Secondary carbamate linker can facilitate the sustained release of dopamine from brain-targeted prodrug.

To achieve the sustained release of dopamine in the brain for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease, dopamine was conjugated to l-tyrosine, an l-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1)-targeting vector, using a secondary carbamate linker. The resulting prodrug, dopa-CBT, inhibited the uptake of the LAT1 substrate [14C]-l-leucine in LAT1-expressing MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value of 28 µM, which was 3.5-times lower than that of the gold standard for dopamine replacement therapy, l-dopa (IC50 ca. 100 µM). Despite its high affinity for LAT1, dopa-CBT was transported via LAT1 into MCF-7 cells 850-times more slowly (Vmax < 3 pmol/min/mg) than l-dopa (Vmax 2.6 nmol/min/mg), most likely due to its large size compared to l-dopa. However, dopa-CBT was significantly more stable in 10% rat liver homogenate than l-dopa, releasing dopamine and l-tyrosine, an endogenous dopamine precursor, slowly, which indicates that it may serve as a dual carrier of dopamine across the blood-brain barrier selectively expressing LAT1.

Prodrugs - Recent approvals and a glimpse of the pipeline.

Prodrugs offer a versatile strategy to overcome flaws of viable drug candidates or clinically approved drugs. However, the strategic importance of prodrugs in the pharmaceutical industry has often been challenged, and prodrugs are often considered as the last option after lead optimization and when the selected drug candidate has faced significant pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic limitations. Based on recent success in marketed drugs, prodrug strategy should clearly be considered already in early stages of lead optimization. During the past five years or so, prodrugs have accounted for about 10% of all small molecular weight drugs that have come to the market. In 2015 alone, the FDA approved seven prodrugs, which gives a prodrug prevalence of over 20% among the small molecules or over 15% among the total amount of the FDA approved drugs that year. A great number of various prodrugs are also undergoing late stage clinical trials. The pharmaceutical industry will therefore continue to depend on prodrugs for the foreseeable future. In this review, we will present the state of the art in the design of the prodrugs launched by the FDA since 2015. We will also provide an overview of some interesting late stage clinical prodrug candidates. We hope this review will demonstrate potential of prodrug strategies and facilitates the use of prodrugs in drug discovery projects.

2-O-Acyl-3-O-(1-acyloxyalkyl) Prodrugs of 5,6-Isopropylidene-l-Ascorbic Acid and l-Ascorbic Acid: Antioxidant Activity and Ability to Permeate Silicone Membranes.

2-O-Acyl-3-O-(1-acyloxyalkyl) prodrug derivatives, 15, of 5,6-isopropylidene-l-ascorbic acid, VCA, and l-ascorbic acid, VC, have been characterized by measuring (1) their solubilities in water (SAQ) and in 1-octanol (SOCT); (2) the ability of one member of the homologous series, 15a, to diffuse through a silicone membrane from its application in propylene glycol:water (PG:AQ), 30:70; (3) the ability of another member of the series, 15e, to express cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) in HaCaT cells; and (4) the ability of 15e to support cell viability in HaCaT cells. All of the prodrugs were more soluble in 1-octanol than VC or VCA were. 15a, which exhibited a good balance between SOCT and SAQ, was found to deliver approximately 15 times more 15a than VCA delivered VCA through a silicone membrane from PG:AQ, 30:70. Under those conditions, no VC permeated the membrane. 15e, which hydrolyzed to release acetaldehyde as a byproduct instead of the toxin formaldehyde, exhibited approximately 30 times the antioxidant activity of VC in CaHaT cells and supported cell viability up to 900 µM in HaCaT cells.

A Double Prodrug with Improved Membrane Permeability over the Parent Chelator HBED Provides Superior Cytoprotection against Hydrogen Peroxide.

