Threshold effects on the lectin-mediated aggregation of synthetic glycolipid-containing liposomes

Cholesterol analogs containing sugar residues linked by spacer groups to the cholesterol O can be incorporated into egg yolk lecithin small unilamellar liposomes. The synthetic glycolipid analogs distribute evenly on both sides of the bilayer. These liposomes are aggregated by the appropriate lectin. For example, when the sugar residue is a beta-galactoside the liposomes are aggregated by ricin and when it is an alpha-mannoside they are aggregated by Con A. The lectin-mediated aggregation of these liposomes is reversed by the addition of the appropriate sugar. The rates but not the extents of aggregation of these liposomes are highly sensitive to the amount of glycolipid incorporated. Below approximately 5% glycolipid incorporation the rate of the lectin-mediated aggregation of these liposomes is exceedingly slow, whereas above this level rapid aggregation proceeds. At all concentrations studied the synthetic glycolipids are incorporated in a unimodal fashion so that the observed threshold effects cannot be based on possible differences in the manner in which the glycolipids are incorporated at different concentrations. This conclusion is based on 1) studies with galactose oxidase that show that the percentage of galactose oxidation in a liposome prepared from a galactosyl-containing glycolipid is independent of glycolipid concentration, and 2) studies on the aggregation of liposomes containing mixed glycolipids in which the glycolipids are shown to behave independently. The importance of a critical density of membrane-bound receptors in order for aggregation to occur is discussed.     

Molecular modeling as a promising tool to study dendrimer prodrugs delivery

Molecular modeling methodologies were applied to perform preliminary studies concerning the release of active agents from potentially antichagasic and antileishmanial dendrimer prodrugs. The dendrimer was designed having myo-inositol as a core, l-malic acid as a spacer group, and hydroxymethylnitrofurazone (NFOH), 3-hydroxyflavone or quercetin, as active compounds. Each dendrimer presented a particular behavior concerning to the following investigated properties: spatial hindrance, map of electrostatic potential (MEP), and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy (E_LUMO). Additionally, the findings suggested that the carbonyl group next to the active agent seems to be the most promising ester breaking point.     

Effect of Pr-Ca substitution on the transport and magnetic behavior of LaMnO3 perovskite

The effect of simultaneous substitution of a fluctuating cation and a divalent cation in LaMnO₃ perovskite modifies the properties of the material to exhibit large valence colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) effect. A good example of these properties is (La_1−2x Pr _x Ca _x )MnO₃ (LPCMO) type CMR material. In this communication it is reported that, with the increase in x (for x=0.1, 0.15, 0.2), the T _c varies between 100 and 120 K with improvisation in metal-insulator transition. Interestingly, resistance increases with x from few hundred ohms to few kilo ohms with corresponding decrease in the unit cell volume. The results of the studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance and ac susceptibility measurements on LPCMO samples for understanding the structural, transport and magnetic properties are discussed in detail.     

Seleno and Telluro Cyclofunctionalization of α,γ-Diallyl-β-ketoesters: Polysubstituted Furan Derivatives

Seleno- and telurocyclofunctionalized furan derivatives were prepared by reaction of phenylselenenyl bromide and p-methoxyphenyl tellurium trichloride with α,γ-diallyl-β-ketoesters in good yield.     

A new monoclinic polymorph of methyl p‐amino­benzoate

Single crystals of methyl‐p‐amino­benzoate (MAB), C₈H₉NO₂, were obtained during the synthesis of 4‐amino‐N′‐(5‐nitro‐2‐thienylmethylene)benzohydrazide. A P2₁/c polymorph [a = 8.5969 (4) Å, b = 5.6053 (2) Å, c = 15.5397 (7) Å and β = 96.172 (2)°] of MAB was found and the intra‐ and intermolecular geometries were compared with those of the pre­viously known C2/c structure [a = 16.242 (2) Å, b = 8.113 (2) Å, c = 12.724 (2) Å and β = 69.17 (1)°; Xianti (1983). Jiegou Huaxue, 2 , 219–221].     

Thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidines. Part I. synthesis and anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) activity in vitro of certain alkyl derivatives

Alkyl derivatives of the thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine congeners of guanine and uracil were prepared and assessed for in vitro activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). The finding that the 3-pentyl 1b and 3-hexyl 1c derivatives of 5-aminothiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,7(3H,6H)-dione (1e) had potent in vitro anti-HCMV activity prompted a broader study of alkyl derivatives in this ring system. A series of 3-alkyl derivatives of 1e , viz. 1f-w , were prepared by direct alkylation of the sodium salt of 1e and by subsequent modifications, 2a-d. For comparison with 1c , 5-amino-2-hexylaminothiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-7(6H)-one (4) was prepared and studied. The 3-(2-alkenyl) derivatives of 1e were found to be the more active antiviral agents with the Z isomer of 5-amino-3-(2-penten-1-yl)thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine-2,7(3H,6H)-dione (1f) having the better therapeutic index. Analogous 4-(2-alkenyl) derivatives of 2-aminothiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidine-5,7(4H,6H)-dione 6a and 6b were also prepared but were found to have poor therapeutic indices. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was used to unequivocally establish the structure of 1f.     

Prodrugs for the treatment of neglected diseases

Recently, World Health Organization (WHO) and Medicins San Frontieres (MSF) proposed a classification of diseases as global, neglected and extremely neglected. Global diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and mental (CNS) diseases represent the targets of the majority of the R&D efforts of pharmaceutical companies. Neglected diseases affect millions of people in the world yet existing drug therapy is limited and often inappropriate. Furthermore, extremely neglected diseases affect people living under miserable conditions who barely have access to the bare necessities for survival. Most of these diseases are excluded from the goals of the R&D programs in the pharmaceutical industry and therefore fall outside the pharmaceutical market. About 14 million people,mainly in developing countries, die each year from infectious diseases. From 1975 to 1999,1393 new drugs were approved yet only 1% were for the treatment of neglected diseases[3]. These numbers have not changed until now, so in those countries there is an urgent need for the design and synthesis of new drugs and in this area the prodrug approach is a very interesting field. It provides, among other effects, activity improvements and toxicity decreases for current and new drugs, improving market availability. It is worth noting that it is essential in drug design to save time and money, and prodrug approaches can be considered of high interest in this respect. The present review covers 20 years of research on the design of prodrugs for the treatment of neglected and extremely neglected diseases such as Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis), sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis), malaria, sickle cell disease, tuberculosis, leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis.