Diclofenac and metformin synergistic dose dependent inhibition of hamster fibrosarcoma, rescued with mebendazole.

We examined whether combinig diclofenac and metformin in doses equivalent to human doses would synergize their anticancer activity on fibrosarcoma inoculated to hamsters and in vitro. Rescue experiment was performed to examine whether the prosurvival NF-κB stimulation by mebendazole can reverse anticancer effects of the treatment. BHK-21/C13 cell culture was subcutaneously inoculated to Syrian golden hamsters randomly divided into groups (6 animals per group): 1) untreated control; treated daily with 2) diclofenac; 3) metformin; 4) combinations of diclofenac and metformin at various doses; 5) combination of diclofenac, metformin and mebendazole; 6) mebendazole. Dose response curves were made for diclofenac and metformin combination. Tumor growth kinetics, biophysical, pathological, histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of excised tumors and hamster organs as well as biochemical and hematological blood tests were compared among the groups. Single treatments had no anticancer effects. Diclofenac (60 mg/kg/day) exhibited significant (P < 0.05) synergistic inhibitory effect with metformin (500 mg/kg/day) on all tumor growth parameters, without toxicity and influence on biochemical and hematological blood tests. The same results were obtained with double doses of diclofenac and metformin combination. The addition of mebendazole to the diclofenac and metformin combination rescued tumor expansion. Furthermore, diclofenac with metformin demonstrated antiproliferative effects in hamster fibrosarcoma BHK-21/C13, human lung carcinoma A549 (CCL-185), colon carcinoma HT-29 (HTB-38) and cervical carcinoma HeLa (CCL-2) cell cultures, with markedly lower cytotoxicity in the normal fetal lung MRC-5 cells. In conclusion, diclofenac and metformin combination may be recommended for potential use in oncology, due to synergistic anticancer effect in doses achievable in humans.

Ternary Mixed Micelle Hexadecyltrimethylammonium Bromide-Dodecyltrimethylammonium Bromide-Sodium Deoxycholate: Gibbs Free Energy of Mixing and Excess Gibbs Energy of Mixing.

Pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic formulations often contain binary or ternary surfactant mixtures with synergistic interactions amongst micellar building blocks. Here, a ternary mixture of the surfactants hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, and sodium deoxycholate is examined to see if the molar fractions of the surfactants in the ternary mixed micellar pseudophase are determined by the interaction coefficients between various pairs of the surfactants or by their propensity to self-associate. Critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of the analyzed ternary mixtures are determined experimentally (spectrofluorimetrically using pyrene as the probe molecule). Thermodynamic parameters of ternary mixtures are calculated from CMC values using the Regular Solution protocol. The tendency for monocomponent surfactants to self-associate (lower value of CMC) determines the molar fractions of surfactant in the mixed micelle if there is no issue with the packing of the micelle building units of the ternary mixed micelle. If a more hydrophobic surfactant is incorporated into the mixed micelle, the system (an aqueous solution of surfactants) is then the most thermodynamically stabilized.

Self-Association of the Anion of 7-Oxodeoxycholic Acid (Bile Salt): How Secondary Micelles Are Formed.

Bile acid anions are steroidal biosurfactants that form primary micelles due to the hydrophobic effect. At higher concentrations of some bile acid anions, secondary micelles are formed; hydrogen bonds connect primary micelles. Monoketo derivatives of cholic acid, which have reduced membrane toxicity, are important for biopharmaceutical examinations. The main goal is to explain why the processes of formation of primary and secondary micelles are separated from each other, i.e., why secondary micelles do not form parallel to primary micelles. The association of the anion of 7-oxodeoxycholic acid (a monoketo derivative of cholic acid) is observed through the dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time on total surfactant concentration T1 = f(CT). On the function T1 = f(CT), two sharp jumps of the spin-lattice relaxation time are obtained, i.e., two critical micellar concentrations (CMC). The aggregation number of the micelle at 50 mM total concentration of 7-oxodeoxycholic acid anions in the aqueous solution is 4.2 ± 0.3, while at the total concentration of 100 mM the aggregation number is 9.0 ± 0.9. The aggregation number of the micelle changes abruptly in the concentration interval of 80-90 mM (the aggregation number determined using fluorescence measurements). By applying Le Chatelier's principle, the new mechanism of formation of secondary micelles is given, and the decoupling of the process of formation of primary and secondary micelles at lower concentrations of monomers (around the first critical micellar concentration) and the coupling of the same processes at higher equilibrium concentrations of monomers (around the second critical micellar concentration) is explained. Stereochemically and thermodynamically, a direct mutual association of primary micelles is less likely, but monomeric units are more likely to be attached to primary micelles, i.e., 7-oxodeoxycholic acid anions.

