Anti-fibrosis attributes: UHPLC-MS/MS-based pharmacokinetics profiling of a novel autotaxin inhibitor with excellent in vivo efficacy in rat

3,4-Difluorobenzyl(1-ethyl-5-(4-((4-hydroxypiperidin-1-yl)-methyl)thiazol-2-yl)-1H-indol-3-yl)carbamate (NAI59), a small molecule with outstanding therapeutic effectiveness to anti-pulmonary fibrosis, was developed as an autotaxin inhibitor candidate compound. To evaluate the pharmacokinetics and plasma protein binding of NAI59, a UPLC–MS/MS method was developed to quantify NAI59 in plasma and phosphate-buffered saline. The calibration curve linearity ranged from 9.95 to 1990.00 ng/mL in plasma. The accuracy was −6.8 to 5.9%, and the intra- and inter-day precision was within 15%. The matrix effect and recovery, as well as dilution integrity, were within the criteria. The chromatographic and mass spectrometric conditions were also feasible to determine phosphate-buffered saline samples, and it has been proved that this method exhibits good precision and accuracy in the range of 9.95–497.50 ng/mL in phosphate-buffered saline. This study is the first to determine the pharmacokinetics, absolute bioavailability, and plasma protein binding of NAI59 in rats using this established method. Therefore, the pharmacokinetic profiles of NAI59 showed a dose-dependent relationship after oral administration, and the absolute bioavailability in rats was 6.3%. In addition, the results of protein binding showed that the combining capacity of NAI59 with plasma protein attained 90% and increased with the increase in drug concentration.     

Quinazoline Derivatives Designed as Efflux Pump Inhibitors: Molecular Modeling and Spectroscopic Studies

Multidrug resistance of bacteria is a worrying concern in the therapeutic field and an alternative method to combat it is designing new efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs). This article presents a molecular study of two quinazoline derivatives, labelled BG1189 and BG1190, proposed as EPIs. In silico approach investigates the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile of BG1189 and BG1190 quinazolines. Molecular docking and predicted ADMET features suggest that BG1189 and BG1190 may represent attractive candidates as antimicrobial drugs. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy was employed to study the time stability of quinazoline solutions in water or in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), in constant environmental conditions, and to determine the influence of usual storage temperature, normal room lighting and laser radiation (photostability) on samples stability. The effects of irradiation on BG1189 and BG1190 molecules were also assessed through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FTIR spectra showed that laser radiation breaks some chemical bonds affecting the substituents and the quinazoline radical of the compounds.     

Studies on metabolites and metabolic pathways of bulleyaconitine A in rat liver microsomes using LC‐MSn combined with specific inhibitors

Bulleyaconitine A (BLA) from Aconitum bulleyanum plants is usually used as anti‐inflammatory drug in some Asian countries. It has a variety of bioactivities, and at the same time some toxicities. Since the bioactivities and toxicities of BLA are closely related to its metabolism, the metabolites and the metabolic pathways of BLA in rat liver microsomes were investigated by HPLC–MSⁿ. In this research, the 12 metabolites of BLA were identified according to the results of HPLC‐MSⁿ data and the relevant literature. The results showed that there are multiple metabolites of BLA in rat liver microsomes, including demethylation, deacetylation, dehydrogenation deacetylation and hydroxylation. The major metabolic pathways of BLA in rat liver microsomes were clarified by HPLC‐MS combined with specific inhibitors of CYP450 isoforms. As a result, CYP3A and 2C were found to be the principal CYP isoforms contributing to the metabolism of BLA. Moreover, CYP2D6 and 2E1 are also more important CYP isoforms for the metabolism of BLA. While CYP1A2 only affected the formation rate of M11, its effect on the metabolism of BLA is very small. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of an iminosugar based peptidomimetic analogue

The synthesis of an 1-deoxymannojirimycin based analogue of a known HIV-protease inhibitor is described. The strategies employed for introduction of the pharmacophore groups onto the azasugar scaffold were based on regioselective reactions of the hydroxyl groups of the natural product and of d-fructopyranoside derivatives.     

Production,Purification and Characterization of the Hen Egg-White Lysozyme Inhibitor from Enterobacter cloacae M-1002

