Quantitative analysis of the farnesyl transferase inhibitor lonafarnib (Sarasartrade mark, SCH66336) in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

Lonafarnib is a novel anticancer drug that inhibits farnesyl transferase. To assess its pharmacokinetic properties, we developed a sensitive and quantitative assay using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of lonafarnib levels in human plasma. Sample pretreatment consisted of the addition of an isotopically labeled internal standard and protein precipitation with acetonitrile using 100 microL plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on an Inertsil ODS-3 analytical column (50 x 2.1 mm i.d., particle size 5 microm) with acetonitrile/water/formic acid (50:50:0.05, v/v/v) as the mobile phase, at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The analytical run time was 8 min. An API365 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used for specific and sensitive detection. It was operated in the positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring was used for drug quantification. The method was validated using a concentration range of 2.5 to 2500 ng/mL lonafarnib. Validation of the assay was performed according to the most recent FDA guidelines for bioanalytical method validation and all results were within the requirements. The described method was successfully applied to support a clinical phase I trial with lonafarnib.     

Structural characterization of plasmenylcholine photooxidation products

Oxidative damage to plasmenyl-type lipids contributes to decreased membrane barrier function, loss of membrane structure and formation of nonlamellar defects in membrane bilayers. Previous results from this laboratory have shown that membrane-soluble sensitizers (e.g. zinc phthalocyanine and bacteriochlorophyll a) mediate the photooxidation of palmitoyl plasmenylcholine (1-O-alk-1'-Z-enyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine; PPlsC) vesicles with the subsequent creation of lamellar defect structures, vesicle contents leakage and membrane-membrane fusion. Because plasmalogen lipids are significant components of sarcoplasma and myelin membranes, we sought to characterize the products of their photooxidation. This study focuses on the photooxidation of PPlsC vesicles in the presence of the water-soluble sensitizer, aluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (AlPcS4(4-)). Attack of photogenerated singlet oxygen on the 1-O-alkenyl ether linkage of PPlsC lipids was expected to generate dioxetane- and ene-type photoproducts. The products formed during continuous aerobic irradiation (28 mW/cm2, (610 nm) of PPlsC vesicles in the presence of AlPcS4(4-) were separated via reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ECD) or evaporative light-scattering detection (ELSD). Photooxidized dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol vesicles (control) were used to optimize the HPLC-ECD conditions, using 7 alpha-hydroperoxy-cholesterol as standard. HPLC-ECD was found to be most sensitive for PPlsC hydroperoxides, whereas HPLC-ELSD was more sensitive for nonhydroperoxide photoproducts. The three major photoproducts formed during vesicle irradiation were isolated via preparative HPLC and then characterized by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. 1-Formyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1-hydroxy-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine were identified as dioxetane cleavage products that coeluted at approximately 3 min. The second fraction (retention time [RT] = 48 min) was identified as a PPlsC allylic hydroperoxide. The third photoproduct, eluting at RT = 64 min, is tentatively identified as an oxidation product arising from allylic hydroperoxide degradation via Hock rearrangement or free radical decomposition.     

Octanuclear and nonanuclear supramolecular copper(II) complexes with linear "tritopic" ligands: structural and magnetic studies