The clinical use of N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (HBED) has been hindered by its lack of bioavailability. N,N'-bis(2-boronic pinacol ester benzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl esters 7 a-c, respectively, and their dimesylate salts 8 a-c, are double prodrugs that mask the two phenolate and two carboxylate donors of HBED as boronic esters and carboxylate esters, respectively. Their activation by chemical hydrolysis and oxidation, their passive diffusivity, and their cytoprotective capabilities have been investigated here. 8 a-c hydrolyzed in minimum essential medium at 37 °C with half-lives of 0.69, 0.81, and 2.28 h, respectively. The intermediate formed, 9 [N,N'-bis(2-boronic acid benzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid], then underwent oxidative deboronation by H2 O2 to give HBED (k=1.82 m(-1) min(-1) ). Solubility measurements in mineral oil and in phosphate buffer indicated that 7 a had a better balance between lipid and aqueous solubilities than did HBED. 7 a was also able to passively diffuse across a lipid-like silicone membrane (log flux=-0.36), whereas HBED-HCl was not. 8 c provided better protection to retinal cells than did HBED against a lethal dose of H2 O2 (84 % vs. 28 % protection, respectively, at 44 µm). These results suggest that the double prodrugs have better membrane permeability than does HBED, and therefore could be therapeutically useful for improving the delivery of HBED.

Novel double prodrugs of the iron chelator N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (HBED): Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of activation by chemical hydrolysis and oxidation.

The development of iron chelators suitable for the chronic treatment of diseases where iron accumulation and subsequent oxidative stress are implicated in disease pathogenesis is an active area of research. The clinical use of the strong chelator N,N'-bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (HBED) and its alkyl ester prodrugs has been hindered by poor oral bioavailability and lack of conversion to the parent chelator, respectively. Here, we present novel double prodrugs of HBED that have the carboxylate and phenolate donors of HBED masked with carboxylate esters and boronic acids/esters, respectively. These double prodrugs were successfully synthesized as free bases (7a-f) or as dimesylate salts (8a-c,e), and were characterized by (1)H, (13)C, and (11)B NMR; MP; MS; and elemental analysis. The crystal structure of 8a was solved. Three of the double prodrugs (8a-c) were selected for further investigation into their abilities to convert to HBED by stepwise hydrolysis and H2O2 oxidation. The serial hydrolysis of the pinacol and methyl esters of N,N'-bis(2-boronic acid pinacol ester benzyl)ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid methyl ester dimesylate (8a) was verified by LC-MS. The macro half-lives for the hydrolyses of 8a-c, measured by UV, ranged from 3.8 to 26.3 h at 37 °C in pH 7.5 phosphate buffer containing 50% MeOH. 9, the product of hydrolysis of 8a-c and the intermediate in the conversion pathway, showed little-to-no affinity for iron or copper in UV competition experiments. 9 underwent a serial oxidative deboronation by H2O2 in N-methylmorpholine buffer to generate HBED (k = 10.3 M(-1) min(-1)). The requirement of this second step, oxidation, before conversion to the active chelator is complete may confer site specificity when only localized iron chelation is needed. Overall, these results provide proof of principle for the activation of the double prodrugs by chemical hydrolysis and H2O2 oxidation, and merit further investigation into the protective capabilities of the prodrugs against H2O2-induced cell death.

The Flux of Select NSAIDs through Silicone Membranes from Mineral Oil.

Here we report the experimental log maximum fluxes of n = 9 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) through silicone membranes from the lipid mineral oil (experimental (Exp.) log JMPMO) and correlate those Exp. log JMPMO values with their experimental log maximum fluxes through human skin in vivo from mineral oil (Exp. log JMHMO). The correlation was only fair (r2 = 0.647) for n = 9 but improved dramatically if Nabumetone was removed from the correlation (n = 8, r2 = 0.858). Non-linear regression of the n = 8 Exp. log JMPMO values as the dependent variable against their log solubilities in mineral oil (log SMO) and in pH 7.4 or 1.0 buffers (log S7.4 or S1.0, respectively), and their molecular weights as independent variables in the Roberts-Sloan (RS) equation gave a new set of coefficients for the independent variables in RS. Those coefficients have been used to calculate log JMPMO values which have been correlated with the Exp. log JMPMO values to give r2 = 0.911 if log S7.4 and r2 = 0.896 if log S1.0 were used as aqueous phases. Thus, silicone membranes appear to be good surrogates for predicting flux through human skin if the vehicle is a lipid such as mineral oil.