Disulfiram and metformin combination anticancer effect reversible partly by antioxidant nitroglycerin and completely by NF-κB activator mebendazole in hamster fibrosarcoma.

We investigated the anticancer effect of disulfiram and metformin combination on fibrosarcoma in hamsters. Hamsters of both sexes (~ 70 g) were randomly allocated to control and experimental groups (8 animals per group). In all 10 groups, 2 × 106 BHK-21/C13 cells in 1 ml were injected subcutaneously into the animals' backs. Peroral treatments were carried out with disulfiram 50 mg/kg daily, or with metformin 500 mg/kg daily, or with their combination. Validation and rescue grups were treated by double doses of the single therapy and by the combination with addition of rescue daily doses of ROS inhibitor nitroglycerin 25 mg/kg or NF-κB stimulator mebendazole 460 mg/kg, via a gastric probe after tumor inoculation. After 19 days all animals were sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analyses, the tumors were excised and weighed, and their diameters and volumes were measured. The tumor samples were pathohistologically and immunohistochemically assessed (Ki-67, PCNA, CD34, CD31, COX4, Cytochrome C, GLUT1, iNOS), and the main organs were toxicologically tested. The combination of disulfiram and metformin significantly inhibited fibrosarcoma growth in hamsters without toxicity, compared to monotherapy or control. The single treatments did not show significant antisarcoma effect. Co-treatment with nitroglycerin partly rescued tumor progression, probably by ROS inhibition, while mebendazole completely blocked anticancer activity of the disulfiram and metformin combination, most likely by NF-κB stimulation. Combination of disulfiram with metformin may be used as an effective and safe candidate for novel nontoxic adjuvant and relapse prevention anticancer therapy.

Self-association of sodium isoursodeoxycholate and sodium isohenodeoxycholate in water.

Bile salts (BS) form hydrophobic Small's primary micelles at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration (CMC), while at concentrations above 3CMC they form secondary micelles (by the association of primary micelles via H-bonds). In this paper the self-associations of the anions of isohenodeoxycholic acid (3-epimer of henodeoxycholic acid, ICD) and the anions of isoursodeoxycholic acid (3-epimer of ursodeoxycholic acid, IUD) are examined, since the thermodynamic parameters of their self-association have not yet been published. Forming of IUD aggregates with two or three building units is slightly more favorable via α sides of steroid skeletons, regarding hydrophobicity, while regarding steric repulsive interactions it is more favorable to associate via ß sides. Due to this, IUD in the vicinity of the CMC can form primary micelles by association of IUD particles both from the convex side and from the concave side of the steroid ring system. Therefore, IUD is significantly more prone to initial micellization than bile salt derivatives whose steroidal skeletons contain equatorially oriented OH groups.

Structure-Property Relationships in Sodium Muricholate Derivative (Bile Salts) Micellization: The Effect of Conformation of Steroid Skeleton on Hydrophobicity and Micelle Formation-Pattern Recognition and Potential Membranoprotective Properties.

It is known that ß-muricholic acid anions prevent membrane toxicity of hydrophobic bile acids, which are being used in therapy for solubilization of the cholesterol type bile stone. Better knowledge of these derivative micelles is very important for understanding their physiological and pharmacological effects. ß-Axial (a) oriented hydroxyl group from the steroid skeleton decreases the hydrophobic surface of the convex side of the steroid skeleton. Therefore, the critical micellization concentration (CMC) for steroid surfactants with ß-a-OH group should increase, but in the case of OH groups of different orientations forming H-bonds in the hydrophobic phase of the micelle, it has the opposite effect; the CMC decreses, and aggregation is more favored. The set of muricholic acids (MCs) is composed by α-MC, ß-MC, γ-MC, and ω-MC, where α-MC and ß-MC have ß-axial-OH groups. The aggregation numbers (n) are determined using the Moroi-Matsuoka-Sugioka thermodynamic method. CMC, enthalpy of demicellization, and ΔCp are determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). This report pioneers in the study of MC derivatives micellization. Micelles of ß-MC and γ-MC belong to the linear congeneric group (LCG) and their micelles above 85 mM have constant aggregation numbers n = 4-5. Micelles of α-MC and ω-MC are outliers in relation to the LCG, their aggregation number constantly increases; at 85 mM n = 6.8 (α-MC) and 6.5 (ω-MC). In micelles of derivatives ß-MC and γ-MC, there is a low probability for the existence of hydrogen bonds. A micelle of α-MC probably has hydrogen bonds in its hydrophobic domain.

