Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) based evidence for cell permeation by mono-4-(N-6-deoxy-6-amino-ß-cyclodextrin)-7-nitrobenzofuran (NBD-ß-CyD).

Beta-cyclodextrin (ß-CyD), amantadine and glucose were fluorescently tagged with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD chloride) to afford NBD-ß-CyD, NBD-amantadine and NBD-glucose, respectively. NBD-ß-CyD/amantadine and ß-CyD/NBD-amantadine inclusion complexes were prepared. Fluorescence emission maxima (λ(max) 544nm) and relative fluorescence intensities for NBD-ß-CyD and NBD-ß-CyD/amantadine were virtually identical, precluding the use of emission spectrum shifts for distinguishing free NBD-ß-CyD from the complex. Intracellular accumulation of NBD-ß-CyD was studied in HepG2 and SK-MEL-24 cells using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). No major differences were observed between uptake of NBD-ß-CyD and NBD-ß-CyD/amantadine. Serum proteins did not perturb uptake, whereas temperature-dependent uptake, indicative of cell entry via diffusion, was observed. Intracellular distribution favoured mitochondria, with less fluorescent material present in cytoplasm and none in cell nuclei. No experimental evidence of NBD-ß-CyD breakdown to NBD-glucose was found upon chromatographic analysis of incubation mixtures, providing additional evidence of intact NBD-ß-CyD entry into these cells. Endocytosis and/or cholesterol-independent membrane modulation are discussed as possible mechanisms for the transmembrane passage of NBD-ß-CyD.

Targeted delivery of macromolecular drugs: asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) expression by selected hepatoma cell lines used in antiviral drug development.

The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), an endocytotic cell surface receptor expressed by hepatocytes, is triggered by triantennary binding to galactose residues of macromolecules such as asialoorosomucoid (ASOR). The capacity of this receptor to import large molecules across the cellular plasma membrane makes it an enticing target for receptor-mediated drug delivery to hepatocytes and hepatoma cells via ASGPR-mediated endocytosis. This study describes the preparation and characterization of (125)I-ASOR, and its utility in the assessment of ASGPR expression by HepG2, HepAD38 and Huh5-2 human hepatoma cell lines. ASOR was prepared from human orosomucoid, using acid hydrolysis to remove sialic acid residues, then radioiodinated using iodogen. (125)I-ASOR was purified by gel column chromatography and characterized by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. The ASOR yield by acid hydrolysis was 75%, with approximately 87 % of the sialic acid residues removed. Electrophoresis and gel chromatography demonstrated substantial differences in (125)I-ASOR quality depending on the method of radioiodination. ASGPR densities per cell were estimated at 76,000 (HepG2), 17,000 (HepAD38) and 3,000 (Huh-5-2). (125)I-ASOR binding to ASGPR on HepG2 cells was confirmed through galactose- and EDTA- challenge studies. It is concluded that (125)I-ASOR is a facilely-prepared, stable assay reagent for ASGPR expression if appropriately prepared, and that HepG2 cells, but not HepAD38 or Huh-5-2 cells, are suitable for studies exploiting the endocytotic ASGPR.

Asialoglycoprotein receptor-targeted superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles are primarily used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging. SPIO have also been derivatized to add targeting and drug-carrier functionality as drug delivery devices. The preparation and characterization of amino-functionalized SPIO (ASPIO) and lactose-derivatized galactose-terminal-ASPIO are now reported. The target for galactose-terminal-ASPIO is the cell-surface asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) expressed by hepatocytes. Two batches of ASPIO with average particle sizes of 61 [42]nm and 127 [125]nm [full-width half maximum; FWHM] were prepared. The small ASPIO increased from 61 nm to 278 [309]nm upon lactosylation (Gal-ASPIO-278) and to 302 [280] by N-acetylation (NAcASPIO-302); the larger ASPIO afforded galactosyl-terminal ASPIO of 337 [372]nm and N-acetylated ASPIO of 326 [308]nm. The LD50 of Gal-ASPIO-278 was 1500 microg/mL to HepG2 cells; Gal-ASPIO-278 associated with HepG2 cells in vitro, whereas NAcSPIO-302, prepared from the same ASPIO batch, did not. Gal-ASPIO-278 and NAcASPIO-302 were not bound by ASPGR non-expressing 143B cells. The association of Gal-ASPIO-278 to HepG2 cells was reduced by free galactose, supporting the model of ASGPR-mediated binding. These data underline the potential application of Gal-ASPIO as a targeted ligand for ASPGR-expressing cells in vivo.

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydronaphthocyclobuta[1,2-d]pyrimidinediones from 5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyluracil and naphthalenes.

