Tracing Binding Modes in Hit‐to‐Lead Optimization: Chameleon‐Like Poses of Aspartic Protease Inhibitors

Successful lead optimization in structure‐based drug discovery depends on the correct deduction and interpretation of the underlying structure–activity relationships (SAR) to facilitate efficient decision‐making on the next candidates to be synthesized. Consequently, the question arises, how frequently a binding mode (re)‐validation is required, to ensure not to be misled by invalid assumptions on the binding geometry. We present an example in which minor chemical modifications within one inhibitor series lead to surprisingly different binding modes. X‐ray structure determination of eight inhibitors derived from one core scaffold resulted in four different binding modes in the aspartic protease endothiapepsin, a well‐established surrogate for e.g. renin and β‐secretase. In addition, we suggest an empirical metrics that might serve as an indicator during lead optimization to qualify compounds as candidates for structural revalidation.     

Molecular docking studies and in vitro cholinesterase enzyme inhibitory activities of chemical constituents of Garcinia hombroniana

Garcinia species are reported to possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-HIV and anti-Alzheimer's activities. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro cholinesterase enzyme inhibitory activities of garcihombronane C (1), garcihombronane F (2), garcihombronane I (3), garcihombronane N (4), friedelin (5), clerosterol (6), spinasterol glucoside (7) and 3β-hydroxy lup-12,20(29)-diene (8) isolated from Garcinia hombroniana, and to perform molecular docking simulation to get insight into the binding interactions of the ligands and enzymes. The cholinesterase inhibitory activities were evaluated using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes. In this study, compound 4 displayed the highest concentration-dependent inhibition of both AChE and BChE. Docking studies exhibited that compound 4 binds through hydrogen bonds to amino acid residues of AChE and BChE. The calculated docking and binding energies also supported the in vitro inhibitory profiles of IC₅₀. In conclusion, garcihombronanes C, F, I and N (1–4) exhibited dual and moderate inhibitory activities against AChE and BChE.     

Cesium carbonate supported on hydroxyapatite coated Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles as an effi cient and green catalyst for the synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c]pyrazoles

Cesium carbonate supported on hydroxyapatite coated Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4@Hap-Cs2CO3) was found to be magnetically separable, highly efficient, green and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst. The synthesized nanocatalyst has been characterized with several methods (FT-IR, SEM, TEM, XRD and XRF) and these analyzes confirmed which the cesium carbonate is well supported to catalyst surface. After full characterization, its catalytic activity was investigated in the synthesis of pyranopyrazole derivatives and the reactions were carried out at room temperature in 50:50 water/ethanol with excellent yields (88-95%). More importantly, the Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4@Hap-Cs2CO3 was easily separated from the reaction mixture by external magnetic field and efficiently reused at least six runs without any loss of its catalytic activity. Thus, the developed nanomagnetic base catalyst is potentially useful for the green and economic production of organic compounds.     

Equivalent dynamic thermoviscoelastic modeling of ionic polymers

Ionic polymers have attracted considerable attention due to their interesting sensing and actuating behavior which make them a proper choice for use in a wide range of applications including biomimetic robots and biomedical devices. The complicated electro‐chemo‐mechanical dynamics of ionic polymer actuators is a drawback for their applications in functional devices. Therefore, establishing a mathematical model which could effectively predict the actuators' dynamic behavior is of great interest. In this paper, a mathematical model, named equivalent dynamic thermoviscoelastic (EDT) model, based on thermal analogy and beam theory is proposed for dynamic analysis of bending‐type ionic polymer actuators. Then, the developed model is extended for analyzing the performance of the actuator in finite element software. The finite element analysis of the actuator enables consideration of material and geometric nonlinearities and facilitates modeling of functional devices based on the ionic polymer actuators. The proposed modeling approach is validated using experimental data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of water‐soluble conductive copolymer based on polyaniline

Synthesis and characterization of polyaniline‐grafted poly(styrene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) (PANI‐g‐PSMA) was carried out to obtain conductive comb copolymers with highly improved processability. First, polyaniline (PANI) was prepared in nano‐scale by chemical synthesis under ultrasonic irradiation. Then the poly(styrene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) (PSMA) was synthesized by free radical polymerization. Moreover, the PANI was grafted on the PSMA backbone to prepare a comb‐like conductive copolymer for improving its processability as a new method. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction patterns. Morphology of the samples was also investigated by scanning electron microscopy images. Finally, the solubility and conductivity of the products were studied, and it resulted in high solubility of the products in water and other common organic solvents in comparison to the pure PANI. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface modification of MWCNTs with glucose and their utilization for the production of environmentally friendly nanocomposites using biodegradable poly(amide‐imide) based on N‐trimellitylimido‐S‐valine matrix

In the present investigation, the preparation, characterization, and surface morphology of poly(amide‐imide) (PAI)/multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) bionanocomposites (BNCs) were the main goals of the study. At first, an optically active PAI based on S‐valine as a biodegradable segment was synthesized. Then, carboxyl‐modified MWCNTs were functionalized with glucose (f‐MWCNT) as a biological active molecule in a green method to achieve a fine dispersion of f‐MWCNT bundles in the PAI matrix. The existence of S‐valine in the PAI matrix and functionalized MWCNT with glucose resulted in a series of potentially biodegradable nanocomposites. The obtained BNCs were characterized by various techniques. Field emission scanning and transmission electron microscopy micrographs of the composites showed a fine dispersion of f‐MWCNTs in the polymer matrix because of hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interaction between f‐MWCNTs and polymer functional groups and aromatic moieties. Adding f‐MWCNTs into polymer matrix significantly improved the thermal stability of BNCs because of the increased interfacial interaction between the PAI matrix and f‐MWCNTs and also good dispersion of f‐MWCNT in the polymer matrix. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Priori Estimation of Organic Reaction Yields

A thermodynamically guided calculation of free energies of substrate and product molecules allows for the estimation of the yields of organic reactions. The non‐ideality of the system and the solvent effects are taken into account through the activity coefficients calculated at the molecular level by perturbed‐chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC‐SAFT). The model is iteratively trained using a diverse set of reactions with yields that have been reported previously. This trained model can then estimate a priori the yields of reactions not included in the training set with an accuracy of ca. ±15 %. This ability has the potential to translate into significant economic savings through the selection and then execution of only those reactions that can proceed in good yields.     

Preparation of <Superscript>166</Superscript>Dy/<Superscript>166</Superscript>Ho-chitosan as an in vivo generator for radiosynovectomy

¹⁶⁶Ho is one of the most effective radionuclides used for radiosynovectomy. One method to deliver this radioisotope to target tissue is via the ¹⁶⁶Dy/¹⁶⁶Ho in vivo generator system. The aim of this work was to prepare ¹⁶⁶Dy/¹⁶⁶Ho-chitosan (¹⁶⁶Dy/¹⁶⁶Ho-CHIT) in vivo generator for radiosynovectomy applications. ¹⁶⁶Dy obtained by the irradiation of natural ¹⁶⁴Dy target. ¹⁶⁶Dy was separated from ¹⁶⁶Ho by extraction chromatographic method (separation yield; 93% and separation factor;1.7). Chitosan labeling was performed in acetic acid with 99.3 ± 0.6% radiochemical purity. Biodistribution studies on intraarticular injected rats demonstrated high retention in the knee joint even 7 days showing no radioactivity leakage from the injection site into other organs as well as any translocation of the daughter nucleus after β^? decay of ¹⁶⁶Dy.