PLA-Triggered Activation of Cyclosporine-Phospholipid Prodrug as a Drug Targeting Approach in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Therapy.

Oral medication with activity specifically at the inflamed sites throughout the gastrointestinal tract and limited systemic exposure would be a major advance in our therapeutic approach to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For this purpose, we have designed a prodrug by linking active drug moiety to phospholipid (PL), the substrate of phospholipase A (PLA). PLA expression and activity is significantly elevated in the inflamed intestinal tissues of IBD patients.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of the Southern Hemisphere of Spirastrellolide A and Analogues.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of truncated spirastrellolide A analogues comprised of the southern hemisphere against protein phosphatase 2A are described. A convergent synthesis was designed featuring two gold-catalyzed cyclization reactions, specifically, a dehydrative cyclization of monoallylic diols for the synthesis of the tetrahydropyran (A-ring) and a regioselective spiroketalization for the efficient generation of the [6,6]-spiroketal (B, C-ring system). The synthesis of the southern hemisphere of spirastrellolide A was achieved involving the longest linear sequence of 19 steps.

Phospholipid Cyclosporine Prodrugs Targeted at Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Treatment: Design, Synthesis, and in Vitro Validation.

Novel phospholipid (PL)-cyclosporine conjugates were prepared and studied as potential prodrugs for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our approach relies on phospholipase A (PLA ), which is overexpressed in the inflamed intestinal tissues, as the prodrug activator to potentially release cyclosporine at the site of inflammation. PL-cyclosporine prodrug conjugates with methylene linkers of various lengths between the sn-2 position of the PL and cyclosporine were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro activation.

Synthesis of the spirastrellolide A, B/C spiroketal: enabling solutions for problematic Au(I)-catalyzed spiroketalizations.

A synthesis of the spirastrellolide A, B/C-ring monounsaturated spiroketal is reported. The key step relies on a Au-catalyzed spiroketalization of a propargyl triol employing an acetonide as a regioselectivity regulator. Through observation and analysis, a set of conditions has been developed that facilitates the use of a mixture of diastereomeric substrates, obviating the need to control the stereochemistry of the propargyl stereocenter and enabling a convenient retrosynthetic disconnection.