Patent review

The section on patent review will be focused in the areas of interest to the readers of CCHTS. The search was conducted using the following key words: combinatorial chemistry, high throughput screening, drug repurposing, chemical library, high content screening, drug discovery and natural products. All patents highlighted here are identified by the patent number issued either by the World Intellectual Property Organization or by a regional patent office.     

高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术的应用进展

高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术具有高分离能力、高灵敏度、应用范围广和极强的专属性等特点。对高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术在药物分析、食品分析和环境分析等领域的应用,特别是在中草药成分分析、中药指纹图谱研究、药物代谢研究、体内药代动力学研究、西药及中成药成分分析、药物筛选研究等方面的应用进行了综述。     

药物筛选新技术及其应用进展

药物筛选是应用适当的筛选方法和筛选技术从海量化合物中筛选出具有药理活性的化合物的方法,是提高研发效率、缩短周期、减少成本、降低风险、使新药研发能够持续进行的关键。药物筛选新技术的开发已成为医药科学研究的重要内容。该文就近年来发展的药物筛选新技术及其应用进行了简要综述。     

基于微流控技术的细胞水平高通量药物筛选系统的研究进展

药物筛选是新药研发的关键步骤,创新药物的发现需要采用适当的药物作用靶点对大量化合物样品进行筛选。高通量筛选系统能够实现数千个反应同时测试和分析,大大提高了药物筛选的实验规模和效率。其中基于细胞水平的高通量药物筛选系统因为更加接近人体生理条件,成为主要的筛选模式。而目前发展成熟的高通量细胞筛选系统主要基于多孔板,存在细胞培养条件单一、耗时费力、试剂消耗量大等问题,且较难实现复杂的组合药物筛选。微流控技术作为一种在微米尺度通道中操纵和控制微流体的技术,具有微量、高效、高通量和自动化的优点,能较好地克服多孔板筛选系统的不足,为构建细胞高通量药物筛选系统提供了一种高效、可靠的技术手段。微流控系统在细胞培养材料、芯片结构设计和流体控制方面均可灵活变化,能更好地实现对细胞生长微环境的调控和模拟。文章综述了基于微流控技术的细胞水平高通量药物筛选系统的研究进展,按照不同的微流体操控模式,对基于灌注流、液滴和微阵列的3种类型的微流控细胞筛选系统进行了分类介绍,并分别总结了它们的优缺点,最后展望了微流控细胞水平高通量药物筛选系统的发展前景,提出了该领域目前存在的问题以及解决问题的方向。     

High throughput drug screening by direct RNA profiling on DNA sensors

The feasibility of DNA microarray sensor technology as a routine technique of molecular pharmacology to perform high throughput drug screening and the advantages of directly labeled RNA for a high throughput experiment are presented in this paper. A novel, single-step direct chemical labeling method for DNA microarray target samples has been developed to reduce the sample amount, cost, time and error of the experiment by eliminating the need for enzyme mediated labeling. Reproducibility of the data for high throughput drug screening is demonstrated by monitoring differential gene expression of a set of 45 gene targets involved in the genotoxic stress response pathways.     

Planar chromatography for drug residue screening in food applications

Summary Planar chromatography (PC) is of interest for veterinary drug screening. An example is given of the use of a PC screening method followed by a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for confirmation of positives. The results for 300 samples were obtained in 14 days whereas the HPLC analysis alone would have required 50 days work. The future of PC in veterinary drug residue analysis as a screening method and also as confirmatory (quantitative) method is discussed.     