Importance of reversed-phase chromatographic parameters in predicting biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic descriptors on the group of androgen derivatives.

Nowadays the standard measure of lipophilicity, the logarithm of n-octanol-water partition coefficient, logP, is proposed to be replaced with chromatographic techniques. Chromatography techniques (reversed phase thin layer chromatography RPTLC and reversed phase thin layer chromatography RPHPLC) are the most widely used alternatives to the shake flask method. However, it is shown that, by changing the temperature or concentration of organic modifier in the chromatography experiment, it is possible to derive data matrix of retention parameters from which, by principle component analysis, structural characteristics of the examined molecules can be gained. The question may be asked which of the chromatography experimentally obtained and calculated parameters: capacity factor k, ΔGx (the change in Gibbs energy of binding of molecule for stationary phase), ΔHx (the change in enthalpy of binding of molecule for stationary phase) or ΔSx (the change in the entropy of binding of molecule for stationary phase) is the most suitable in describing hydrophobicity. The canonical correlation analysis (CCA) method is used to evaluate the importance of the n functions in explaining the variance of molecular descriptors connected to pharmaceutical processes and wherein molecule's hydrophobicity is expressed and possible differences between molecular descriptors with realistic conformations of the analyzed molecules steroid skeleton are discussed. Conformational analysis showed that structure of steroid skeleton in hydrophobicity is most completely described with k or ΔGx, and connection between conformation of the steroid skeleton and hydrophobicity to a lesser extent is projected on temperature dependence on ΔHx and similarly on ΔSx, so in describing molecules hydrophobicity it is necessary to observe entropic as well as enthalpic contribution together, expressed with ΔGx function. Canonical conformation analysis (CCA) showed that hydrophobicity contained in ΔGx and k explains 61% of variance represented in in silico descriptors. Analyzed molecular descriptors, derived from different molecules fragments don't map conformational specifics of those molecules in small groups so recommendation is to use them complementary with chromatographic data in describing hydrophobicity.

Antitumor activity of newly synthesized oxo and ethylidene derivatives of bile acids and their amides and oxazolines.

Bile acid derivatives with modifications in side chain and modifications on steroid skeleton were synthetized and their antitumor activity against five human cancer cell lines was investigated. Modifications in side chain include amid group, formed in reaction with 2-amino-2-methylpropanol, and 4,4-dimethyloxazoline group, obtained after cyclization of amides. In the steroid skeleton oxo groups were introduced in position 7 (2, 2a, 2b) and 7,12 (3, 3a, 3b). Ethylidene groups were introduced regio- and stereoselectively on C-7, and/or without stereoselectivity on C-3 by Wittig reaction. By combination of these modifications, a series of 19 bile acid derivatives were synthesized. Compounds containing both C-7 ethylidene and C-12 carbonyl groups (6, 6a, 6b) shown very good antitumor activity with IC50<5µM. Altering carboxylic group to amide or oxazoline group has positive effect on cytotoxicity. Different molecular descriptors were determined in silico and after principal component analysis was found that molecular descriptor BLTF96 can be used for fast assessment of experimental cytotoxicity of bile acid derivatives.

pKa values of hyodeoxycholic and cholic acids in the binary mixed micelles sodium-hyodeoxycholate-Tween 40 and sodium-cholate-Tween 40: Thermodynamic stability of the micelle and the cooperative hydrogen bond formation with the steroid skeleton.

Due to a relatively small size of bile acid salts, their mixed micelles with nonionic surfactants are analysed. Of the special interests are real binary mixed micelles that are thermodynamically more stable than ideal mixed micelles. Thermodynamic stability is expressed with an excess Gibbs energy (GE) or over an interaction parameter (ßij). In this paper sodium salts of cholic (C) and hyodeoxycholic acid (HD) in their mixed micelles with Tween 40 (T40) are analysed by potentiometric titration and their pKa values are determined. Examined bile acids in mixed micelles with T40 have higher pKa values than free bile acids. The increase of ΔpKa acid constant of micellary bound C and HD is in a correlation with absolute values of an interaction parameter. According to an interaction parameter and an excess Gibbs energy, mixed micelle HD-T40 are thermodynamically more stable than mixed micelles C-T40. ΔpKa values are higher for mixed micelles with Tween 40 whose second building unit is HD, related to the building unit C. In both micellar systems, ΔpKa increases with the rise of a molar fraction of Tween 40 in binary mixtures of surfactants with sodium salts of bile acids. This suggests that, ΔpKa can be a measure of a thermodynamic stabilization of analysed binary mixed micelles as well as an interaction parameter. ΔpKa values are confirmed by determination of a distribution coefficient of HD and C in systems: water phase with Tween 40 in a micellar concentration and 1-octanol, with a change of a pH value of a water phase. Conformational analyses suggests that synergistic interactions between building units of analysed binary micelles originates from formation of hydrogen bonds between steroid OH groups and polyoxyethylene groups of the T40. Relative similarity and spatial orientation of C3 and C6 OH group allows cooperative formation of hydrogen bonds between T40 and HD - excess entropy in formation of mixed micelle. If a water solution of analysed binary mixtures of surfactants contains urea in concentration of 4M significant decreases of an interaction parameter value happens which confirms the importance of hydrogen bonds in synergistic interactions (urea compete in hydrogen bonds).

Chemometric and conformational approach to the analysis of the aggregation capabilities in a set of bile salts of the allo and normal series.

Bile salts are steroid biosurfactants that have a significant role in fat digestion, cholesterol micellar solubilization, and regulation of metabolism. They are important in pharmaceutical studies as modulators of the transport-permeability of drugs or as ligands for certain receptors. For the rational application of bile salts in medicine, it is necessary to have detailed knowledge of their aggregation capabilities (which determine their membranotoxicity and solubilization capacity). From the examination of bile salt derivatives, the in plane of lnk (RPHPLC) and micelle aggregation number n, as well as the anion of 7-oxodeoxycholic acid (7-OxD) and anion of cholic acid (C), are considered to be outliers, related to linear hydrophobic congeneric groups, which means that their micelles, in addition to being determined by hydrophobic interactions, are determined by hydrogen bonds, i.e., they form micelles with higher aggregation numbers than would be expected from the hydrophobicity of their steroid skeleton. For bile salts of the normal series in the formation of hydrogen bonds in secondary micelles, the crucial structural elements of the steroid skeleton are: α-equatorial-C3-OH group and α-axial-C12-OH group. Bile salts of the allo series, including allocholic (aC), allodeoxycholic (aDC) and allochenodeoxycholic acid (aCD), belong to the linear hydrophobic congeneric group. Their micelles are determined by hydrophobic interactions. It is assumed that for the analyzed allo derivatives, the A ring of the steroid skeleton is in the twisted boat conformation, which explains the spatial sheltering of their C3-OH group in micelles.

Micellization parameters (number average, aggregation number and critical micellar concentration) of bile salt 3 and 7 ethylidene derivatives: Role of the steroidal skeleton II.

BACKGROUND: Bile salts are steroidal biosurfactants. Micellar systems of bile salts are not only important for solubilization of cholesterol, but they also interact with certain drugs thus changing their bioavailability. METHODS: The number-average aggregation numbers (n¯) are determined using the Moroi-Matsuoka-Sugioka thermodynamic method. Critical micellar concentrations were determined by spectrofluorometric method using pyren and by surface tension measurements. RESULTS: Micelles of ethylidene derivatives possess the following values for n¯: 7-Eth-D (n¯=11 (50 mM)-n¯=14.8 (100 mM)); 12-Ox-7-Eth-L (n¯≈8.8, without concentration dependence) and 7,12-diOx-3-Eth-Ch (n¯≈2.9, without concentration dependence). In the planes n¯-ln k and ln CMC-ln k derivative 7-Eth-D is outlier in respect to hydrophobic linear congeneric groups. CONCLUSION: Gibbs energy of formation for 7-Eth-D anion micelles in addition to the Gibbs energy of hydrophobic interactions consists excess Gibbs energy (GE) from hydrogen bond formation between building blocks of micelles. Gibbs energy of formation for 7,12-diOx-3-Eth-Ch and 12-Ox-7-Eth-L anion micelle is determined by the Gibbs energy of hydrophobic interactions. Relative increase in hydrophobicity and aggregation number for ethylidene derivatives is larger when ethylidene group is introduced from the C7 lateral side of steroidal skeleton then it is when ethylidene group is on C3 carbon. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Position of outlier towards hydrophobic congeneric groups from n¯-ln k and ln CMC-ln k planes indicates the existence of excess Gibbs energy (GE) which is not of hydrophobic nature (formation of hydrogen bonds). For the bile salt micelles to have GE (formation of secondary micelles) it is necessary that steroidal skeleton possesses C3-α-(e)-OH and C12-α-(a)-OH groups.