Flux through silicone and human skin fitted to a series/parallel model.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports of the good correlation between maximum flux through human skin in vitro from water, JMHAQ, and maximum flux through silicone from water, JMPAQ, demand that the mechanism of maximum flux across these two apparently quite different membranes be compared to understand the bases of the correlation. RESULTS/DISCUSSION: A n = 70 log JMPAQ database and a matched n = 55 log JMHAQ database of molecules were found to fit well to a series/parallel model where three parallel solubility dependent pathways existed: a lipid pathway, an aqueous pathway, and a series pathway of alternating lipid and aqueous phases. CONCLUSION: The results of this analysis surprisingly suggest that the architecture of the two membranes present similar solubility based pathways through which drugs diffuse.

The Flux of Phenolic Compounds through Silicone Membranes.

Phenols as a class of molecules have been reported to exhibit higher log maximum fluxes through human stratum corneum, SC, from water, log JMHAQ, than other classes of molecules. This suggests that their corresponding log maximum fluxes through silicone from water, log JMPAQ, may be useful to extend the existing n = 63 log JMPAQ database to include more log JMPAQ values greater than 0.0. The log JMPAQ values for n = 7 phenols predicted to give log JMPAQ values greater than 0.0 based on their log JMHAQ values have been experimentally determined. These n = 7 new log JMPAQ values have been added to the existing n = 63 log JMPAQ database to give a new n = 70 database and the n = 7 literature log JMHAQ values have been added to the existing n = 48 log JMHAQ database (matched to the n = 63 log JMPAQ database) to give a new n = 55 database. The addition of the n = 7 phenols improved the correlations of these flux databases when fitted to the Roberts-Sloan equation, RS, as well as the correlation between the matched experimental (Exp.) log JMPAQ with the Exp. log JMHAQ.

Fit of fluxes of sunscreens and other compounds from propylene glycol:water (30:70) through human skin and silicone membrane to the Roberts-Sloan equation: the effect of polar vehicle (or water) solubility.

It would be useful to develop a surrogate for animal skin, which could be use to predict flux through human skin. The fluxes (and physicochemical properties) of sunscreens and other compounds from propylene glycol (PG):water (AQ), 30:70, through human skin have previously been reported. We measured the fluxes of several of those sunscreens and other compounds from PG:AQ, 30:70, through silicone membrane and fit both sets of data to the Roberts-Sloan (RS) equation to determine any similarities. For both sets of data, the fluxes were directly dependent on their solubilities in a lipid solvent [octanol (OCT), in this case] and in a polar solvent (PG:AQ, 30:70, or AQ in this case) and inversely on their molecular weights. The fit of the experimental (EXP) fluxes through human skin in vivo to RS was excellent: r² = 0.92 if the vehicle (VEH) PG:AQ, 30:70 was the polar solvent (RS¹) or r² = 0.97 if water was the polar solvent (RS²). The fit of the EXP fluxes through silicone membrane to RS was good: r² = 0.80 if the VEH PG:AQ, 30:70, was the polar solvent (RS¹) or r² = 0.81 if water was the polar solvent (RS²). The correlations between their EXP fluxes through human skin in vivo and their EXP fluxes through silicone membrane were good (r² = 0.85). In addition, the correlation between EXP fluxes from PG:AQ, 30:70, through human skin in vivo and their fluxes calculated from the coefficients of the fit of solubilities, molecular weights and fluxes from water through silicone membranes from a previous n = 22 database to RS was even better (r² = 0.94). These results suggest that flux through human skin can be calculated from flux through a silicone membrane.

A surrogate for topical delivery in human skin: silicone membranes.

We have identified, for any surrogate membrane and human skin in vitro, the maximum flux through the membrane (output) should be measured if a correlation between the two is to be obtained. We also identified from an analysis of the passive permeation process that molecular weight, lipid and aqueous solubilities (which are easily measured) constitute the physicochemical properties of the active (input), upon which prediction of flux through the surrogate membrane and through skin in vitro should be based. Besides providing the bases for predicting flux, changes in these physicochemical properties can be easily implemented by those wishing to optimize new cosmetics or topical products. Maximum flux values through silicone membrane (n = 70) and through human skin in vitro (n = 52) have been collected and a good correlation between the flux through human skin in vitro and flux through silicone membrane (for the same molecules) was found.

The effect of lipid and aqueous solubilities on flux of nicotinic acid esters from water through silicone membrane.