Schrödinger药物虚拟筛选流程模块在大学生物和化学信息学教学中的应用

介绍了Schr?dinger药物虚拟筛选的基本原理和流程,结合大学生物和化学信息学课程的相关教学内容,分别描述了蛋白受体的预处理、类药性五原则、毒药物动力学(ADME)、泛筛选干扰化合物(PAINS)、高通量虚拟筛选、标准精度筛选、高精度筛选和MM/GBSA的打分排序原理和使用方法。该软件可以在大学生物和化学信息学的教学中演示,有助于提高学生对蛋白结构、分子构象、药物虚拟筛选和计算机辅助分子设计的理解,该软件有很好的图形界面,可以给学生直观的体验,大大丰富了大学课堂的教学内容。此外,该软件在药物设计领域里面也有很好的应用价值,大大节约了药物筛选的成本,提高了药物发现的效率。     

Multiparametric microsensor chips for screening applications

The identification of drug targets for pharmaceutical screening can be greatly accelerated by gene databases and expression studies. The identification of leading compounds from growing libraries is realized by high throughput screening platforms. Subsequently, for optimization and validation of identified leading compounds studies of their functionality have to be carried out, and just these functionality tests are a limiting factor. A rigorous preselection of identified compounds by in vitro cellular screening is necessary prior to using the drug candidates for the further time consuming and expensive stage, e.g. in animal models. Our efforts are focused to the parallel development, adaptation and integration of different microelectronic sensors into miniaturized biochips for a multiparametric, functional on-line analysis of living cells in physiologically environments. Parallel and on-line acquisition of data related to different cellular targets is required for advanced stages of drug screening and for economizing animal tests.     

Strategies Using Gelatin Microparticles for Regenerative Therapy and Drug Screening Applications

Gelatin, a denatured form of collagen, is an attractive biomaterial for biotechnology. In particular, gelatin particles have been noted due to their attractive properties as drug carriers. The drug release from gelatin particles can be easily controlled by the crosslinking degree of gelatin molecule, responding to the purpose of the research. The gelatin particles capable of drug release are effective in wound healing, drug screening models. For example, a sustained release of growth factors for tissue regeneration at the injured sites can heal a wound. In the case of the drug screening model, a tissue-like model composed of cells with high activity by the sustained release of drug or growth factor provides reliable results of drug effects. Gelatin particles are effective in drug delivery and the culture of spheroids or cell sheets because the particles prevent hypoxia-derived cell death. This review introduces recent research on gelatin microparticles-based strategies for regenerative therapy and drug screening models.     

先导化合物的发现——整合计算机虚拟筛选、化学合成和生物测试方法

先导化合物的发现在药物研究中起关键作用。基于分子对接的虚拟筛选是创新药物研究的新方法和新技术,已成为一种与高通量筛选互补的方法,广泛应用于先导化合物的发现中。本文将结合本课题组的研究实例,综述了通过计算机虚拟筛选、化学合成和生物测试相结合的方法来发现先导化合物的一些研究工作。     

临近闪烁分析法在高通量筛选中的应用

起源于放射性免疫分析的临近闪烁分析法(scintillation proximity assay,SPA)是一种均相、灵敏、快速和简便的基于闪烁载体的分析平台。该平台可用于筛选药物靶点的先导化合物和研究其生理过程。由于无需分离,易于固定药物靶点和检测其活性,SPA成为一种重要的高通量筛选方法。由于放射性标记分子和亲和标签分子的多样化和商业化、以及液闪计数器和液相操作等技术的发展,SPA已经广泛用于受体结合、高通量药物筛选、酶分析、放射性免疫分析、蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用和细胞水平分析等方面。本文阐述了SPA原理,讨论了其关键技术(包括闪烁载体、液闪计数器和放射性标记分子),分析了其评价体系;同时简述了SPA分析的发展, 并介绍了其在高通量筛选中的应用实例, 归纳了存在的问题,给出了未来的发展趋势。目前,基于SPA和荧光分析方法已成为高通量药物筛选的热点研究领域, 这些筛选技术的革新必然提升我们对细胞体系生物学的全面理解和促进先导化合物筛选过程的显著进步。     

Deoxycalyciphylline B, a Hepatotoxic Alkaloid from <em>Daphniphyllum calycinum</em>

Daphniphyllum calycinum (DC), a main component of Chinese patent drug Fengliao-Changweikang, is effectively used to cure bowel disease in the clinic. It was recorded that DC possessed slight toxicity, which was caused by the alkaloids existing in its extract. Unfortunately, to date the toxicity level and toxic constituents are still unclear. The present study is designed to illustrate the acute toxicity and induced organ damages of the total alkaloids as well as to determine the toxic constituents. Based on the above studies, not only was the acute toxicity determined but also hepatic toxicity was characterized by increased plasma biomarkers of ALT and AST and liver cell inflammatory infiltrate as well necrosis that was firstly observed. Significantly, deoxycalyciphylline B exhibited exactly the same hepatic toxicity so it was identified as the main toxic constituent in DC. An obvious dose-effect relationship between the toxic compound and induced hepatic injuries was also observed. Moreover, the Chinese patent drug Fengliao-Changweikang contained low levels of the toxic compound, compared with the total alkaloids. Therefore, this Chinese patent drug could be regarded to be safe in this point of view.     

