Investigations on the stability of bendamustin, a cytostatic agent of the nitrogen mustard type, I. Synthesis, isolation, and characterization of reference substances

Summary The following compounds were chosen as reference substances for HPLC investigations on 4-(6-bis(2-chloro-ethyl)amino-3-methylbenzimidazoyl(2))butyric acid (bendamustin), an antineoplastic agent of the N-lost type (synthesized or isolated from crude bendamustin): 4-(6-((2-chloroethyl)(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)-3-methylbenzimidazoyl(2))butyric acid (HP1), 4-(6-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-3-methylbenzimidazoyl(2))butyric acid (HP2), ethyl-4-(6-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-3-methylbenzimidazoyl(2))butyrate (dihydroxyester), and ethyl-4-(6-bis(2-chloroethyl)amino-3-methylbenzimidazoyl(2))butyrate (dichloroester). Furthermore, the so far unidentified side product 4-(7,8-dihydro-6-(2-chloroethylamino)-3-methyl-1,4-thiazino[3,2-g]benzimidazoyl(2))-butyric acid (NP1), formed in the last step of the synthesis, was isolated and identified.

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Untersuchungen zur Stabilität von Bendamustin, einem Cytostatikum vom N-Lost-Typ, 1. Mitt.: Synthese, Isolierung und Charakterisierung von Vergleichssubstanzen

Zusammenfassung Die folgenden Verbindungen wurden als Vergleichssubstanzen für HPLC-analytische Untersuchungen von 4-(6-Bis(2-chlorethyl)amino-3-methylbenzimidazoyl(2))buttersäure (Bendamustin), einem Antitumormittel des N-lost-Typs, synthetisiert oder aus Bendamustin-Rohstoff vor der Endreinigung isoliert: (4-(6-((2-Chlorethyl)(2-hydroxyethyl)amino)-3-methylbenzimidazoyl(2))buttersäure (HP1), 4-(6-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-3-methylbenzimidazoyl(2))buttersäure (HP2), 4-(6-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino-3-methylbenzimidazoyl(2))buttersäureethylester (Dichlorester). Weiterhin konnte das bislang unbekannte Nebenprodukt 4-(7,8-Dihydro-6-(2-chlorethylamino)-3-methyl-1,4-thiazino[3,2-g]benzimidazoyl(2))buttersäure (NP1), welches sich im letzten Schritt der Synthese bildet, isoliert und identifiziert werden.

     

Localisation and accumulation of a new carotenoporphyrin in two primary tumour models

We have investigated the tumour-localising properties and in vivo fluorescence kinetics of a hexamethoxylated carotenqporphyrin (CP6) in two primary tumour models: UV-B-induced early skin cancer in hairless mice and chemically induced mucosal dysplasia in the rat palate. CP6 fluorescence kinetics are investigated by measuring in vivo fluorescence spectra and images of the mouse skin and the rat palate at different time points after injection. For the tumour-localising properties, microscopic phase-contrast and fluorescence images are recorded. The in vivo fluorescence kinetics in the mouse skin show localization of CP6 in the tumours. However, fluorescence microscopy images show that CP6 localises in the dermis and structures that are not related to the malignant transformation of the mouse skin. The fluorescence kinetics in the rat palate show a significant correlation between the degree of malignancy and the CP6 fluorescence build-up time in the palate. The microscopic images show that CP6 fluorescence localises in the connective tissue and not in the dysplastic epithelium. In conclusion, CP6 does not localise preferentially in (pre-) cancerous tissue in the two primary tumour models studied here, in contrast to reports about localisation of carotenoporphyrins in transplanted tumours. However, the CP6 build-up time in rat palates correlates with the degree of malignancy and this might possibly be a useful parameter in tumour detection.     

Apparate zur fractionirten Destillation unter vermindertem Drucke

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Magnetic movement of biological fluid droplets

Magnetic fields can be used to control the movement of aqueous drops on non-patterned, silicon nanowire superhydrophobic surfaces. Drops of aqueous and biological fluids are controlled by introducing magnetizable carbonyl iron microparticles into the liquid. Key elements of operations such as movement, coalescence, and splitting of water and biological fluid drops, as well as electrochemical measurement of an analyte are demonstrated. Superhydrophobic surfaces were prepared using vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) growth systems followed by coating with a perfluorinated hydrocarbon molecule. Drops were made from aqueous and biological fluid suspensions with magnetizable microparticle concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 wt%.     

Production of 8'-halogenated and 8'-unsubstituted novobiocin derivatives in genetically engineered streptomyces coelicolor strains

In the present study, we produced a hybrid antibiotic, carrying a chlorine atom instead of a methyl group at position 8 of the aminocoumarin moiety of novobiocin. This compound was not accessible by conventional gene inactivation/gene expression experiments due to difficulties in the genetic manipulation of the novobiocin producer Streptomyces spheroides. However, the desired compound was obtained after modification of the novobiocin biosynthetic gene cluster by using lambda-Red-mediated recombination in Escherichia coli, followed by integration of the resulting modified cosmid into the phiC31 attachment site of Streptomyces coelicolor and coexpression of the halogenase Clo-hal of clorobiocin biosynthesis. The halogenase BhaA, responsible for chlorination of tyrosyl moieties of the glycopeptide antibiotic balhimycin, was unable to functionally replace the halogenase Clo-hal, suggesting that the two enzymes have different substrate specificities.