Isosorbide-based aspirin prodrugs: II. Hydrolysis kinetics of isosorbide diaspirinate

Aspirin prodrugs have been intensively investigated in an effort to produce compounds with lower gastric toxicity, greater stability or enhanced percutaneous absorption, relative to aspirin. This report describes the hydrolysis kinetics and aspirin release characteristics of isosorbide diaspirinate (ISDA), the aspirin diester of isosorbide. ISDA underwent rapid hydrolysis when incubated in phosphate buffered human plasma solutions (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C, producing appreciable quantities of aspirin. In 30% human plasma solution the half-life was 1.1 min and 61% aspirin was liberated relative to the initial ester concentration. The hydrolysis kinetics of ISDA were monitored in aqueous solution at 37 degrees C over the pH range 1.03-9.4. The aqueous hydrolysis followed pseudo-first-order kinetics over several half-lives at all pH values, resulting in a U-shaped pH rate profile. Salicylate esters and salicylic acid were formed during these processes. The hydrolysis characteristics of ISDA were also investigated in pH 7.4 phosphate buffered solutions containing alpha-chymotrypsin [EC 3.1.1.1] (t(1/2)=200.9 min), carboxyl esterase [EC 3.1.1.1] (t(1/2)=31.5 min), human serum albumin (t(1/2)=603 min), purified human serum butyrylcholinesterase [EC 3.1.1.8] (80 micro g/ml; t(1/2)=9.4 min; 55% aspirin), purified horse serum butyrylcholinesterase (100 micro g/ml; t(1/2)=1.85 min;11% aspirin) and in 10% human plasma solution in the presence of physostigmine (3 micro M). The results indicate that a specific enzyme present in human plasma, probably human butyrylcholinesterase, catalyses aspirin release from isosorbide diaspirinate.     

Synthesis, chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis, and bioavailability evaluation in rabbits of metronidazole amino acid ester prodrugs with enhanced water solubility.

A series of amino acid esters (3a-e) have been synthesized and evaluated as potential prodrugs of metronidazole with the aim of improving aqueous solubility and therapeutic efficacy. The aqueous solubility and the lipophilicity (expressed as the log P value) of metronidazole and its esters were investigated. In general the prodrugs revealed enhanced water solubility compared with metronidazole. N,N-diethylglycinate hydrochloride (3a) and 4-ethylpiperazinoacetate (3e) derivatives displayed higher aqueous solubility, which exceeded that of the parent drug by factors of approximately 140 and 100, respectively. All the esters revealed lower log P values than metronidazole except for the 4-phenylpiperazinoacetate derivative (3f), which was 6.5-times more lipophilic than metronidazole. The hydrolysis kinetics of the esters were studied in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and 80% human plasma at 37 degrees C. In all cases the hydrolysis followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and resulted in a quantitative reversion to metronidazole as evidenced by HPLC analysis. The prodrugs exhibited adequate chemical stability (half-life, t1/2, 4-16 h) in aqueous phosphate solution of pH 7.4. In 80% human plasma they were hydrolysed within a few minutesto metronidazole. The esters 3d (methylpiperazinoacetate derivative) and 3f were exempted since their t1/2 values were approximately 2.5 and 8.5 h, respectively. A comparative pH-rate profile study of N,N-diethylglycinate hydrochloride (3a) and 4-ethyl-piperazinoacetate (3e) derivatives in aqueous buffer solution over the pH range 2.2-10 was investigated. The results indicated that 3a showed marked stability at pH 2-6 followed by accelerated hydrolysis at pH 7.4. The basic ester 3e was found to be less stable at lower pH values but exhibited comparative stability at physiological pH. Moreover, in-vivo experiments in rabbits revealed a higher metronidazole plasma level with sustained release characteristics within the prodrug-treated animals (10- and 2.5-fold) as compared with the parent drug-treated group. In conclusion, the designed amino acid esters 3a and 3c-e might be considered as good candidates for water-soluble prodrug forms of metronidazole.     

Synthesis, hydrolysis kinetics and anti-platelet effects of isosorbide mononitrate derivatives of aspirin.

Two isomeric aspirin derivatives of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (ISMN) were prepared and evaluated as potential mutual prodrugs of aspirin and nitric oxide. The hydrolysis of both compounds was studied in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solution, buffered alpha-chymotrypsin solution and 10% buffered rabbit plasma. The benzodioxin-4-one derivative was hydrolysed to salicylic acid and ISMN acetate in buffer solution (t(1/2) 32.1 h), 10% buffered rabbit plasma (t(1/2) 25.7 min) and alpha-chymotrypsin (t(1/2) 86.6 min). The carboxylic acid ester derivative ISMNA was hydrolysed via the salicylate ester in buffer solution (t(1/2) 48.5 h) but was rapidly and almost exclusively hydrolysed to aspirin and ISMN in plasma solution (t(1/2) 2.8 min). The hydrolysis appeared to be enzyme mediated as it was suppressed by co-incubation with eserine. ISMNA was evaluated for its ability to inhibit platelet aggregation in rabbit PRP in response to the following agonists: arachidonic acid (AA) (100 microM), ADP (1.2 microM), phorbol ester (0.5 microM), platelet activating factor (PAF) (5 nM) and the thromboxane mimic U46619 (1.5 microM). ISMNA suppressed platelet response to AA at 1 microM whereas 10 microM aspirin showed no inhibitory effects.     