Three hen egg-white lysozyme inhibitor producing strains, Enterobacter cloacae M-1002, E. sakazakii M-1204, and Erwinia rhapontici H-55, were isolated from the soils of Taiwan. E. cloacae M-1002 appeared to be a promising inhibitor producing strain. One inhibitor was isolated from the culture broth of this strain. Maximum lysozyme inhibitory activity was obtained when the bacterium was grown aerobically in a medium consisting of 0.75% glucose, 0.25% beef extract, 1.0% polypeptone, and 0.25% sodium L-glutamate (pH 70) at 37 °C after 36–48 hrs. A hen egg-white lysozyme inhibitor was isolated from the culture broth of this strain. The inhibitor was purified from the culture supernatant of E. cloacae M-1002 by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography and Fractogel TSK HW-55 (S) gel chromatography. Molecular weight of the purified lysozyme inhibitor was estimated to be 18, 000–20, 000 by SDS-PAGE and HPLC, and was composed of 71% amino acid and 23% total sugar. Serine, glycine, and alanine in a 3:2:1 molar ratio were the major amino acids, calculated to be 32.8, 20.3, and 11.4% (mol%), respectively. Glucose and mannose were the major sugar components of the inhibitor. The inhibitor was stable at pH 5 to 8 and was stable under 50 °C. Only hen egg-white lysozyme was inhibited by the purified inhibitor but not the other tested enzymes such as lysozyme of celery, turnip; lytic enzyme of Pseudomonas aeruginosa M-1001; chitinase/lysozyme of P. aeruginosa K-187; or cellulase and xylanase of Streptomyces actuosus A-151 and Aspergillus sp. G-393. The inhibition of lysozyme to the bacterial cell lytic activity by the purified inhibitor was 100%.     

Mossbauer investigations of corrosion environment influence on Fe valence states in oxide films of zirconium alloys

Mössbauer investigations about iron atom redistribution in oxide films of zirconium alloys subjected to corrosion at 500°C in pure oxygen and water pair have been analysed. The alloys were also subjected to autoclave conditions at a pressure of 10.0 MPa and autoclave conditions at 350°C and at a pressure of 16.8 MPa, using distilled water and water with additives of lithium and fluorine. It is shown that, depending on the corrosion environment, various compounds of iron, such as α-Fe₂O₃, Fe₃O₄, and FeO, as solid solutions of iron in ZrO₂ are formed in oxide films.     

The origin of the formation of cavities in galvanized coatings

The role of water‐soluble corrosion products on galvanized wires was examined. The samples used were industrial hot‐dip galvanized wires, which were exposed to the open air under all weather conditions for a relatively short time (6 and 12 months), in an urban environment close to the sea. The samples were studied by different methods, i.e. scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy (OM). Several phases were detected because of the galvanization procedure and the steel substrate. Furthermore, phases which were formed as a result of the reaction of zinc with the atmosphere were also detected. These were oxides like ZnO, carbonates like ZnCO₃ and hydrated Zn and Fe sulfates. Their presence influences the corrosion resistance of the wires, which finally, strongly depends on the solubility of the wires in water. The SO₄^2? compounds especially are very soluble and consequently are easily removed from the coating surface, leading to its degradation by the formation of cavities. In any case, their presence, even after a short period of exposure, implies that the coating is highly affected by the atmosphere of the modern city. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Holographic interferometry as electrochemical emission spectroscopy of a carbon steel in 5–20 ppm TROS C-70 inhibited seawater

In the present investigation, holographic interferometry was utilized for the first time to determine the rate change of the number of the fringe evolutions during the corrosion test of a carbon steel in blank seawater and seawater with different concentrations of a corrosion inhibitor. In other words, the anodic dissolution behaviors (corrosion) of the carbon steel were determined simultaneously by holographic interferometry, as an electromagnetic method, and by the electrochemical impedance (EI) spectroscopy, as an electronic method. So, the abrupt rate change of the number of the fringe evolutions during corrosion tests, EI spectroscopy, of the carbon steel is called electrochemical emission spectroscopy. The corrosion process of the steel samples was carried out in blank seawater and seawater with different concentrations, 5–20 ppm, of TROS C-70 corrosion inhibitor using the EI spectroscopy method, at room temperature. The electrochemical-emission spectra of the carbon steel in different solutions represent a detailed picture of the rate change of the anodic dissolution of the steel throughout the corrosion processes. Furthermore, the optical interferometry data of the carbon steel were compared to the data, which was obtained from the EI. spectroscopy. Consequently, holographic interferometry is found very useful for monitoring the anodic dissolution behaviors of metals, in which the number of the fringe evolutions of the steel samples can be determined in situ.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering study of polymer on metals. III. Chemisorbed polybenzimidazole and its corrosion-inhibiting properties at high temperature

Chemisorption of polybenzimidazole on silver and copper etched with nitric acid has been observed by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The polymer is found to react chemically with silver, forming a complexed film on the surface. The SERS spectra show that polybenzimidazole film inhibits oxidation of the metal at high temperature, unlike chemisorbed benzimidazole, benzotriazole, and poly(4-vinyl pyridine). © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and cell cycle inhibition of the peptide enamide natural products terpeptin and the aspergillamides

Total syntheses of the peptide enamide natural products terpeptin and aspergillamides A and B are reported. An oxidative decarboxylation-elimination protocol is employed to construct the indolic enamide moiety. Unambiguous stereochemical assignment of (−)-terpeptin is accomplished by synthesis of all possible stereochemical analogues. Select compounds have been evaluated in cell cycle inhibitor assays which show that the natural amino acid configuration of terpeptin has the most potent inhibitory activity.