Small-Molecule Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Inhibitors: An Attractive and Efficient Method for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is an important member of the class III receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family, which is involved in the proliferation of hematopoietic cells and lymphocytes. In recent years, increasing evidence have demonstrated that the activation and mutation of FLT3 is closely implicated in the occurrence and development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The exploration of small-molecule inhibitors targeting FLT3 has aroused wide interest of pharmaceutical chemists and is expected to bring new hope for AML therapy.

Total synthesis, chemical modification and structure-activity relationship of bufadienolides.

Bufadienolides are a type of natural cardiac steroids and originally isolated from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Chan'Su, they have been used for the treatment of heart disease in traditional remedies as well as in modern medicinal therapy with potent anti-tumor activities. Due to their unique molecular structures with unsaturated six-membered lactones attached to the steroid core, bufadienolides have received great attention in the synthetic organic community. This review presents total synthetic efforts to some representative bufadienolides, chemical modification of bufadienolides will also be given to discuss their structure-activity relationship in anti-tumor.

MRI Detectable Polymer Microspheres Embedded With Magnetic Ferrite Nanoclusters For Embolization: In Vitro And In Vivo Evaluation.

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop magnetic embolic microspheres that could be visualized by clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners aiming to improve the efficiency and safety of embolotherapy.

Methods And Discussion: Magnetic ferrite nanoclusters (FNs) were synthesized with microwave-assisted solvothermal method, and their morphology, particle size, crystalline structure, magnetic properties as well as T relaxivity were characterized to confirm the feasibility of FNs as an MRI probe. Magnetic polymer microspheres (FNMs) were then produced by inverse suspension polymerization with FNs embedded inside.

Preparation and In vitro Evaluation of FDM 3D-Printed Ellipsoid-Shaped Gastric Floating Tablets with Low Infill Percentages.

The aim of the study is to investigate the feasibility of fabricating FDM 3D-printed gastric floating tablets with low infill percentages and the effect of infill percentage on the properties of gastric floating tablets in vitro. Propranolol hydrochloride was selected as a model drug, and drug-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) filaments were produced by hot melt extrusion (HME). Ellipsoid-shaped gastric floating tablets with low infill percentage of 15% and 25% (namely E-15 and E-25) were then prepared respectively by feeding the extruded filaments to FDM 3D printer.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of 2-amino-imidazol-4-one derivatives as potent β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE-1) inhibitors.

Inhibition of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) to prevent brain β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide's formation is a potential effective approach to treat Alzheimer's disease. In this report we described a structure-based optimization of a series of BACE1 inhibitors derived from an iminopyrimidinone scaffold W-41 (IC = 7.1 μM) by Wyeth, which had good selectivity and brain permeability but low activity.

Design, synthesis, and biological activity evaluation of BACE1 inhibitors with antioxidant activity.

The proteolytic enzyme β-secretase (BACE1) plays a central role in the synthesis of the pathogenic β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), antioxidants could attenuate the AD syndrome and prevent the disease progression. In this study, BACE1 inhibitors (D1-D18) with free radical-scavenging activities were synthesized by molecular hybridization of 2-aminopyridine with natural antioxidants. The biological activity evaluation showed that D1 had obvious inhibitory activity against BACE1, and strong antioxidant activity in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS ) assay, which could be used as a lead compound for further study.

A novel and efficient synthesis of phenanthrene derivatives via palladium/norbornadiene-catalyzed domino one-pot reaction.

Herein we report a novel palladium-catalyzed reaction that results in phenanthrene derivatives using aryl iodides, -bromobenzoyl chlorides and norbornadiene in one pot. This dramatic transformation undergoes C-H activation, decarbonylation and subsequent a retro-Diels-Alder process. Pleasantly, this protocol has a wider substrate range, shorter reaction times and higher yields of products than previously reported methods.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Scutellarein Alkyl Derivatives as Preventing Neurodegenerative Agents with Improved Lipid Soluble Properties.

Background: Exogenous antioxidants are considered as a promising therapeutic approach to treat neurodegenerative diseases since they could prevent and/or minimize the neuronal damage by oxidation.

Objective: Three series of lipophilic compounds structurally based on scutellarein (2), which is one metabolite of scutellarin (1) in vivo, have been designed and synthesized.