Enol esters as potential prodrugs I. Stability and enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of α-acetoxystyrene

The stability of α-acetoxystyrene, a model enol ester, was evaluated in aqueous buffered solvents and in human and rat plasma and rat tissue homogenates. The compound was found to be a good substrate for endogenous esterases exhibiting a half-life for hydrolysis in human plasma of <3 min while in phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 and 25°C the calculated t_{$\text{1}\text{2}$} was ~180 h. These results suggest that enol esters may be useful as prodrugs of agents containing an enolizable carbonyl group.     

Prodrugs of 5-fluorouracil. III. Hydrolysis kinetics in aqueous solution and biological media,lipophilicity and solubility of various 1-carbamoyl derivatives of 5-fluorouracil

The kinetics of hydrolysis of five 1-carbamoyl-5-fluorouracil derivatives (methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, phenyl- and N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl derivatives) was studied in aqueous solution of pH 1–14, human plasma solutions and in the presence of rat liver homogenate at 37°C. All the derivatives hydrolyzed to yield 5-fluorouracil in quantitative amounts. The decomposition rates in aqueous solution (pH 1–10) showed a sigmoid pH-dependence which could be ascribed to water-catalyzed or spontaneous hydrolysis of the neutral and anionic forms (pK_a 6.1–6.7). The greater reactivity observed for the anionic form of the derivatives was attributed to intramolecular general base catalysis. The half-lives of hydrolysis of the 1-alkylcarbamoyl derivatives at pH 7.40 and 37°C were 8–11 min and that of the 1-phenyl-carbamoyl derivative 5 s, whereas the N,N-dimethylcarbamoyl derivative proved to be highly stable. The hydrolysis was not catalyzed by rat liver homogenates, and human plasma surprisingly showed a pronounced inhibition. This deceleration of the hydrolysis rate was attributed to a non-productive binding to or inclusion of the compounds by plasma proteins. The derivatives were more lipophilic than 5-fluorouracil as determinded by partition experiments in octanol-aqueous buffer systems and possessed a lower water-solubility.     

Stability of the new antileukemic 4-pyranone derivative, BTMP, using HPLC and LC-MS analyses

The stability of the new antileukemic kojic acid derivative, 5-benzyloxy-2-thiocyanatomethyl-4-pyranone (BTMP) was investigated. The degradation of BTMP was studied using specific and reproducible HPLC and LC-MS methods. Accelerated stability studies of BTMP were conducted in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid solution, physiological phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.5) and basic phosphate buffer solution (pH 9.0) at 30, 40 and 60 degrees C, respectively. The degradation of BTMP was found to follow pseudo-first order kinetics. In basic solution (pH 9.0) BTMP underwent rapid hydrolysis at a degradation rate constant (0.183-0.638 h-1) and degradation half-life (3.67-1.06 h) depending on the temperature setting. On the other hand, BTMP was significantly stable in 0.1 M hydrochloric acid solution (kdeg: 0.0017-0.0052 h-1; degradation half-life t1/2: 408.6-135.7 h), whereas in physiological phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.5), BTMP was only moderately stable (kdeg: 0.006-0.231 h-1; degradation half-life: 117.7-3.0 h). Arrhenius plots were constructed to predict the degradation kinetic parameters of BTMP at 25 degrees C and 4 degrees C. LC-MS analyses confirmed the degradation of BTMP in basic solutions and indicated at least two degradation products; namely 5-benzyloxypyran-2-ol-4-one (m/z 217.8) and 2-thiocyanatomethylpyran-5-ol-4-one (m/z 181.6).     

Kinetics of degradation of 4-imidazolidinone prodrug types obtained from reacting prilocaine with formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.