Mixed micelles of sodium cholate and sodium dodecylsulphate 1:1 binary mixture at different temperatures--experimental and theoretical investigations.

Micellisation process for sodium dodecyl sulphate and sodium cholate in 1∶1 molar ratio was investigated in a combined approach, including several experimental methods and coarse grained molecular dynamics simulation. The critical micelle concentration (cmc) of mixed micelle was determined by spectrofluorimetric and surface tension measurements in the temperature range of 0-50°C and the values obtained agreed with each other within the statistical error of the measurements. In range of 0-25°C the cmc values obtained are temperature independent while cmc values were increased at higher temperature, which can be explained by the intensive motion of the monomers due to increased temperature. The evidence of existing synergistic effect among different constituent units of the micelle is indicated clearly by the interaction parameter (ß1,2) calculated from cmc values according to Rubingh. As the results of the conductivity measurements showed the negative surface charges of the SDS-NaCA micelle are not neutralized by counterions. Applying a 10 µs long coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation for system including 30-30 SDS and CA (with appropriate number of Na+ cations and water molecules) we obtained semi-quantitative agreement with the experimental results. Spontaneous aggregation of the surfactant molecules was obtained and the key steps of the micelle formation are identified: First a stable SDS core was formed and thereafter due to the entering CA molecules the size of the micelle increased and the SDS content decreased. In addition the size distribution and composition as well as the shape and structure of micelles are also discussed.

Wittig reaction (with ethylidene triphenylphosphorane) of oxo-hydroxy derivatives of 5ß-cholanic acid: Hydrophobicity, haemolytic potential and capacity of derived ethylidene derivatives for solubilisation of cholesterol.

Bile acid salts are biosurfactants which form mixed micelles with phospholipids in vertebrates. These mixed micelles are suitable for solubilisation of cholesterol. For therapeutic purposes some bile acid salts as sodium ursocholate are used. However, bile acid anions possess low capacity for solubilisation of cholesterol. Thus, synthesis of more hydrophobic and less membranotoxic bile acid derivatives is of the great interest. In this paper Wittig reaction between ethylidene triphenylphosphorane and different bile acids oxo derivatives is examined. Wittig reaction of bile acids has not been studied much. C12 oxo group is inert in this reaction. If Wittig reaction happens on C7 oxo group stereospecifically E ethylidene stereoisomer is obtained, while the same reaction on C3 oxo group leads to more reactive not sterospecific product. In this paper stereochemical course of investigated Wittig reactions is thoroughly analysed. Hydrophobicity of derived products is determined over the temperature (T) dependence on retention coefficients (k) in reversed phase high resolution chromatography. Using method of principle components on k=f(T) matrix it is found that values of first principle components best describe hydrophobicity of analysed bile acids, while the second principal component is responsible for their hydrophilicity. By in silico molecular descriptors: valence connectivity index of order 3 (X3v) and packing density index (PDI), linear regression equations are obtained that can be used to predict hydrophobicity (over retention coefficient) of bile acids that belong to set of more congeneric groups. Membranotoxicity is determined by haemolytic potential. Monoethylidene derivatives of bile acids (in the form of anions) have lower membranotoxicity than deoxycholic acids anion. Sodium salt of deoxycholic acid 7-ethylidene derivative has 11% greater capacity for solubilisation of cholesterol monohydrate than sodium salt of deoxycholic acid.

Global optimization of cholic acid aggregates.