OBJECTIVE: The maximum fluxes (J(M)) of nicotinic acid esters (NAE) across silicone membranes from water (J(MPAQ)) have been measured to determine how well they correlate with J(M) of NAE across human skin from water in vitro (J(MHAQ)) and in vivo (J(MHAQ1)) and with J(M) of NAE across hairless mouse skin from water (J(MMAQ)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The NAE were all commercially available. Solubilities in water (S(AQ)), isopropyl myristate (S(IPM)) and octanol (S(OCT)) were obtained from literature sources. J(MPAQ) were measured at saturation for all the esters except the methyl ester. In that case, flux was measured at a concentration (C) less than saturation (J(PAQ)) and converted to J(MPAQ) = (J(PAQ))(S(AQ)/C(AQ)). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: J(MPAQ) values predicted from the previously reported coefficients to the parameters in the Roberts-Sloan (RS) equation (PRE J(MPAQ)) were substantially lower than the experimental J(MPAQ) values (EXP J(MPAQ)) values obtained here. The EXP J(MPAQ) were incorporated into the previous J(MPAQ) database and new coefficients were obtained: x = -1.837; y = 0.742; z = 0.00435; r² = 0.86. Correlation of J(MPAQ) values with J(MHAQ), J(MHAQ1), and J(MMAQ) values show the same trend as the J(MPAQ) values. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of the NAE n = 6 data into the previous n = 32 database for the permeation of the prodrugs through a silicone membrane from water (J(MPAQ)) greatly improved the fit of the n = 38 database to the RS equation: r² = 0.86 vs r² = 0.77. The correlation between log J(MHAQ) and log J(MPAQ) gave r² = 0.98. This suggests that J(MPAQ) values are good predictors of J(MHAQ) values.

Prodrugs of theophylline incorporating ethyleneoxy groups in the promoiety: synthesis, characterization, and transdermal delivery.

Two different types of derivatives of theophylline (Th-H) incorporating ethyleneoxy groups into the promoiety have been synthesized. One is a soft alkyl type where N-methyl-N-methoxyethyleneoxycarbonylaminomethyl chlorides have been used to alkylate Th-H in the 7 position. The other is in an acyl type where methoxyethyleneoxycarbonyl chlorides have been used to acylate Th-H in the 7 position. All of the prodrugs were more soluble in the lipid isopropyl myristate (IPM) than Th-H, and three were more soluble in water (AQ) than Th-H. The most water-soluble prodrug gave the highest maximum delivery of total species containing Th-H through hairless mouse skin from IPM (maximum flux, J(MMIPM))-more than seven times that of Th-H, while the other two gave more than three times that of Th-H. The acyl-type prodrugs delivered only Th-H, while the soft alkyl types delivered 60-70% Th-H plus intact prodrug. The Roberts-Sloan equation was able to predict the best performer for each type with an average of the absolute difference between the experimental log J (MMIPM) and calculated log J (MMIPM) (Δlog J (MMIPM)) of 0.253 log units. The values for the present prodrugs and previously reported prodrugs that had not been previously included in the Roberts-Sloan data base (n = 23) were included in the previous n = 71 data base to give n = 94. New coefficients for the Roberts-Sloan equation have been obtained.

Dermal and transdermal delivery: prodrugs.

Attempts to deliver drugs into and through the skin (dermal and transdermal delivery) have not been very successful because the physicochemical properties of drugs are often not optimal. Prodrugs can be used to optimize those physicochemical properties of drugs and optimize their delivery by transiently masking their polar functional groups. For a drug to cross the rate-limiting barrier to delivery (the stratum corneum) it must dissolve in and cross multiple lipid and aqueous phases within the stratum corneum. Prodrugs can be designed to exhibit increased lipid and aqueous solubilities resulting in increased delivery. In order to identify the optimal prodrugs, they must be evaluated as saturated solutions where their thermodynamic activities are maximal in the solution and in the skin. If prodrugs are evaluated at concentrations less than at saturation, inaccurate conclusions about the optimal physicochemical properties may result. Prodrugs must be designed to optimize both their lipid and aqueous solubilities to optimize their delivery into and through the skin.

Evaluation of alkyloxycarbonyloxymethyl (AOCOM) ethers as novel prodrugs of phenols for topical delivery: AOCOM prodrugs of acetaminophen.