The kinetics of decomposition of 4-imidazolidinone prodrug types obtained by reacting prilocaine (I) with formaldehyde and acetaldehyde has been studied in aqueous solution in the pH range 1-7.4 at 60 and 37 degrees C, respectively. At pH<5 the hydrolysis of the derivative derived from formaldehyde (II) to yield I obeyed apparent first-order kinetics. At higher pH, the decomposition reactions proceeded to an equilibrium and the reactions could be described by first- and second-order reversible kinetics. A plot of the logarithm of the apparent first-order rate constants for hydrolysis of II against pH resulted in a sigmoidal-shaped pH-rate profile characteristic for the hydrolysis of many N-Mannich bases. A half-life at pH 7.4 (60 degrees C) of 6.9h for compound II was calculated. Compared to II the 4-imidazolidinone derived from acetaldehyde (III) exhibited enhanced instability in aqueous buffer solutions. The decomposition was followed at 37 degrees C monitoring the decrease in concentration of intact (III). At acidic pH the reactions displayed strict first-order kinetics and the disappearance of III was accompanied by a concomitant formation of I. At pH 7.4, the rate data also applied reasonably well to first-order kinetics despite the observation that small amounts of III was formed at pH 7.4 from a solution containing equimolar concentrations of acetaldehyde and prilocaine (10(-4)M). In case of III, a bell-shaped pH-rate profile was obtained by plotting the logarithm of the pseudo-first-order rate constants against pH indicating the involvement of a kinetically significant intermediate in the reaction pathway and a change of the rate-limiting step in the overall reaction with pH. For the stability studies performed at pH 6.9 and 7.4 product analysis revealed that parallel to formation of (I) an unknown compound (X) emerged. Compared to III, compound X is hydrolysed to give I at a slower rate (t(50%)=30 h at 37 degrees C). Based on LC-MS data it is suggested that (X) is an isomeric form of III, which may exist in four diastereomeric forms. Thus, at physiological pH an initial relatively fast regeneration of I from III is to be expected followed by a slower drug activation resulting from hydrolysis of the isomeric form of III.     

Design, synthesis and in vitro evaluation of vinyl ether type polymeric prodrugs of ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen

2-(1-Propene)oxyethyl phthalimide (3) was synthesized from reaction of 1-(2-chloroethoxy)propene (2) with potassium-t-butoxide and polymerized by cationic polymerization method using BF(3).OEt(2) as an initiator at -78 degrees C to obtain polymer 4. Then, polymer 4 was hydrazinolized by hydrazine and gave polymer 5 containing pendent amine groups. Three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen were covalently linked to polymer 5 through amide groups by reacting chloroacylated drugs 6a-6c with amine groups of polymer 5 to obtain three polymeric prodrugs 7a-7c. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy techniques. The polymer-drug conjugates were hydrolyzed in cellophane member dialysis bags containing aqueous buffered solutions (pH 1, 7.4 and 10) at 37 degrees C and the hydrolysis solutions were detected by UV spectrophotometer at selected intervals. The results showed that the drugs could be released by hydrolysis of the amide bonds. The release profiles indicated that the hydrolytic behavior of polymeric prodrugs strongly depends on the pH of the hydrolysis solution. The results suggested that the vinyl ether type polymers could be the useful carriers for release of profens in controlled release systems.     

Solubility and stability of dalcetrapib in vehicles and biological media

Dalcetrapib solubility was determined in aqueous and in non-aqueous vehicles and in biorelevant media. In a pure aqueous environment the solubility was low but could be increased by addition of surfactants or complexing agents. This was also reflected in the solubility seen in simulated gastrointestinal (GI) fluids, with almost no solubility in simulated gastric fluid, but reasonable solubilisation in simulated intestinal fluids containing lecithin and bile salt. Additionally, the stability of dalcetrapib was determined in simulated GI fluids with and without pancreatic lipase. In solutions without lipase, dalcetrapib was slowly hydrolysed, but in the presence of lipase the hydrolysis rate was significantly faster depending on pH and enzyme activity. In biological fluids, dissolved dalcetrapib appeared to behave similarly being rapidly hydrolysed in human intestinal fluids with a half-life below 20s with no degradation observed in human gastric fluids at low pH. The results provide supportive evidence that absorption is higher under fed conditions and indicate lipase inhibitors might interfere with oral absorption of dalcetrapib.     

Synthesis and in vitro skin permeation of naproxen conjugates with alpha-alkylamino acids

Novel amide conjugates of the NSAID naproxen (NAP, 1) with short-chain alpha-alkylamino acids (C4 to C6 alkyl chain) were synthesized through a carbodiimide (EDAC)-assisted coupling reaction and evaluated as dermal prodrugs of NAP. The 2-alpha-aminobutyl derivative (2) showed lipophilicity similar to that of NAP, while the higher homologues (3) and (4) were more lipophilic than the parent drug, as assessed by CLogP and HPLC methods. The chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis of these compounds was evaluated in aqueous buffer solution (pH 7.4) and 80% human plasma. All compounds showed a good chemical stability (t1/2 = 88-133 h) but underwent a rapid enzymatic hydrolysis to NAP (t1/2 around 3 h). The bioconversion of prodrugs into NAP was confirmed by an in vivo test, since i.p. administration of compounds 2-4 to mice gave a similar analgesic response than the parent drug. In vitro skin permeation experiments were performed using adult human SCE samples mounted in Franz-type diffusion cells. The butyl derivative 2 that showed an increased aqueous solubility compared to NAP gave a 5-fold improvement of skin permeation compared to NAP. In conclusion, the conjugate 2 could be regarded as a good candidate to improve NAP topical delivery and will be further studied as a prodrug for topical administration of this drug.     