In spite of recent investigations into the potential pharmaceutical importance of bile acids as drug carriers, the structure of bile acid aggregates is largely unknown. Here, we used global optimization techniques to find the lowest energy configurations for clusters composed between 2 and 10 cholate molecules, and evaluated the relative stabilities of the global minima. We found that the energetically most preferred geometries for small aggregates are in fact reverse micellar arrangements, and the classical micellar behaviour (efficient burial of hydrophobic parts) is achieved only in systems containing more than five cholate units. Hydrogen bonding plays a very important part in keeping together the monomers, and among the size range considered, the most stable structure was found to be the decamer, having 17 hydrogen bonds. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that the decamer has the lowest dissociation propensity among the studied aggregation numbers.

Comparison of solubilization capacity of resveratrol in sodium 3α, 12α -dihydroxy-7-oxo-5 ß-cholanoate and sodium dodecyl sulfate.

In this study we investigated resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) solubilization with sodium 3α,12 α-dihydroxy-7-oxo-5 ß-cholanoate (S7-OD) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The investigation was aimed at determining whether large spherical micelles (SDS) or small longitudinal micelles (S7-OD) are more convenient for incorporation of resveratrol. Also, we studied resveratrol behavior in mixed micelles with mentioned surfactants using spectroflourimetric method as well as the effects of sodium chloride and urea on resveratrol solubilization capacity in the applied surfactants. Resveratrol solubilization curve was different in the investigated surfactants. Resveratrol solubilization curve for sodium 3α,12 α-dihydroxy-7-oxo-5 ß-cholanoate at concentration 0.9 CMC reached saturation level of 60% dissolved resveratrol. The curve for sodium dodecyl sulfate was linear within the whole range of the investigated concentration; resveratrol solubilization rate reached 13% at 2 CMC. In S7-OD, NaCl increased capacity of resveratrol solubilization up to 1.4 CMC surfactant concentration, whilst maximum level of dissolved resveratrol (90%) was observed at 0.9 CMC. In SDS, NaCl decreased resveratrol solubilization capacity. Urea reduced resveratrol solubilization rate in sodium 3α ,12 α-dihydroxy-7-oxo-5 ß-cholanoate, whereas it had inverse effect in sodium dodecyl sulfate. The obtained results strongly suggest that structure, that is, shape, of the surfactant micelles significantly affects their capacity of resveratrol solubilization. Also, presence of NaCl and urea influences solubilization capacities of investigated surfactants.

The effect of hydroxyl moieties and their oxosubstitution on bile acid association studied in floating monolayers.

Bile salt aggregates are promising candidates for drug delivery vehicles due to their unique fat-solubilizing ability. However, the toxicity of bile salts increases with improving fat-solubilizing capability and so an optimal combination of efficient solubilization and low toxicity is necessary. To improve hydrophilicity (and decrease toxicity), we substituted hydroxyl groups of several natural bile acid (BA) molecules for oxogroups and studied their intrinsic molecular association behavior. Here we present the comparative Langmuir trough study of the two-dimensional (2D) association behavior of eight natural BAs and four oxoderivatives (traditionally called keto-derivatives) floated on an aqueous subphase. The series of BAs and derivatives showed systematic changes in the shape of the compression isotherms. Two types of association could be distinguished: the first transition was assigned to the formation of dimers through H-bonding and the second to the hydrophobic aggregation of BA dimers. Hydrophobic association of BA molecules in the films is linked to the ability of forming H-bonded dimers. Both H-bond formation and hydrophobic association weakened with increasing number of hydroxyl groups, decreasing distance between hydroxyl groups, and increasing oxosubstitution. The results also show that the Langmuir trough method is extremely useful in selecting appropriate BA molecules to design drug delivery systems.

Heuman indices of hydrophobicity of bile acids and their comparison with a newly developed and conventional molecular descriptors.

