essential component of the drug discovery process. Both this and the need to screen ever greater numbers of compounds have led to major changes in both technology and the process of drug discovery.