The maximum fluxes of a series of alkyloxycarbonyloxymethyl (AOCOM) ethers of acetaminophen (APAP) through hairless mouse skin from isopropyl myristate, IPM (J(MMIPM)) were measured. The J(MMIPM), solubilities in IPM (S(IPM)), water (S(AQ)) and pH 4.0 buffer (S4.0) and molecular weights MW were then fitted to the Roberts-Sloan (RS) equation: log JM = x + y log S(LIPID) + (1-y) log S(AQ)-zMW. Only one of the prodrugs gave an improvement in the flux obtained by APAP itself. The general lack of improvement in flux seems to be due to the fact that there was no improvement in the S(AQ) values of the AOCOM derivatives compared to APAP. When the n = 5 members of the AOCOM series were added to the n = 66 database of J(MMIPM) to give n = 71 and fitted to the RS equation where S(LIPID) was S(IPM), the following coefficients were obtained: x = -0.562, y = 0.501, z = 0.00248, r2 = 0.923. These results demonstrate the importance of improving S(AQ) for prodrugs to improve their solubilities in the skin and hence the flux of the parent drug. The RS equation, which is derived directly from Fick's law, explains this dependence of flux on S(AQ).

Modeling of flux through silicone membranes from water.

Do the Roberts-Sloan (RS) or modified Kasting-Smith-Cooper (KSC) equations that provide good fit to data for maximum flux, from water through mouse or human skin also provide a good fit to data for maximum fluxes through silicone membranes (polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS). The maximum fluxes through silicone membranes from water (J(MPAQ)), molecular weights (MW), solubilities in isopropyl myristate (S(IPM)) and water (S(AQ)) of 31 prodrugs and one parent drug have been fitted to the RS equation, which includes a parameter for dependence on S(AQ), and the KSC equation, which does not, to determine which equation gave the better fit. In addition, the J(MPAQ), MW, S(AQ) and solubilities in octanol (S(OCT)) of 26 diverse molecules from other laboratories were collected and fitted to the RS and KSC equations to determine if the choice of lipid parameter (S(IPM) or S(OCT)) had an effect on which equation gave the better fit. RS gave the better fit to the present prodrug database where: logJ(MPAQ)=-2.454+0.716 logS(IPM)+0.284 logS(AQ)+0.00208 MW, r(2)=0.77. RS also gave the better fit to the database from other laboratories where: logJ(MPAQ)=-2.046+0.667 logS(OCT)+0.333 logS(AQ)-0.00374 MW, r(2)=0.878 after four obvious outliers were removed to give n=22. Thus, data for J(MPAQ) can be fitted to the RS equation, which also provides the best fit to maximum flux from water through mouse or human skin and includes a dependence on S(AQ).

The effect of water solubility of solutes on their flux through human skin in vitro: a prodrug database integrated into the extended Flynn database.

A database (n=50) consisting of values of solubility in water, S AQ, solubility in octanol, S OCT, molecular weight, MW, and maximum flux based on the delivery of total species containing a parent drug by its prodrugs through human skin in vitro from water has been integrated into the extended Flynn database (n=114). In addition, data for two more recent contributions (n=8) and one (n=7) contribution that was overlooked for inclusion in the extended Flynn database were added to the prodrug database, as well as the data for the parent drugs (n=6), to give n=71 and n=185 for the total integrated database. This integrated database was fit to five equations where the independent variable was S AQ, S OCT or MW alone or were combinations of S OCT and MW (Kasting-Smith-Cooper, KSC model) or S OCT, S AQ and MW (Roberts-Sloan, RS model). The RS equation gave the best fit: log J MAQ=-2.506+0.538 log S OCT+0.462 log S AQ-0.00402MW, r2=0.839, S.D.=0.423 and the residual (Delta log J MAQ) was 0.474 log units. Integration of a substantial number of prodrugs into the extended Flynn database did not change the dependence of J MAQ on a balance of S AQ and S OCT. No trend in the effect of the prodrug being more or less water soluble than its parent drug on over- or underpredicting flux (+/-Delta'log J MAQ) by the RS model was found. Thus optimization of the S AQ of a prodrug in its design, as well as the design of new drugs, is indicated.

In vitro evaluation of alkylcarbonyloxymethyl (ACOM) ethers as novel prodrugs of phenols for topical delivery: ACOM prodrugs of acetaminophen.

