Determination of albendazole and its main metabolites in ovine plasma by liquid chromatography with dialysis as an integrated sample preparation technique

Albendazole is a benzimidazole derivative with a broad-spectrum activity against human and animal helminth parasites. In order to determine the main pharmacokinetic parameters in sheep after oral and intravenous administration of a new formulation of albendazole (an aqueous solution), a fully automated method was developed for the determination of this drug and its main metabolites, albendazole sulfoxide (active metabolite) and sulfone in ovine plasma. This method involves dialysis as purification step, followed by enrichment of the dialysate on a precolumn and liquid chromatography (LC). All sample handling operations were executed automatically by means of an ASTED XL system. After conditioning of the trace enrichment column (TEC) packed with octadecyl silica with pH 6.0 phosphate buffer containing sodium azide, the plasma sample, in which a protein releasing reagent (1 M HCl) containing Triton X-100 was automatically added, was loaded in the donor channel and dialysed on a cellulose acetate membrane in the static-pulsed mode. The dialysis liquid consisted of pH 2.5 phosphate buffer. By rotation of a switching valve, the analytes were eluted from the TEC in the back-flush mode by the LC mobile phase and transferred to the analytical column, packed with octyl silica. The chromatographic separation was performed at 35°C and the analytes were monitored photometrically at 295 nm. Due to the differences in hydrophobic character between albendazole and its metabolites, a gradient elution was applied. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of acetonitrile and pH 6.0 phosphate buffer. The proportion of organic modifier was increased from 10.0 to 50.1% in 12.30 min, then from 50.1 to 66.9% in 1.70 min. First, the gradient conditions and the temperature were optimised for the LC separation using the DryLab software. Then, the influence of some parameters of the dialysis process on analyte recovery was investigated. Finally, the method developed was validated. The mean recoveries for albendazole and its metabolites were about 70 and 65%, respectively. The limits of quantification for albendazole and its metabolites were 10 and 7.5 ng/ml, respectively.     

Contribution of cyclodextrins in the development of different pharmaceutical formulations of a new matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor

Ro 28-2653 is a new synthetic inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases. The ability of these enzymes to degrade various components of the extracellular matrix seems to play a major role in tumors progression and is potentially effective against bronchial remodeling in asthma and BPCO. Ro 28-2653 is very poorly soluble in water. This low solubility estimated at about 0.56 μg/ml in water at 25 °C gives rise to difficulties in pharmaceutical formulation of oral, injectable or nebulizable solutions. The purpose of our study is to prepare and to characterize inclusion complexes between Ro 28-2653 and cyclodextrins and to investigate the biopharmaceutical repercussion of the inclusion of the active substance. The complex formation was investigated by phase solubility studies. ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling studies were carried out to elucidate the structure of the inclusion complex between Ro 28-2653 and cyclodextrin. Oral, intravenous and nebulizable solutions of Ro 28-2653 were developed with cyclodextrin. The in vivo studies were performed on healthy sheep for the pharmacokinetic evaluation of the oral and intravenous formulations while the nebulization of the complex solution was studied by using an asthma model in mouse.     

First observation of aS C * -S A-TGBA multicritical point in a pure compound

High pressure experiments have been performed by thermobarometric analysis on two homologous (n=10 and 11) of the [3-fluoro-4((R) or (S)-methylheptyloxy) 4′-(4″-alkoxy-3″-fluorobenzoyloxy) tolans series, which both exhibit the TΓB_A phase. The character (first or/and second order) of the transitions involving the TGB_A phase are determined from thermobarograms. The pressure-temperature phase diagrams show that the TGB_A phase is stabilized under high pressure for the two compounds. Forn=11 an inducedS _A phase is observed under high pressures leading to the first experimental observation, on pressure-temperature phase diagram of pure compounds, of aS _C ^* -S _A-TGB_A multicritical point, previously predicted by the Renn-Lubensky theory.     

Synthesis and structure of BaKFeO3: a new quaternary oxide with 1-D ferrate chains

Amber-colored single crystals of the quaternary oxide BaKFeO₃ were synthesized from a mixture of Fe₂O₃, KOH and Ba(OH)₂ heated at 750°C for 5 h then cooled slowly. The structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (space group Cmca; a=5.804(1) Å, b=11.528(1) Å, c=12.776(1) Å; Z=8, R₁=0.0376, wR₂=0.0996). The structure is comprised of [FeO₃³⁻]^∞ chains of corner-sharing iron-oxo tetrahedra that are isolated from one another by interspersed Ba and K cations. The iron coordination environment is moderately distorted from perfect tetrahedral symmetry and the Fe-O-Fe bond angles are 152.8°. Magnetic susceptibility data show a pronounced zero-field cooling effect that suggests strong coupling from 5 K to above room temperature.     