The structures and magnetic properties of self-assembled copper(II) clusters and grids with the "tritopic" ligands 2poap (a), Cl2poap (b), m2poap (c), Cl2pomp (d), and 2pomp (e) are described [ligands derived by reaction of 4-R-2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic hydrazide (R = H, Cl, MeO) with 2-pyridinemethylimidate (a-c, respectively) or 2-acetylpyridine (d, R = Cl; e, R = H)]. Cl2poap and Cl2pomp self-assemble with Cu(NO(3))(2) to form octanuclear "pinwheel" cluster complexes [Cu(8)(Cl2poap-2H)(4)(NO(3))(8)].20H(2)O (1) and [Cu(8)(Cl2pomp-2H)(4)(NO(3))(8)].15H(2)O (2), built on a square [2 x 2] grid with four pendant copper arms, using "mild" reaction conditions. Similar reactions of Cl2pomp and 2pomp with Cu(ClO(4))(2) produce pinwheel clusters [Cu(8)(Cl2pomp-2H)(4)(H(2)O)(8)](ClO(4))(8).7H(2)O (3) and [Cu(8)(2pomp-2H)(4)(H(2)O)(8)](ClO(4))(8) (4), respectively. Heating a solution of 1 in MeOH/H(2)O produces a [3 x 3] nonanuclear square grid complex, [Cu(9)(Cl2poap-H)(3)(Cl2poap-2H)(3)](NO(3))(9).18H(2)O (5), which is also produced by direct reaction of the ligand and metal salt under similar conditions. Reaction of m2poap with Cu(NO(3))(2) produces only the [3 x 3] grid [Cu(9)(m2poap-H)(2)(m2poap-2H)(4)](NO(3))(8).17H(2)O (6) under similar conditions. Mixing the tritopic ligand 2poap with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (picd) in the presence of Cu(NO(3))(2) produces a remarkable mixed ligand, nonanuclear grid complex [Cu(9)(2poap-H)(4)(picd-H)(3)(picd-2H)](NO(3))(9).9H(2)O (7), in which aromatic pi-stacking interactions are important in stabilizing the structure. Complexes 1-3 and 5-7 involve single oxygen atom (alkoxide) bridging connections between adjacent copper centers, while complex 4 has an unprecedented mixed micro-(N-N) and micro-O metal ion connectivity. Compound 1 (C(76)H(92)N(44)Cu(8)O(50)Cl(4)) crystallizes in the tetragonal system, space group I, with a = 21.645(1) A, c = 12.950(1) A, and Z = 2. Compound 2 (C(84)H(88)N(36)O(44)Cl(4)Cu(8)) crystallizes in the tetragonal system, space group I, with a = 21.2562(8) A, c = 12.7583(9) A, and Z = 2. Compound 4 (C(84)H(120)N(28)O(66)Cl(8)Cu(8)) crystallizes in the tetragonal system, space group I4(1)/a, with a = 20.7790(4) A, c = 32.561(1) A, and Z = 4. Compound 7(C(104)H(104)N(46)O(56)Cu(9)) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P, with a = 15.473(1) A, b = 19.869(2) A, c = 23.083(2) A, alpha = 88.890(2) degrees, beta = 81.511(2) degrees, gamma = 68.607(1) degrees, and Z = 2. All complexes exhibit dominant intramolecular ferromagnetic exchange coupling, resulting from an orthogonal bridging arrangement within each polynuclear structure.     

A Compact Cauchy-Kovalevskaya Extension Formula in Discrete Clifford Analysis

We prove a compact expression for the Cauchy-Kovalevskaya extension in the setting of discrete Clifford analysis; it seamlessly simplifies to the well-know exponential formula in the continuous setting when the discrete step size tends to zero.     

Computer-Assisted HPLC Method Development for Determination of Tolmetin and Possible Kinetic Modulators of Its Oxidative Metabolism in Vivo

Following administration of the acidic drug tolmetin (TOL) anaphylactic reactions occurred, which have been hypothesized to be related to the formation of reactive acyl glucuronides. Recently, glutathione adducts have been detected upon incubation of TOL with human liver microsomal preparations, which proved that oxidative activation might also be a pathway of formation of reactive—possibly toxic—glutathione metabolites of TOL. The aim of this work was to develop a new and robust HPLC method to investigate the in vivo effect of 2 coadministered drugs/nutritional supplements on the kinetics of TOL in rats (cimetidine; CIM) known to be a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4, an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative metabolism and Quercetin; and QUE which induces UGT1A6, an enzyme involved in glucuronidation of acidic drugs. DryLab^®, a computer simulation software package, was used to assist in the development and optimization of the HPLC method used for separation of TOL and the two potential kinetic modulators together with three potential internal standards (zomepirac, carvedilol and fexofenadine). The method was validated in biological samples obtained from rats. Non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis of data obtained from plasma and rat liver tissue showed significantly higher concentrations of TOL in the presence of CIM; and significantly longer elimination half-life lives in presence of QUE, which implies that drugs or food components interacting with CYP3A4 cause alteration in the metabolic oxidative biotransformation of TOL in vivo leading to accumulation of TOL in the body through a decrease of its clearance. These findings might account for to the side-effects associated with TOL when co-administered with such kinetic modulators.