中草药活性成分的高通量筛选技术研究进展

随着高通量筛选技术的不断发展,该技术已经成为发现新药物的重要途径之一。高通量筛选技术已大量应用于筛选药物活性成分的领域中,但是其中大部分为从化合物库中筛选活性成分,仅有十几篇文献应用于中药活性成分的筛选,而中国传统中草药却是探索和发展新药物的丰富来源。本文通过综述国内外2008年到2017年的相关文献,阐述了分子和细胞水平上的高通量筛选技术在中草药活性成分的筛选及其应用进展,为今后中草药新药研发提供参考。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定保健品及中成药中非法添加的17种壮阳类化学药

建立了高效液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)同时测定补肾壮阳类保健品及中成药中非法添加的17种壮阳化学药的定性、定量分析方法。实验优化了前处理方法,并针对几对同分异构体成分优化了分离条件和质谱参数。样品经甲醇超声萃取,提取液经Aglient Extend C18色谱柱(100 mm×2.1 mm, 3.5 μm)分离,流动相为乙腈和水(含有10 mmol/L乙酸铵),梯度洗脱,流速为0.25 mL/min,以电喷雾离子源正离子多反应监测(MRM)模式进行MS/MS检测。该方法能很好地分离并定量17种壮阳类化学药以及其中的3组同分异构体。该方法简便、快速、准确可靠,已经应用于补肾壮阳类保健品及中成药中非法添加壮阳类化学药的筛查及检测。统计近3年检测的样品,发现补肾壮阳类产品中非法添加成分检出率高,需引起相关监管部门的重视。     

毛细管电泳药物筛选方法与技术

毛细管电泳（CE）在新药研发领域显示着重要的应用前景。CE使用水溶液介质作为实验体系,保证了药物筛选在类似于生命介质的环境中进行,优于其他传统体外仪器筛选方法。除了维持被筛选分子和作用对象的生物活性外,CE筛选过程着重突出配体与受体之间的相互作用。毛细管电泳药物筛选瞄准与药理学理论相关的重要参数,如结合常数K_b 、结合速率常数K_on 和解离速率常数K_off ,有利于模拟并预测机体内靶标与药物之间的相互作用过程。该文回顾了毛细管电泳进行药物筛选的历史,评述了毛细管电泳药物筛选方法所依据的理论和相对成熟的各种常用方法,并抽取了部分典型实例以及相关技术进行说明,对以亲和毛细管电泳、动力学毛细管电泳为手段的药物筛选方法进行了介绍,包括分子和细胞层次的药物筛选,以及针对不同类型的候选药物的研究工作都有提及。毛细管电泳与多种技术的联用,包括与质谱以及化学发光等联用发挥了更大的效能。联用方法还应用于中药有效成分的筛选。毛细管电泳在DNA编码化合物库筛选中将有良好应用前景。馏分收集的发展为筛选药物提供了广阔前景,它配合指数富集配体系统进化技术为毛细管电泳药物筛选提供了更多可能。总之,毛细管电泳多样可选的药物筛选方法和技术将为新概念的药物筛选与药物评价提供有力支撑。     

Microfluidics for cell-based high throughput screening platforms—A review

In the last decades, the basic techniques of microfluidics for the study of cells such as cell culture, cell separation, and cell lysis, have been well developed. Based on cell handling techniques, microfluidics has been widely applied in the field of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), immunoassays, organ-on-chip, stem cell research, and analysis and identification of circulating tumor cells. As a major step in drug discovery, high-throughput screening allows rapid analysis of thousands of chemical, biochemical, genetic or pharmacological tests in parallel. In this review, we summarize the application of microfluidics in cell-based high throughput screening. The screening methods mentioned in this paper include approaches using the perfusion flow mode, the droplet mode, and the microarray mode. We also discuss the future development of microfluidic based high throughput screening platform for drug discovery.     