Upon UV-irradiation in the presence of piperylene, 5-fluoro-1,3-dimethyluracil (5-FDMU) couples with naphthalenes having either an electron-withdrawing group or an electron-donating group by way of 1,2-cycloaddition via mode selectivity to give the corresponding naphthocyclobutapyrimidines regio- and stereo-selectively.

Pyridoxine as a template for the design of antiplatelet agents.

The B(6) vitamers have been shown to display beneficial therapeutic effects in cardiovascular related disorders. The design of novel antiplatelet agents using pyridoxine as a template has led to the discovery of a class of novel cardio- and cerebro-protective agents. The present study describes the synthesis of several of these derivatives along with the antiplatelet and antiischemic activity of derivative 16.

Design and synthesis of novel pyridoxine 5'-phosphonates as potential antiischemic agents.

On the basis of previous reports that the natural cofactor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate 1 appears to display cardioprotective properties, a series of novel mimetics of this cofactor were envisioned. As pyridoxal 5'-phosphate is a natural compound and is subject to biological degradation and elimination pathways, the objective was to generate active phosphonates that are potentially less light sensitive and more stable in vivo than the parent vitamer. Several phosphonates were designed and synthesized, and in particular, compounds 10 and 14 displayed similar biological traits to natural phosphate 1 in the rat model of regional myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. A reduction in infarct size was observed in animals treated with these compounds. In an effort to identify other relevant cardioprotective models in order to potentially define structure-activity relationships, these three compounds were tested in the rat working heart model. Compounds 1, 10, and 14 were compared to dichloroacetic acid (DCA) as positive control in this model. As with DCA, compounds 1, 10, and 14 were found to induce a shift from fatty acid oxidation toward glucose oxidation.

Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin-flutamide inclusion complex. II. Oral and intravenous pharmacokinetics of flutamide in the rat.

PURPOSE: The objective of this work was to determine the pharmacokinetics of flutamide (FLT) and its active metabolite, 2-hydroxy-flutamide (FLT-2-OH) in rats, following formulation in hydroxypropyl-Beta-cyclodextrin (FLT-HPBetaCyD). METHODS: The pharmacokinetics of FLT-HPBetaCyD, FLT-suspension (FLT-SUSP), and FLT-solution (FLT-COSOLV) were compared after oral (p.o.) and intravenous (i.v.) administration, respectively. In a non-crossover design, male Sprague-Dawley rats received each formulation as a single oral dose [15 mg (54 micro mol) FLT/kg] by oral gavage, or single i.v. dose [1.6 mg (5.8 micro mol) FLT/kg] via an indwelling jugular vein catheter. FLT and its metabolite, FLT-2-OH, were determined in plasma and urine aliquots by an HPLC method. RESULTS: In a preliminary in vitro experiment, using the dialysis bag dissolution method, 80% of a test dose of FLT was released from lyophilized FLT-HPBetaCyD into simulated gastric juice within 2 h, compared to less than 5% release from commercial FLT powder (FLT-SUSP). Following oral FLT-HPBetaCyD, the mean area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC(0- infinity)) for FLT, was 1580 +/- 228 ng x h/mL, with the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax; 1297 +/- 127 ng/mL) at 0.5 h (Tmax) after administration. The AUC(0- infinity) and C(max) were significantly higher than after FLT-SUSP (AUC(0- infinity) 748 +/- 206 ng x h/mL; C(max) 230 +/- 111 ng/mL and T(max) 2.33 +/- 0.29 h, respectively). After i.v. FLT-HPBetaCyD, the FLT AUC(0- infinity) was 1355 +/- 162 ng x h/mL, compared to 1421 +/- 283 ng x h/mL for FLT-COSOLV. FLT C(max) were 714 +/- 144 mL/h and 735 +/- 88 mL/h, respectively. The respective volumes of distribution (V(z)) were 369 +/- 191 mL and 242 +/- 25 mL. The plasma concentration-time profile and pharmacokinetic parameters of FLT after FLT-HPBetaCyD and FLT-COSOLV did not differ significantly. The pharmacokinetic parameters for FLT-2-OH were formulation independent after i.v. dosing, but AUC(0- infinity); C(max) and T(max), values were substantially greater with the FLT-HPBetaCyD in the oral study (40269 +/- 5875 ng x h/mL, 4062 +/- 502 ng/mL, and 3.50 +/- 0.41 h, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: FLT from FLT-HPBetaCyD was released rapidly into solution in vitro and in vivo. FLT-HPBetaCyD improved oral bioavailability relative to FLT-SUSP. Intravenous pharmacokinetic profiles for both FLT and FLT-2-OH were identical following either FLT-HPBetaCyD or FLT-COSOLV, indicating that the FLT-HPBetaCyD formulation behaved as a true solution.