Innovation in Chemistry,Manufacturing, and Controls—A Regulatory Perspective From Industry

This review describes the landscape of novel modalities such as cell and gene therapies, viruses, other novel biologics, oligomers, and emerging technologies, including modern analytics. We summarize the regulatory history and recent landmark developments in some major markets and examine specific chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) challenges, including suggestions for exploration of potential science-based approaches in support of regulatory strategy development from an industry perspective. In addition, we evaluate the economic factors contributing to patient access to innovation and discuss the impact of regulation. There is a desperate need for a consistent form of regulation where global approaches to regulatory strategies can be harmonized, and specific CMC challenges can be dealt with using the appropriate science and risk-based tools. Although these tools are well described in current guidance documents, the specifics of applicability to complex novel modalities can still result in differing regulatory advice and outcomes. The future goals for efficiently regulating innovative modalities and technologies could be aided by more regulatory harmonization, regulatory education, and industry cooperation through consortia, enabling industry to supply key information to regulators in a transparent yet well-defined manner, and utilizing mutually understood risk-benefit analyses to produce drugs with appropriate safety, efficacy, and quality characteristics.     

Antitumor conjugates with polyamine vectors and their molecular mechanisms

Importance of the field: A polyamine conjugate is a special polyamine derivative composed of polyamine vectors appended directly or by a linker to a cargo with specific biological functions. In recent years, extensive researches have emphasized the fact that polyamine conjugates acting as promising antitumor candidates are becoming increasingly important in the polyamine field.

Areas covered in this review: Two key subjects are illustrated in this review. First, various drug-polyamine conjugates and relevant structure–activity relationships are discussed with a focus on the molecular recognition of polyamine transport system (PTS). Second, the design of polyamine conjugates is following a rational mechanism-based strategy. Therefore, it is critically important to understand the intrinsic properties of PTS on the cell membrane, enhanced pharmacological effects of polyamine vector on cellular components, and resulting comprehensive signaling networks.

What the reader will gain: A general design strategy of polyamine conjugates as well as recent progress in both fundamental mechanism studies and preclinical therapies are provided for the readers.

Take home message: The multiple functions of polyamine moieties in objective conjugates furnish broad development space for more efficacious antitumor agents.     

Role of polymer–drug conjugates in organ-specific delivery systems

Polymers have been utilized to deliver the drug to targeted site in controlled manner, achieving the high-therapeutic efficacy. Polymeric drug conjugates having variable ligands as attachments have been proved to be biodegradable, stimuli sensitive and targeted systems. Numerous polymeric drug conjugates having linkers degraded by acidity or intracellular enzymes or sensitive to over expressed groups of diseased organ/tissue have been synthesized during last decade to develop targeted delivery systems. Most of these organs have number of receptors attached with different cells such as Kupffer cells of liver have mannose-binding receptors while hepatocytes have asialoglycoprotein receptors on their surface which mainly bind with the galactose derivatives. Such ligands can be used for achieving high targeting and intracellular delivery of the drug. This review presents detailed aspects of receptors found in different cells of specific organ and ligands with binding efficiency to these specific receptors. This review highlights the need of further studies on organ-specific polymer–drug conjugates by providing detailed account of polymeric conjugates synthesized till date having organ-specific targeting.     

Investigational therapies targeting lymphocyte antigens for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Introduction: The advent of the anti-CD20 mAb rituximab has opened a new era in the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL), markedly altering standard treatment strategies. Moreover, the proof-of-concept that targeting a specific lymphocyte surface antigen may induce a highly effective and safe targeted killing of malignant cells has opened the door to the development of a plethora of novel mAbs directed towards different B- and T-cell-specific antigens.

Areas covered: This review discusses the recent available clinical data about new-generation anti-CD20 mAbs characterized by increased antibody- (obinutuzumab) or complement-dependent cyotoxicity (ofatumumab) as well as novel investigational agents targeting other lymphocyte antigens (e.g., CD19, CD22, CD30, CD40, CD52, CCR4), which are currently under investigation for B- and T-cell NHL treatment. In addition, antibody–drug conjugates (inotuzumab ozogamicin, brentuximab vedotin, polatuzumab vedotin), bispecific T-cell engagers (blinatumomab) and a new class of antibodies targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4, programmed death 1 or programmed death ligand 1 (immune checkpoint inhibitors) are specifically considered.

Expert opinion: Among the novel mAbs challenging rituximab, obinutuzumab seems to be in the most advanced phase, with the results of randomized trials awaited shortly. Brentuximab vedotin is increasing its role in T-cell NHL. Furthermore, immune checkpoint inhibitors have the potential to acquire a great relevance in NHL therapy.     