Bile salts (BSs), in addition to their physiological role in the digestion of lipids in vertebrates, are also of significant importance in biomedical investigations. For predicting biological-pharmacological activity and physico-chemical properties of BSs it is important to develop such molecular descriptors that adequately describe the structural characteristics of the steroid skeleton. The present study encompassed the following bile acids (BAs): cholic, chenodeoxycholic, deoxycholic, hyodeoxycholic, ursodeoxycholic, hyocholic, and ursocholic acid, as well as oxo derivatives of certain BAs. For all of them, Heuman hydrophobicity indices (HI(BA)) (RP-HPLC parameters) were determined, and a detailed conformational analysis of the steroid skeleton showed that HI(BA) has the discrimination power for BAs based on the size of the hydrophobic surface on the ß side and the lateral L7 and L12 sides of the steroid skeleton. Also, HI(BA) discerns the regiochemical characteristics of OH and oxo groups. Based on a survey of the structural factors of the steroid skeleton that influence the HI(BA) values of the tested BAs, we constructed a new molecular descriptor, CHIBA, with the characteristics of 2D and 3D topological descriptors. In respect of the structure of the steroid skeleton, the descriptor CHIBA behaves as a reversed-phase chromatographic descriptor of BAs.

Determination of number-average aggregation numbers of bile salts micelles with a special emphasis on their oxo derivatives-the effect of the steroid skeleton.

BACKGROUND: The special geometry of the steroid skeleton causes that bile acid anions, in contrast to aliphatic amphiphiles, form micelles with a small aggregation number. METHODS: The number-average aggregation numbers (n¯) are determined using Moroi-Matsuoka-Sugioka thermodynamic method. Also, for analysed bile acid sodium salts functions between spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) and concentration of monomers ( [Formula: see text] ) are determined. RESULTS: For 7-oxodeoxicholic (7-ODC) acid and hyodeoxicholic acid (HD) monomers, curve [Formula: see text] contains two inflexion points. Mentioned monomers and cholic acid anion (C) are influential observations in relation to a line of linear regression between n¯ and para\meter of monomer hydrophobicity (lnk, retention capacity from RPHPLC). This suggests that, in micelles of bile acid anions: 7-ODC, HD and C, beside main, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds are also possible between building units. CONCLUSION: The increase in the number of oxo groups in the molecule is accompanied with a decrease in the hydrophobicity of the convex side of the steroid skeleton of the bile acid anion, resulting in a lower aggregation number. Obtained results indicate that C12 and C7 α-axial OH and oxo groups on the same C atoms of the investigated bile acid molecules have different spatial environment, which is confirmed by conformational analysis. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Deviation from the linear model: number-average aggregation numbers with hydrophobicity of monomers, suggests the existence of additional, intermolecular interactions beside hydrophobic in micelles.

Influence of temperature on retention parameter of bile acids in normal phase thin-layer chromatography: the role of steroid skeleton.

In this paper, bile acids' retention parameter, R(M), obtained in normal phase thin-layer chromatography is determined as a function of the temperature (293-323 K). Analyzed bile acids belong to congeneric group with two oxygen atoms (OH or oxo groups) on the steroid core and congeneric group with three oxygen atoms. For molecules of both congeneric groups it is found that there is a linear relationship between R(M) and temperature, therefore R(M) decreases with the increase of temperature. In certain congeneric groups, parameters of linear function (R(M) - T) can be linked to the structural characteristics of bile acids, firstly with their spatial orientation (steric position in relation to the steroid mean plane) of the steroid oxygen atom (OH or oxo groups). Absolute values of slope (see text for symbol) of linear function (R(M) - T) increase if steroid oxygen atoms are not in the polar plane, since then the possibility of forming hydrogen bonds with stationary phase decreases. Besides that, absolute value of the parameter (see text for symbol) describes degree of hydrogen bond forming between bile acids and polar stationary phase in each congeneric group as well as hydrophobicity of the steroid skeleton.

Individualization of a pharmacokinetic model by fractional and nonlinear fit improvement.

This study presents application of a new linear and nonlinear fractional derivative two compartmental model to the evaluation of individual pharmacokinetics. In the model, the integer order derivatives are replaced by derivatives of real order. A specific nonlinear function is used for the fit improvement of a fractional derivative two compartmental model with the mass balance conservation. The agreement of the values predicted by the proposed model with the values obtained through experiments with bumetanide tablets in human volunteers is shown to be good. Thus, pharmacokinetics of bumetanide can be described well by a linear or a nonlinear two compartmental model with fractional derivatives of the same order proposed here. Parameters in the model are determined by the least squares method and the particle swarm optimization numerical procedure is used. The results show that the linear fractional order two compartmental model for bumetanide is useful improvement of the classical (integer order) two compartmental model and that the nonlinear fractional order model is useful improvement of the linear model in a great number of volunteers.