Designed helical peptides inhibit an intramembrane protease

gamma-Secretase cleaves the transmembrane domain of the amyloid precursor protein, a process implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, and this enzyme is a founding member of an emerging class of intramembrane proteases. Modeling and mutagenesis suggest a helical conformation for the substrate transmembrane domain upon initial interaction with the protease. Moreover, biochemical evidence supports the presence of an initial docking site for substrate on gamma-secretase that is distinct from the active site, a property predicted to be generally true of intramembrane proteases. Here we show that short peptides designed to adopt a helical conformation in solution are inhibitors of gamma-secretase in both cells and enzyme preparations. Helical peptides with all d-amino acids are the most potent inhibitors and represent potential therapeutic leads. Subtle modifications that disrupt helicity also substantially reduce potency, suggesting that this conformation is critical for effective inhibition. Fluorescence lifetime imaging in intact cells demonstrates that helical peptides disrupt binding between substrate and protease, whereas an active site-directed inhibitor does not. These findings are consistent with helical peptides interacting with the initial substrate docking site of gamma-secretase, suggesting a general strategy for the development of potent and specific inhibitors of intramembrane proteases.     

Inclusion Complexes of Cyproterone Acetate with Cyclodextrins in Aqueous Solution

Cyproterone acetate (CPA) is a steroidal antiandrogen with a progestogenic activity. Given that this molecule has a very poor water solubility (2.1 g/mL), different cyclodextrins (CDs) were tested to form inclusion complexes and to increase solubility. Two different techniques were compared to study the affinity between CPA and CDs: phase-solubility studies and NMR spectroscopy. The stoichiometry and the stability constant could be determined for most complexes with the aid of phase-solubility studies. The greatest increase in solubility was achieved with the methylated -CDs, but hydroxypropylated - and -CDs also gave enhanced solubilities. ¹H-NMR studies showed a solubility increase similar to that found with phase-solubility studies. The proof of inclusion in the2,6-dimethyl--CD (DIMEB) was shown by ¹H-NMR and t-ROESY spectra.     

The formylation of the upper-rims of thiacalixarenes: synthesis of the first tetra-formylated and the first meta-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes

The conventional Gross reaction for the formylation of the tetrapropoxythiacalix[4]arene using TiCl₄ affords the 18-(chloromethyl)-28-hydroxy-25,26,27-tripropoxythiacalix[4]arene substituted in the meta-position of the macrocycle. The p-tetraformyl-tetrapropoxythiacalix[4]arene, which is an interesting intermediate to the upper-rims functionalization of thiacalixarenes, was prepared with a very good yield using BuLi and N-formylpiperidine.     

qNMR for profiling the production of fungal secondary metabolites

Analysis of complex mixtures is a common challenge in natural products research. Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy offers analysis of complex mixtures at early stages and with benefits that are orthogonal to more common methods of quantitation, including ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Several experiments were conducted to construct a methodology for use in analysis of extracts of fungal cultures. A broadly applicable method was sought for analysis of both pure and complex samples through use of an externally calibrated method. This method has the benefit of not contaminating valuable samples with the calibrant, and it passed scrutiny for line fitting and reproducibility. The method was implemented to measure the yield of griseofulvin and dechlorogriseofulvin from three fungal isolates. An isolate of Xylaria cubensis (coded MSX48662) was found to biosynthesize griseofulvin in the greatest yield, 149 ± 8 mg per fermentation, and was selected for further supply experiments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rheological Behavior and Non-enzymatic Degradation of a Sulfated Galactan from Halymenia durvillei (Halymeniales, Rhodophyta)

The rheological behavior of a sulfated galactan extracted from Halymenia durvillei, a red seaweed collected in the coastal waters of a small island of Madagascar (Nosy-be in Indian Ocean), was investigated in dilute and semi-dilute solutions. In dilute solution with NaCl at 0.3?M, the polysaccharide adopted a coil conformation whereas, at higher concentrations, the polymer had the behavior of shear-thinning fluid, typical of polymer with high molar mass or semi-rigid conformation. Degradations of this lambda carrageenan-like, using radical depolymerization, and high-pressure homogenization led to several samples of various and controlled molar masses. The measure of their intrinsic viscosities permitted the determination of the relationship of Mark?CHouwink?CSakurada.     

Highly efficient metal‐free organic catalysts to design new Environmentally‐friendly starch‐based blends

A one‐step process is reported to directly synthesize blends of poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) with a modified granular starch. Trimethylene Carbonate (TMC) ring‐opening polymerization is performed in the presence of native starch particles in bulk conditions at 150 °C and the efficiency of metal‐free organic catalysts (TBD and phosphazene superbases P1‐t‐Oct, P2‐t‐bu, and P4‐t‐bu) are investigated to replace the organo‐metallic stannous octanoate initiator. TMC monomer is successively converted into PTMC and the robustness of organic catalysts is highlighted with significant activities at very low concentrations (<100 ppm), where stannous octanoate is inefficient. Reactivity of starch toward TMC ROP is deeply investigated by NMR techniques and a starch‐graft‐PTMC is indirectly evidenced. Starch substitution degree reaches 0.9% indicating that PTMC grafting only occurs at the surface of swollen granular starch. PTMC graft length from the starch surface remained low in the range 2–12 and model ROP reactions highlight the role of TMC hydrolysis on PTMC graft length. Despite low PTMC grafts, a fine dispersion of intact starch particles into the PTMC matrix is evidenced. Consequently, metal‐free organic catalysts at low concentrations are promising candidates for synthesizing blends of PTMC with high loadings of surface‐modified starch (32% by weight) in 2 min within a one‐step process. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 493–503