Design,synthesis, antimicrobial,and DNA gyrase inhibitory properties of fluoroquinolone–dichloroacetic acid hybrids

A series of new fluoroquinolone conjugates 8a–g and 9a–f were synthesized via benzotriazole‐mediated synthetic approach with good yield and purity. Some of the synthesized analogs exhibited significant antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with potency higher than that of the parent drugs through in vitro standard bioassay procedure (conjugates 8c and 8d reveal antimicrobial properties with potency 1.9, 61.9, 20.7 and 2.4, 37.1, 8.3 folds relative to the parent antibiotic 6 against E. coli, S. aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively). The observed experimental data were supported by enzymatic DNA gyrase inhibitory property. Developed BMLR‐QSAR model validates the observed experimental data and recognizes the parameters responsible for the enhanced antibacterial properties.     

Biophysical interactions between silver nanoparticle-albumin interface and curcumin

Active targeted drug delivery methods facilitate effective uptake of functionalized nanoparticles through receptor-mediated transcytosis.In recent years,albumin-nanoparticle interaction has been critically examined so that this functionalized nanoparticle can be efficiently loaded with drugs.The present investigation aims at understanding the adsorption of Bovine Serum Albumin(BSA)on Silver Nano-particle(SNP)surface,preparation of soft conjugates(SC)and hard conjugates(HC)of BSA-functionalized SNP(SNP-BSA),and their interaction with curcumin(CUR).HC contains tightly bound BSA whereas SC involves tightly and loosely bound BSA.Increase in the hydrodynamic radii of conjugates was observed upon SNP incubation with increased concentration of BSA.Three different SNP-BSA conjugate ratios were selected to study their interaction with CUR.Fluorescence spectroscopy showed a strong association between CUR and SNP:BSA conjugates.However,binding varied with a change in the conjugate ratio.Circular Dichroism(CD)/Fourier Transform Infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy revealed the alterations in the secondary structure of BSA upon CUR binding to the conjugates.Zeta potential data indicated stable conjugate formation.CUR in SNP:BSA conjugate was found to have a higher half-life as compared to the control.We believe that this is the first biophysical characterization report of conjugates that can be effectively extrapolated for targeted drug delivery.     

串联杂种泛素结合结构域蛋白（ThUBD）在大肠杆菌中的可溶性高效表达

目的：提高人工串联杂种泛素结合结构域蛋白（ tandem hybrid UBD, ThUBD）在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达量,为泛素化蛋白研究提供高效特异的富集方法。方法根据大肠杆菌同义密码子相对频率（ RFSC）表对大肠杆菌的密码子进行分类,计算ThUBD密码子的相对适应度,并根据分析结果对ThUBD的密码子进行优化;诱导表达和蛋白定量检测密码子的优化结果;亲和纯化及泛素化蛋白富集研究检测密码子优化后的ThUBD－S的UbC结合能力。结果根据分析结果优化ThUBD密码子,使得适于大肠杆菌基因表达的密码子从48％增加到75％,并消除了阻碍转录翻译的密码子,其密码子适应指数（CAI）从0．63升高到0．88。密码子优化后的ThUBD其可溶性蛋白ThUBD－S的表达量增加了4倍,达到总蛋白的13．06％。同时,优化后的ThUBD－S可能具有更高的UbC的结合能力。结论 ThUBD的基因序列经过优化后,其在大肠杆菌中的表达量升高4倍左右。同时,序列优化不影响融合蛋白ThUBD在大肠杆菌中的可溶性表达和结合UbC的能力。     

The Influence of In Vivo Metabolic Modifications on ADMET Properties of Green Tea Catechins–In Silico Analysis

The health effects of green tea are associated with catechins: (?)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), (?)-epigallocatechin, (?)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate, and (?)-epicatechin. An understanding of compound absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity characteristics is essential for explaining its biological activities. Herein, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity properties of in vivo detected metabolites of green tea catechins (GTCs) have been analyzed in silico. The influence of metabolic transformations on absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion profiles of GTCs corresponds to the effects of size, charge, and lipophilicity, as already observed for other small molecules. Mutagenic, carcinogenic, or liver toxic effects were predicted only for a few metabolites. Similar to galloylated GTCs EGCG and (--)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate, the sulfo-conjugates were predicted to bind at the warfarin binding site. The low free plasma concentration of these derivatives may be consequential to their serum albumin binding. The activity cliff detected for methylated conjugates of EGCG indicates that GTCs' pro-oxidative activity in bound state comes primarily from free hydroxyl groups of the pyrogallol ring B.     

Synthesis,structure, antioxidant activity,and water solubility of trolox ion conjugates

The interaction of trolox with ammonia, alkylamines of different classes, and amino derivatives of heterocyclic compounds, including nitroxyl radicals and alkaloids, led to the production of ammonium salts called ion conjugates (ICs). Five ICs were characterised by X-ray diffraction. This is the first time a wide range of ICs were made from trolox with amines, and ESI-MS data demonstrated they have the potential to generate pseudomolecular [(A^?B⁺)?+?H]⁺ ions. For all obtained trolox ICs, a significant increase (1–3 orders of magnitude) in water solubility was achieved while retaining high antioxidant activity. ICs synthesised from two biologically active fragments may be used to create polyfunctional agents with varying solubility and bioavailability.