Methods: Their antioxidant activity was evaluated by detecting the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) produced in the ferrous salt/ascorbate-induced autoxidation of lipids, which were present in microsomal membranes of rat hepatocytes.

Poly(acrylic acid) microspheres loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for transcatheter arterial embolization and MRI detectability: In vitro and in vivo evaluation.

To develop embolic microspheres with MRI detectability, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were synthesized and mixed with monomer of acrylic acid to prepare SPIONs-loaded polymerized microspheres (SPMs) by inverse suspension polymerization method. The SPMs were evaluated for the ability of embolization by investigating the morphology, particle size, elasticity and renal arterial embolization to rabbits. Meanwhile, the loading of SPIONs was verified by optical microscope, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, vibrating sample magnetometer, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the content of SPIONs in SPMs was measured quantitatively.

Preparation and In Vitro Evaluation of a MRI Contrast Agent Based on Aptamer-Modified Gadolinium-Loaded Liposomes for Tumor Targeting.

The aim of this study was to prepare aptamer-modified liposomes loaded with gadolinium (Gd) to enhance the effective diagnosis for tumor by MRI. A modified GBI-10 (GBI-10) was used to prepare targeted liposomes (GLs). Liposomes with GBI-10 aptamer (GLs) and without aptamer (non-targeted liposomes (NLs)) were also prepared as controls.

In vitro study of novel gadolinium-loaded liposomes guided by GBI-10 aptamer for promising tumor targeting and tumor diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging.

Novel gadolinium-loaded liposomes guided by GBI-10 aptamer were developed and evaluated in vitro to enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis of tumor. Nontargeted gadolinium-loaded liposomes were achieved by incorporating amphipathic material, Gd (III) [N,N-bis-stearylamidomethyl-N'-amidomethyl] diethylenetriamine tetraacetic acid, into the liposome membrane using lipid film hydration method. GBI-10, as the targeting ligand, was then conjugated onto the liposome surface to get GBI-10-targeted gadolinium-loaded liposomes (GTLs).

Preparation and evaluation of biocompatible long-term radiopaque microspheres based on polyvinyl alcohol and lipiodol for embolization.

The aim of this work was to develop long-term radiopaque microspheres (LRMs) by entrapping lipiodol in biocompatible polyvinyl alcohol with multiple emulsions chemical crosslinking method. The high content of lipiodol (0.366 g/mL) was hardly released from LRMs in vitro and the radiopacity could maintain at least 3 months after subcutaneous injection in mice without weakening.

[Preparation and investigation of MRI-traceable Eudragit-E liquid embolic agent].

Objective: To develop and investigate the properties of MRI-traceable Eudragit-E liquid embolic agent (MR-E).

Methods: Polyethylene glycol-modified superparamagnetic iron oxides (PEG-SPIO) was synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method. MR-E was prepared by mixing PEG-SPIO and Eudragit-E liquid embolic agent homogeneously.

[Preparation and in vitro evaluation of crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol microspheres for embolization].

Objective: To develop and study the properties of crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol microspheres (PVA-Ms) for embolization.

Methods: The PVA-Ms were produced by emulsion chemical crosslinking method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to investigate the special functional groups of PVA-Ms; the morphology and particle size of PVA-Ms were determined by optical microscope; the ratio of water absorption and the swelling ratio were also investigated; the compressibility was examined by texture analyzer.

[Preparation and property study of doxorubicin loaded microspheres].

Objective: To prepare doxorubicin-loaded polyvinylalcohol-acrylic acid (PVA-AA) microspheres and evaluate properties of this chemoembolic agent.

Methods: PVA-AA microspheres were synthesized by inverse suspension polymerization method and then verified by infrared spectroscopy. drug loading (DL) and entrapment efficiency (EE%) were measured after doxorubicinwas loaded on PVA-AA microspheres.

Development and evaluation of liquid embolic agents based on liquid crystalline material of glyceryl monooleate.