Integration of virtual and high throughput screening in lead discovery settings

In the last decade mass screening strategies became the main source of leads in drug discovery settings. Although high throughput (HTS) and virtual screening (VS) realize the same concept the different nature of these lead discovery strategies (experimental vs theoretical) results that they are typically applied separately. The majority of drug leads are still identified by hit-to-lead optimization of screening hits. Structural information on the target as well as on bound ligands, however, make structure-based and ligand-based virtual screening available for the identification of alternative chemical starting points. Although, the two techniques have rarely been used together on the same target, here we review the existing prominent studies on their true integration. Various approaches have been shown to apply the combination of HTS and VS and to better use them in lead generation. Although several attempts on their integration have only been considered at a conceptual level, there are numerous applications underlining its relevance that early-stage pharmaceutical drug research could benefit from a combined approach.     

Exploring sets of molecules from patents and relationships to other active compounds in chemical space networks

Patents from medicinal chemistry represent a rich source of novel compounds and activity data that appear only infrequently in the scientific literature. Moreover, patent information provides a primary focal point for drug discovery. Accordingly, text mining and image extraction approaches have become hot topics in patent analysis and repositories of patent data are being established. In this work, we have generated network representations using alternative similarity measures to systematically compare molecules from patents with other bioactive compounds, visualize similarity relationships, explore the chemical neighbourhood of patent molecules, and identify closely related compounds with different activities. The design of network representations that combine patent molecules and other bioactive compounds and view patent information in the context of current bioactive chemical space aids in the analysis of patents and further extends the use of molecular networks to explore structure–activity relationships.     

基于毛细管电泳的天然产物中酶抑制剂筛选研究进展

人类疾病的发生往往与体内各种酶的功能失调密切相关,因此酶一直是目前新药研发的重要靶标。天然产物是发现新药的宝贵资源,但是由于成分复杂,活性筛选一直受制于耗时费力的分离纯化过程。毛细管电泳（CE）技术由于具有样品和试剂消耗少、灵活多样的分离模式且不受样品基质干扰的特点,可以直接从粗提物开始筛选活性成分,在复杂样品活性筛选中显示出独特的优势。该文综述了近十年来CE在天然产物中酶抑制剂筛选的研究进展。其中重点介绍了CE应用于重要药物靶标,包括转移酶（激酶）、水解酶以及氧化还原酶等方面的应用,总结了用于酶抑制剂筛选的电泳分离模式和酶动力学研究,并展望了CE用于天然产物中活性成分筛选的应用前景。     

Drug cytotoxicity and signaling pathway analysis with three-dimensional tumor spheroids in a microwell-based microfluidic chip for drug screening

Currently, there has been a growing need for developing in vitro models to better reflect organism response to chemotherapy at tissue level. For this reason, a microfluidic platform was developed for mimicking physiological microenvironment of solid tumor with multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS) for anticancer drug screening. Importantly, the power of this system over traditional systems is that it is simple to operate and high integration in a more physiologically relevant context. As a proof of concept, long-term MTS cultures with uniform structure were realized on the microfluidic based platform. The response of doxorubicin and paclitaxel on different types of spheroids were simultaneously performed by in situ Live/Dead fluorescence stain to provide spatial distribution of dead cells as well as cytotoxicity information. In addition, the established platform combined with microplate reader was capable to determine the cytotoxicity of different sized MTS, showing a more powerful tool than cell staining examination at the end-point of assay. The HCT116 spheroids were then lysed on chip followed by signaling transduction pathway analysis. To our knowledge, the on chip drug screening study is the first to address the drug susceptibility testing and the offline detailed drug signaling pathway analysis combination on one system. Thus, this novel microfluidic platform provides a useful tool for drug screening with tumor spheroids, which is crucial for drug discovery and development.