Drug Conjugation Affects Pharmacokinetics and Specificity of Kidney-Targeted Peptide Carriers.

Peptides play a crucial role as biological vectors for targeted drug delivery. In particular, in cases of specific receptor expression, peptides are highly potent carriers for drug targeting approaches. Kidney-targeted peptides require specific attention because of the necessity of fine-tuning their behavior with respect to extraction and retention in the complex architecture of the kidneys.

Renal Targeting: Peptide-Based Drug Delivery to Proximal Tubule Cells.

Kidney-specific drug targeting is an attractive strategy to reduce unwanted side effects and to enhance drug efficacy within the renal tissue. For this purpose a novel kidney-specific drug carrier was developed. The peptide sequence (KKEEE)3K triggers exceptional renal specificity at high accumulation rates.

Phenylthiazolyl-hydrazide and its derivatives are potent inhibitors of tau aggregation and toxicity in vitro and in cells.

One of the key pathological features of Alzheimer's disease is the aggregation of tau protein. We are therefore searching for compounds capable of inhibiting this reaction. On the basis of an initial screen of 200000 compounds [Pickhardt, M.

Screening for inhibitors of tau protein aggregation into Alzheimer paired helical filaments: a ligand based approach results in successful scaffold hopping.

The aggregation of tau protein into paired helical filaments is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. We therefore continue our search for non-toxic, cell penetrating inhibitors of tau aggregation, which hold potential for brain penetration. Pickhardt et al.

Towards erythropoietin mimicking small molecules.

Small molecules potentially mimicking the hormone erythropoietin have been discovered by screening of a library of rationally designed multicomponent reaction molecules in a functional cell-based assay.

Modulators and inhibitors of gamma- and beta-secretases.

Most gene mutations associated with Alzheimer's disease point to the metabolism of amyloid precursor protein as a potential cause. The beta- and gamma-secretases are two executioners of amyloid precursor protein processing resulting in amyloid-beta. Significant progress has been made in the selective inhibition of both proteases, regardless of structural information for gamma-secretase.

Synthesis of tetramic and tetronic acids as beta-secretase inhibitors.

The aspartic protease beta-secretase (BACE-1) is an attractive target for the therapy of Alzheimer's disease. The known inhibitors share a high analogy to the substrate peptide and, thus, display undesired pharmacological properties. Compact nonpeptidic lead structures are scarce.

Inhibitors and modulators of beta- and gamma-secretase.

Most gene mutations associated with Alzheimer's disease point to the metabolism of amyloid precursor protein as potential cause. The beta- and gamma-secretases are two executioners of amyloid precursor protein processing resulting in amyloid beta. Significant progress has been made in the selective inhibition of both proteases, regardless of structural information for gamma-secretase.

Short and diverse route toward complex natural product-like macrocycles.

[reaction: see text] A general strategy toward macrocyclic compounds using multicomponent reaction (MCR) chemistry, e.g., Passerini and Ugi variants, and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) is introduced.