Development and use of augmented reality models to teach medicinal chemistry.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Students in the doctor of pharmacy curriculum have varied backgrounds in their chemical training and also their ability to make mental conversions from two-dimensional chemical representations, on lecture slides or textbook images, to three-dimensional cognitive understanding. In order to bridge the gap, augmented reality (AR) models were developed to provide an alternative learning medium for the students. AR was selected to take advantage of the ubiquitous presence of smartphones, without incurring the expense of Virtual Reality hardware. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: AR models were developed and introduced in the classroom in three phases. Student survey responses were used to improve the utility of the models in between phases. Active learning exercises were developed that required both individual and group interactions to complete. FINDINGS: An optimized AR model creation workflow was developed that allowed each AR model to be created and posted in about 30 min. Depending on the phase of the study, 69% to 88% of the students found the AR models easy to use and 58% to 83% wanted to see more AR models used in future lectures. A majority (76%) of the students viewed the AR models on their smartphones. SUMMARY: Augmented reality modules were created for use in medicinal chemistry courses in the pharmacy curriculum. Models were introduced in phases and included iterative improvements based on student feedback. The AR exercises provided active learning opportunities and were well received. The majority of students would like additional AR modules used in the course.

Synthesis and evaluation of (17alpha,20Z)-21-(4-substituted-phenyl)-19-norpregna-1,3,5(10),20-tetraene-3,17beta-diols as ligands for the estrogen receptor-alpha hormone binding domain: comparison with 20E-isomers.

As part of our ongoing program to develop probes for the hormone binding domain of the estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha), we prepared and evaluated a series of 17alpha,Z-(4-substituted-phenyl)vinyl estradiol derivatives. The results indicated that the relative binding affinities (RBAs) at 25 degrees C for the new compounds were significant (RBA = 9-57) although less than that of estradiol (RBA = 100) or of the parent unsubstituted phenylvinyl estradiol (RBA = 66). All of the Z-compounds were full agonists in the uterotrophic assay, indicating that the ligands formed estrogen-like complexes with the estrogen receptor-alpha hormone binding domain (ERalpha-HBD). Comparison of corresponding Z- and E-4-substituted phenylvinyl ligands complexed with the ERalpha-HBD indicated small but significant differences in binding modes that may account for the differing trends seen in the structure-activity relationships for the two series.

The novel estrogen 17alpha-20Z-21-[(4-amino)phenyl]-19-norpregna-1,3,5(10),20-tetraene-3,17beta-diol induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines at nanomolar concentrations in vitro.

Prostate cancer remains the number one cause of noncutaneous cancer, with 220,900 new cases predicted for the year 2003 alone. Of the more promising classes of compounds studied thus far for the treatment of prostate cancer, estrogens of various types have consistently exhibited antitumor activities both in vitro and in vivo. For this reason, we have synthesized and screened a library of unique 17alpha/11beta modified 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) analogues designed for estrogen receptor beta (ER-beta) specificity and a potential for cytotoxic activity directed toward prostate cancer cells. From this library, the novel compound 17alpha-20Z-21-[(4-amino)phenyl]-19-norpregna-1,3,5(10),20-tetraene-3,17beta-diol (APVE(2)) was identified as the primary lead, found to induce a high level (>90%) of cell death through an apoptotic mechanism, with an EC(50) of 1.4, 2.7, and 16 nM in the LNCaP, PC3, and DU145 cell lines, respectively. APVE(2) was found to bind to ER-beta, albeit weakly, with an EC(50) of 250 nM and a binding activity of 6.2% relative to E(2), nearly two orders of magnitude less than the concentration required to induce apoptosis. APVE(2) bound preferentially to ER-beta by 7-fold over ER-alpha, and did not induce growth in the MCF-7 cell line, thus indicating that it is not a classical ER agonist. Furthermore, the cytotoxic actions of APVE(2) were not reversed by co-treatment with a 50-fold excess E(2). In summary, a novel 17 modified estrogen APVE(2) was identified as a lead compound, capable of inducing apoptosis in three prostate cancer cell lines at low nanomolar concentrations, through a mechanism inconsistent with an ER-mediated mechanism.

Synthesis and evaluation of 17alpha-20E-21-(4-substituted phenyl)-19-norpregna-1,3,5(10),20-tetraene-3,17beta-diols as probes for the estrogen receptor alpha hormone binding domain.

As part of our program to develop probes for the hormone binding domain of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha), we prepared a series of 4-para-substituted phenylvinyl estradiol derivatives using a combination of solution and solid-phase Pd(0)-catalyzed methods. The compounds 5a-j were evaluated for their binding affinity using the ERalpha hormone binding domain (HDB) isolated from transfected BL21 cells. The results indicated that although the new compounds were somewhat lower in relative binding affinity (RBA at 25 degrees C is 1-60%) than estradiol (100%), most had higher affinity than the unsubstituted parent phenylvinyl estradiol (RBA = 9%). Because the substituents did not generate a structure-activity relationship directly based on physicochemical properties, the series was evaluated using molecular modeling and molecular dynamics to determine key interactions between the ligand, especially the para substituent, and the protein. The results suggest that the observed relative binding affinities are directly related to the calculated binding energies and that amino acids juxtaposed to the para position play a significant but not dominant role in binding. In conclusion, we have identified the 17alpha-E-(4-substituted phenyl)vinyl estradiols as a class of ligands that retain significant affinity for the ERalpha-HBD. In particular, 4-substitution tends to increase receptor affinity compared to the unsubstituted analogue, as exemplified by 5e (4-COCH(3)), which had the highest RBA value (60%) of the series. Palladium(0)-catalyzed coupling reactions on solid support or in solution using suitably substituted iodo arenes and 17alpha-E-tributylstannylvinyl estradiols offer a flexible approach to their preparation. Molecular modeling studies of the receptor suggest that there exists additional ligand accessible regions within the ERalpha-HBD to generate interactions that may enhance receptor affinity or modify efficacy in developing new therapeutic agents. Studies to undertake modification in the properties and/or position of the aryl substituents in subsequent series to further define that role are in progress.