4-Aryl-4H-naphthopyrans derivatives: one-pot synthesis, evaluation of Src kinase inhibitory and anti-proliferative activities.

Background: A series of 2-amino-4-aryl-4H-benzo[h or f]chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of Src kinase and cell proliferation in breast carcinoma (BT-20) cell lines.

Methods: The one-pot, three-component reaction of α or β-naphthol, malonitrile and an aromatic aldehyde in the presence of diammonium hydrogen phosphate was afforded the corresponding 2-amino-4-aryl-4H-benzo[h or f]chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives, All target compounds were evaluated for inhibition of Src kinase and cell proliferation in breast carcinoma (BT-20) cell lines.

Results: Among all tested compounds, unsubstituted 4-phenyl analog 4a showed Src kinas inhibitory effect with IC50 value of 28.

O-Aryl α,β-d-ribofuranosides: synthesis & highly efficient biocatalytic separation of anomers and evaluation of their Src kinase inhibitory activity.

A series of peracetylated O-aryl α,β-d-ribofuranosides have been synthesized and an efficient biocatalytic methodology has been developed for the separation of their anomers which was otherwise almost impossible by column chromatographic or other techniques. The incubation of 2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-1-O-aryl-α,β-d-ribofuranoside with Lipozyme® TL IM immobilized on silica led to the selective deacetylation of only one acetoxy group, viz the C-5'-O-acetoxy group of the α-anomer over the other acetoxy groups derived from the two secondary hydroxyl groups present in the molecule and also over three acetoxy groups (derived from one primary and two secondary hydroxyls of the β-anomer). This methodology led to the easy synthesis of both, α- and β-anomers of O-aryl d-ribofuranosides.

Synthesis, anticancer activities, and cellular uptake studies of lipophilic derivatives of doxorubicin succinate.

A number of lipophilic 14-substituted derivatives of doxorubicin were synthesized through conjugation of doxorubicin-14-hemisuccinate with different fatty amines or tetradecanol to enhance the lipophilicity, cellular uptake, and cellular retention for sustained anticancer activity. The conjugates inhibited the cell proliferation of human leukemia (CCRF-CEM, 69-76%), colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29, 60-77%), and breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-361, 66-71%) cells at a concentration of 1 μM after 96-120 h of incubation. The N-tetradecylamido derivative of doxorubicin 14-succinate (10) exhibited consistently comparable antiproliferative activity to doxorubicin in a time-dependent manner (IC(50) = 77 nM in CCRF-CEM cells).

4-Aryl-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives: evaluation of Src kinase inhibitory and anticancer activities.

Src kinase mutations and/or overexpression have been implicated in the development of a number of human cancer including colon, breast, and lung cancers. Thus, designing potent and selective Src kinase inhibitors as anticancer agents is a subject of major interest. A series of 4-aryl substituted derivatives of 2-amino-7-dimethylamino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile were synthesized using one-pot reaction of appropriate substituted aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and 3-(dimethylamino)phenol in the presence of piperidine.

Fatty acyl amide derivatives of doxorubicin: synthesis and in vitro anticancer activities.

Doxorubicin is extensively used in anticancer therapy. Doxorubicin is highly hydrophilic, has short half-life, and its use is associated with severe side effects at high doses. Fatty acyl amide derivatives of doxorubicin were synthesized with the expectation to improve the lipophilicity and anticancer activity of the drug.

Hydrophobicity drives the cellular uptake of short cationic peptide ligands.

Short cationic linear peptide analogs (LPAs, prepared as Arg-C( n )-Arg-C( n )-Lys, where C( n ) represents an alkyl linkage with n = 4, 7 or 11) were synthesized and tested in human breast carcinoma BT-20 and CCRF-CEM leukemia cells for their application as targeting ligands. With constant LPA charge (+4), increasing the alkyl linkage increases the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance and provides a systematic means of examining combined electrostatic and hydrophobic peptide-membrane interactions. Fluorescently conjugated LPA-C(11) (F-LPA-C(11)) demonstrated significant uptake, whereas there was negligible uptake of the shorter LPAs.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of fatty acyl ester derivatives of 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxythymidine.

A number of 5'-O-fatty acyl derivatives of 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (stavudine, d4T) were synthesized and evaluated for anti-HIV activities against cell-free and cell-associated virus, cellular cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake studies. The conjugates were found to be more potent than d4T. Among these conjugates, 5'-O-12-azidododecanoyl derivative of d4T (2), displaying EC(50) = 3.

Synthesis of 3-phenylpyrazolopyrimidine-1,2,3-triazole conjugates and evaluation of their Src kinase inhibitory and anticancer activities.

A series of two classes of 3-phenylpyrazolopyrimidine-1,2,3-triazole conjugates were synthesized using click chemistry approach. All compounds were evaluated for inhibition of Src kinase and human ovarian adenocarcinoma (SK-Ov-3), breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-361), and colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29). Hexyl triazolyl-substituted 3-phenylpyrazolopyrimidine exhibited inhibition of Src kinase with an IC(50) value of 5.

Click chemistry inspired one-pot synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles and their Src kinase inhibitory activity.

