S-nitrosothiols and H2S donors: Potential chemo-therapeutic agents in cancer.

Nitric Oxide (NO) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) are components of an "interactome", which is defined as a redox system involving the interactions of RSS, RNS and ROS. Chemical interaction by these species is common and is characterized by one and two electron oxidation, nitrosylation, nitration and sulfuration/polysulfidation reactions. NO and H2S are gases that penetrate cell membranes, are synthesized by specific enzymes, are ubiquitous, regulate protein activities through post-translational modifications and participate in cell signaling. The two molecules at high concentrations compared to physiological concentrations may result in cellular damage particularly through their interaction with other reactive species. NO and H2S can interact with each other and form a variety of molecular species which may have constructive or destructive behavior depending on the cell type, the cellular environment (ex. oxygen tension, pH, redox state), where the products are produced and in what concentrations. Cross talk exists between NO and H2S, whereby they can influence the generation and signaling behavior of each other. Given the above mentioned properties of NO and H2S and studies in cancer cells and animal models employing NO and H2S donors that generate higher than physiological concentrations of NO and H2S and are effective in killing cancer cells but not normal cells, lend credence to the possibility of the utility of these donors in an approach to the treatment of cancer.

Conformational study of the electronic interactions and nitric oxide release potential of new S­nitrosothiols esters derivatives of ibuprofen, naproxen and phenyl acids substituted (SNO-ESTERS): Synthesis, infrared spectroscopy analysis and theoretical calculations.

The conformational study on the new S­nitrosothiols esters (SNO-ESTERS): para-substituted (X = H, OMe, Cl and NO2) S­nitrosothiol derivatives 2­methyl­2­(sulfanyl)propyl phenylacetates (R1), 2­(4­isobutylphenyl)propanoate (ibuprofen, R2), and 2­(4­isobutylphenyl)propanoate of 2­methyl­2­(nitrososulfanyl)propyl (naproxen, R3) was performed using infrared spectroscopy (IR) in solvents with increasing polarity (CCl4, CH3Cl, and CH3CN), and theoretical calculations, to determine the preferential conformer and the potential of these compounds to release nitric oxide (NO). S­Nitrosothiols were synthesized by esterification reactions, using chlorides of the corresponding carboxylic acids, with good yields (~60%). IR results showed that these compounds presented only one conformation, and the experimental data were supported by the theoretical results obtained by density functional theory (DFT) calculations using the 6311+G (2df, 2p) basis set. The calculations revealed that all S­nitrosothiols presented one preferential anticlinal (ac) geometric conformation, which agrees with the data obtained experimentally in CCl4. These conformers are stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Examination of the geometry with regard to the RSNO group revealed that these compounds are preferentially in the trans (anti) conformation. The calculation of the orbital interactions using the Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) method showed that the nO(NO) → σ(SN)∗ hyper-conjugative interaction increases the SN bond length. The strong nS → π(NO)∗ interaction and electronic delocalization induces a partial π character to the SN bond. The weak σSN bond indicates strong delocalization of the electron pair in O (NO) by the nO(NO) → σ(SN)∗ interaction, thereby increasing the capacity of NO release from SNO-ESTERS.

Inclusion complexes and self-assembled cyclodextrin aggregates for increasing the solubility of benzimidazoles

Albendazole and fenbendazole are imidazole derivatives that exhibit broad spectrum activity against parasites, but the low solubility of these drugs considerably reduces their effectiveness. Complexation of albendazole and fenbendazole with cyclodextrins (ß-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin) in both water and an aqueous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-k30) was studied to determine if it could increase the solubility and dissolution rate of the drugs. In an aqueous solution, ß-cyclodextrin increased the solubility of albendazole from 0.4188 to ~93.47 µg mL-1 (223×), and of fenbendazole from 0.1054 to 45.56 µg mL-1 (432×); hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin, on the other hand, increased solubility to ~443.06 µg mL-1 (1058×) for albendazole and ~159.36 µg mL-1 (1512×) for fenbendazole. The combination of hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin and polyvinylpyrrolidone enabled a solubility increase of 1412× (~591.22 µg mL-1) for albendazole and 1373× (~144.66 µg mL-1) for fenbendazole. The dissolution rate of the drugs was significantly increased in binary and ternary systems, with hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin proving to be more effective. The presence of the water-soluble PVP-k30 increased the dissolution rate and amorphization of the complexes. Analysis of the changes in displacement and the profile of the cyclodextrin bands in the 1H NMR spectra revealed a molecular interaction and pointed to an effective complexation in the drug/cyclodextrin systems. Monomeric forms and nanoclusters of cyclodextrins were observed in the drug/cyclodextrin systems, suggesting that the increase in solubility of the drugs in the presence of cyclodextrins should not be attributed only to the formation of inclusion complexes, but also to the formation of cyclodextrin aggregates