New type of liquid embolic agents based on a liquid crystalline material of glyceryl monooleate (GMO) was developed and evaluated in this study. Ternary phase diagram of GMO, water and ethanol was constructed and three isotropic liquids (ILs, GMO:ethanol:water=49:21:30, 60:20:20 and 72:18:10 (w/w/w)) were selected as potential liquid embolic agents, which could spontaneously form viscous gel cast when contacting with water or physiological fluid. The ILs exhibited excellent microcatheter deliverability due to low viscosity, and were proved to successfully block the saline flow when performed in a device to simulate embolization in vitro.

Research of novel biocompatible radiopaque microcapsules for arterial embolization.

Embolic agents, such as microparticles, microspheres or beads used in current embolotherapy are mostly radiolucent, which means the agents are invisible under X-ray imaging during and after the process of embolization, and the fate of these particles cannot be precisely assessed. In this research, a radiopaque embolic agent was developed by encapsulating lipiodol in polyvinyl alcohol. The lipiodol-containing polyvinyl alcohol microcapsules (LPMs) were characterized and evaluated for their morphology, size distribution, lipiodol content, lipiodol release, elasticity, and deliverability through catheter.

Poly(acrylic acid) microspheres loaded with lidocaine: preparation and characterization for arterial embolization.

A new embolic agent, poly(acrylic acid) microspheres (PMs), was synthesized and the cytocompatibility was proved by mouse L929 fibroblast cells. An analgesic drug, lidocaine, was loaded on the PMs to relief pain caused by embolization. PMs and lidocaine loaded microspheres (LMs) were characterized by investigating infrared spectrum, morphology, particle size, and equilibrium water contents (EWC).

[Optimization and property evaluation of gelatin microspheres for embolization].

Objective: To optimize the preparation of gelatin microspheres for embolization and to evaluate the physicochemical properties of the optimized microspheres.

Methods: The gelatin microspheres were prepared using emulsification crosslink method. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used in order to achieve gelatin microspheres with satisfactory degradable time and elasticity.

[Preparation and in vitro evaluation of tanshinone IIA pulsatile release pellets].

Objective: To develop pulsatile release pellets using tanshinone II as model drug and evaluate their properties in vitro.

Methods: The tanshinone II pusatile release pellets with rupturable coatings were prepared by fluid bed. Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), low-substituted hydroxy propyl cellulose (L-HPC)/HPMC, and HPMC/Sureleae were used as swelling agents respectively, and aqueous ethylcellulose dispersion Surelease as the material of controlled layer.

[Optimization of calcium alginate floating microspheres loading aspirin by artificial neural networks and response surface methodology].

Objective: To investigate the preparation and optimization of calcium alginate floating microspheres loading aspirin.

Methods: A model was used to predict the in vitro release of aspirin and optimize the formulation by artificial neural networks (ANNs) and response surface methodology (RSM). The amounts of the material in the formulation were used as inputs, while the release and floating rate of the microspheres were used as outputs.

[Optimization of riboflavin sodium phosphate loading to calcium alginate floating microspheres by response surface methodology].

Objective: To investigate the preparation, optimization and in vitro properties of riboflavin sodium phosphate floating microspheres.

Methods: The floating microspheres composed of riboflavin sodium phosphate and calcium alginate were prepared using ion gelatin-oven drying method.

Results: The properties of the microspheres were investigated, including the buoyancy, release, appearance and entrapment efficiency.

[Preparation and evaluation of radiopaque microspheres].

Objective: To develop lipiodol-containing calcium alginate microspheres (LAMs) for embolization, and study the characterization for emoblization and the radiopacity.

Methods: LAMs were prepared by dripping method. The preparation of LAMs was optimized by orthogonal experiment which involved effects of three factors (the volume ratio of lipiodol to the external aqueous solution, airflow rate, and the weight pushing the injector) at three levels on the responses to the size, polydisperse index and entrapment efficiency of LAMs.

[Preparation and property study of ion-exchange embolic microspheres for delivering pingyangmycin].

Objective: To develop and study the properties of ion-exchange polyvinyl alcohol-acrylic acid microspheres (PVA-AA-Ms) for embolization.

Methods: The PVA-AA-Ms were produced by the method of inverse suspension polymerization. The morphology and particle size were determined by optical microscope; FT-IR was used to investigate the special functional groups of PVA-AA-Ms; the carboxyl content of PVA-AA-Ms was measured by chemical titration; the compression elasticity was examined by texture analyzer (TA-plus).