Two classes of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles were synthesized using one-pot reaction of α-tosyloxy ketones/α-halo ketones, sodium azide, and terminal alkynes in the presence of aq PEG (1:1, v/v) using the click chemistry approach and evaluated for Src kinase inhibitory activity. Structure-activity relationship analysis demonstrated that insertion of C(6)H(5)- and 4-CH(3)C(6)H(4)- at position 4 for both classes and less bulkier aromatic group at position 1 in class 1 contribute critically to the modest Src inhibition activity (IC(50) = 32-43 μM) of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles.

Synthesis and evaluation of fatty acyl ester derivatives of cytarabine as anti-leukemia agents.

Cytarabine is a chemotherapeutic agent predominately used for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and lymphoblastic leukemia. Cytarabine is a polar nucleoside, has a short plasma half-life, and its use is associated with severe side effects. Fatty acyl derivatives of cytarabine were synthesized with the expectation to improve cellular uptake and generate derivatives with a longer duration of action.

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta inhibition increases tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) sensitivity: imatinib and TRAIL dual therapy.

Background: There is a crucial need for better therapeutic approaches for the treatment of Ewing sarcoma (EWS). Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in EWS cells in vitro. However, in vivo, acquired resistance to TRAIL is a major limiting factor.

Synthesis, Src kinase inhibitory and anticancer activities of 1-substituted 3-(N-alkyl-N-phenylamino)propane-2-ols.

A series of 3-(N-alkyl-N-phenylamino)propan-2-ol derivatives were synthesized from epichlorohydrine in a multi-step strategy and were evaluated as Src kinase inhibitors. First, epoxy ring opening of epichlorohydrine was carried out in the presence of N-alkylanilines to yield 3-(N-alkyl-N-phenylamino)-1-chloro-propan-2-ol derivatives using Ca(OTf)2 as catalyst based on our previous studies [1]. Second, ring closure was performed under basic conditions to afford N-epoxymethyl N-alkylaniline derivatives.

Inhibiting platelet-derived growth factor beta reduces Ewing's sarcoma growth and metastasis in a novel orthotopic human xenograft model.

Background: Despite aggressive therapy, Ewing's sarcoma (ES) patients have a poor five-year overall survival of only 20-40%. Pulmonary metastasis is the most common form of demise in these patients. The pathogenesis of pulmonary metastasis is poorly understood and few orthotopic models exist that allow study of spontaneous pulmonary metastasis in ES.

Cellular uptake of gold nanoparticles directly cross-linked with carrier peptides by osteosarcoma cells.

Nanoparticles have been extensively used for a variety of biomedical applications and there is a growing need for highly specific and efficient delivery of the nanoparticles into target cells and subcellular location. We attempted to accomplish this goal by modifying gold particles with peptide motif's that are known to deliver a 'cargo' into chosen cellular location specifically, we intended to deliver nanogold particles into cells through chemical cross-linking with different peptides known to carry protein into cells. Our results suggest that specific sequence of such 'carrier peptides' can efficiently deliver gold nanoparticles into cells when chemically cross-linked with the metal particles.

Engineering a noncarrier to a highly efficient carrier peptide for noncovalently delivering biologically active proteins into human cells.

Noncovalent protein delivery into cells via peptide carriers is an emerging concept. Only a handful of such peptides are known. To address various limitations associated with protein delivery for therapeutic purposes, a greater number of different delivery peptides would be required.

Severe suppression of Frzb/sFRP3 transcription in osteogenic sarcoma.

Deciphering the molecular basis of cancer is critical for developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. To better understand the early molecular events involving osteogenic sarcoma (OGS), we have initiated a program to identify potential tumor suppressor genes. Expression profiling of total RNA from ten normal bone cell lines and eleven OGS-derived cell lines by microarray showed 135-fold lower expression of FRZB/sFRP3 mRNA in OGS cells compared to bone cells; this down-regulation of Frzb/sFRP3 mRNA expression was found to be serum-independent.

The use of microorganisms for the formation of metal nanoparticles and their application.

Nanomaterials are at the leading edge of the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. The development of reliable experimental protocols for the synthesis of nanomaterials over a range of chemical compositions, sizes, and high monodispersity is one of the challenging issues in current nanotechnology. In the context of the current drive to develop green technologies in material synthesis, this aspect of nanotechnology is of considerable importance.

Superparamagnetic nanoparticle-supported enzymatic resolution of racemic carboxylates.

Candida rugosa lipase immobilized on maghemite nanoparticles demonstrated high stereoselectivity in kinetic resolution of racemic carboxylates and improved long-term stability over its parent free enzyme, allowing the supported enzyme to be repeatedly used for a series of chiral resolution reactions.

Enzyme mediated extracellular synthesis of CdS nanoparticles by the fungus, Fusarium oxysporum.

The biosynthesis of Q-state CdS nanoparticles by reaction of aqueous CdSO4 solution with the fungus, Fusarium oxysporum, is demonstrated. Nanoparticle formation proceeds by release of sulfate reductase enzymes by the fungus, conversion of sulfate ions to sulfide ions that subsequently react with aqueous Cd2+ ions to yield highly stable CdS nanoparticles. Elucidation of an enzymatic pathway using fungi opens up the exciting possibility of developing a rational, biosynthesis strategy for nanomaterials over a range of chemical compositions which is currently not possible.