The fluxes (J(IPM)) of a series of alkylcarbonyloxymethyl (ACOM) ethers of acetaminophen (APAP) were measured through hairless mouse skin from suspensions of each prodrug in isopropyl myristate (IPM). Solubilities in IPM, estimated solubilities in pH 4.0 buffer (S(4.0)) and flux data for the 4-ACOM-APAP prodrugs were incorporated into the Roberts-Sloan (RS) database to give new estimates for the independent variables of the RS equation: logJ(IPM)=x+ylogS(IPM)+(1-y)logS(4.0)-zM(W). All but one of the 4-ACOM-APAP derivatives hydrolyzed completely on permeation through mouse skin. Three out of the five prodrugs permeated the skin better than APAP, with a maximum fourfold increase in flux. Biphasic solubility - not solubility in a single solvent - was shown to have the greatest impact on flux. A fit of the new n=66 database to the RS equation gave the following values for x, y, z, and r(2): x=-0.545, y=0.511, z=0.00253, r(2)=0.915. These results demonstrate that the topical delivery of a model phenol, acetaminophen, can be improved by transiently masking the phenolic hydroxyl group as an ACOM ether.

The effect of water solubility of solutes on their flux through human skin in vitro: an extended Flynn database fitted to the Roberts-Sloan equation.

The edited Flynn database (n=62) for determining the effect of the physicochemical properties of solutes on their skin absorption has been extended (n=114) to give a database for which solubilities of the solutes in water, S(AQ), and their maximum fluxes from water through human skin in vitro, J(MAQ), are known or can be calculated. Besides the six major contributors to the original and edited Flynn database, nine more contributors have been included in the extended database to give 15 contributors. As in the edited Flynn database, data for solutes that were significantly ionized or for experiments using different thicknesses of skin were not excluded from the extended database so that the diversity of the original database was maintained. The extended database was fit to five equations where the independent variables were solubility in octanol (S(OCT)), in water (S(AQ)) or molecular weight (MW) and combinations of those three variables; and the dependent variable was J(MAQ). The best fit was obtained from the Roberts-Sloan (RS) equation: logJ(MAQ) = x + ylogS(OCT) + (1 - y)logS(AQ) - z MW, x = -2.574, y = 0.586, z = 0.00440, r(2) = 0.887, S.D. = 0.399, F = 139. This result is comparable to the best fit published using permeability coefficients, P, as the dependent variable, but gives greater insight into the factors affecting permeation. J(MAQ) is more important clinically because it described how much is permeating per unit area and time, while P is in the units of speed (cmh(-1)). Because of the dependence of J(MAQ) on S(AQ), the selection of new drugs with improved topical delivery should include considerations of their S(AQ) in their design.

Imaging the prodrug-to-drug transformation of a 5-fluorouracil derivative in skin by confocal Raman microscopy.

The widespread adoption of transdermal drug delivery has been limited by the barrier properties of the outermost layer of the epidermis, the stratum corneum (SC). A variety of approaches have been developed to overcome the barrier, including the use of a prodrug form of an active therapeutic agent to enhance transdermal delivery. Once in the epidermis, the pro-molecule is converted to the active drug by endogenous enzymes or simple chemical hydrolysis. The prodrug selected for the current studies, 1-ethyloxycarbonyl-5-fluorouracil, is known to enhance transdermal delivery of 5-fluorouracil, an important systemic antitumor drug. Using confocal Raman microscopy on pigskin biopsies treated with prodrug, we are able to image the spatial distribution of both prodrug and drug in the SC and viable epidermis, thereby providing information about permeation and metabolism. This approach may readily be extended to a variety of dermatological processes.

N-Alkyl-N-alkyloxycarbonylaminomethyl (NANAOCAM) prodrugs of carboxylic acid containing drugs.

Synthesis and hydrolysis in aqueous buffers of novel N-alkyl-N-alkyloxycarbonylaminomethyl (NANAOCAM) and N-aryl-N-alkyloxycarbonylaminomethyl (NArNAOCAM) derivatives of carboxylic acid containing drugs were carried out. The hydrolysis follows a S(N)1 type mechanism and is dependent on the nucleofugacity of the leaving group. Topical delivery of the NANAOCAM derivative of naproxen from IPM across hairless mice skin was examined in in vitro diffusion cell experiments. The prodrug was 4.5-fold less lipid soluble, 2.4-fold less water soluble and 3.6-fold less permeable than the parent drug.