The effect of temperature and pH on the deacetylation of diamorphine in aqueous solution and in human plasma.

The effect of temperature on the kinetics of the deacetylation of diamorphine and 6-monoacetylmorphine was studied in human plasma. Diamorphine was rapidly and quantitatively degraded to 6-monoacetylmorphine with initial half-lives of 354, 18 and 3 min at temperatures of 4, 25 and 37 degrees C, respectively. Further deacetylation to morphine was not detected. In aqueous solution, diamorphine was quantitatively degraded to give 6-monoacetylmorphine as the major product and morphine as a minor product, the rate of deacetylation being dependent on temperature and pH. At pH 4.0 and 5.6 diamorphine had a half-life of greater than 14 days at all temperatures but at alkaline pH diamorphine was rapidly deacetylated. The rate of deacetylation of 6-monoacetylmorphine was consistently slower than that of diamorphine under identical conditions of pH and temperature. A method is described for the rapid stabilization and subsequent assay of diamorphine in plasma which will prevent errors in estimation of the drug due to unwanted hydrolysis.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the facile cyclization of histidyl-prolineamide to cyclo (His-Pro) in aqueous solution and the competitive influence of human plasma

A crucial point in the biosynthesis of cyclo (His-Pro), an endogenous and biologically active cyclic dipeptide, is the spontaneous cyclization of its precursor L-histidyl-L-prolineamide (His-ProNH2). In this study the kinetics and mechanism of the cyclization process has been investigated. His-ProNH2 was found to be converted quantitatively to cyclo(His-Pro) in aqueous solution at pH 2-10 and 37 degrees C, the rate of cyclization being maximal at pH 6-7. Buffer substances such as phosphate (pH 6-7.4) were found to catalyse the cyclization. The bell-shaped pH-rate profile observed was accounted for by assuming spontaneous and specific acid- and base-catalysed reactions of the His-ProNH2 species in which the imidazole group is protonated and the primary amino group unprotonated. The much more rapid rate of cyclization of His-ProNH2 (t1/2 of 140 min at pH 6-7 and 37 degrees C) relative to other proline-containing di- and tripeptides studied was suggested to be due to an intramolecular general acid catalytic effect by the protonated imidazole group. In the presence of human plasma enzymatic hydrolysis of His-ProNH2 competed with the cyclization and predominated greatly at 80% plasma concentration.     

Kinetic study employing UV derivative spectroscopy of DM-COOK, antitumor and antimetastatic agent

The hydrolysis of p-(3,3-dimethyl-l-triazeno)benzoic acid potassium salt (1;DM-COOK) a highly active antimetastatic and anti-disseminative agent, has been studied in buffered aqueous solution over a pH range of 2.8-8.8 degrees C. The pH dependence of the pseudo first-order rate constants showed two different routes. Under physiological conditions the hydrolysis reactions are carried out by acid catalysis. A procedure based on fourth-order derivative UV spectroscopy (D4) has been developed for the calculation of the kinetic constants at pH greater than or equal to 4.00 and no spectral interferences resulted from decomposition products. The application of derivative UV spectroscopy proved to be suitable fpr rapid, sensitive and reproducible studies of hydrolysis of this class of compounds.     

Stability studies of some glycolamide ester prodrugs of niflumic acid in aqueous buffers and human plasma by HPLC with UV detection

Glycolamide esters (compounds 1-17) of 2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenylamino)nicotinic acid (niflumic acid, CAS 4394-00-7) have been synthesized and evaluated as possible prodrugs. In-vitro hydrolysis studies were conducted at selected pH values (1.2, 3.5, 4.8, 7.4 and 7.8) and in human plasma at 37 +/- 0.5 degree C using HPLC with UV detection. The aqueous (pH 7.4 and 7.8) and enzymatic rates of hydrolysis were substantially affected by the nature of promoieties in this series. The compounds showed good chemical stability in the buffers of low pH values (1.2, 3.5 and 4.8) and appreciable hydrolysis under alkaline conditions and in human plasma. They exhibited long hydrolytic half-lives of 7-46 h in aqueous buffer solutions (pH 7.4 and 7.8) and 14-21 min in human plasma, respectively. It was observed that N,N-disubstituted and cyclic glycolamide derivatives showed 2 fold more hydrolysis in the alkaline pH than monosubstituted derivatives, whereas the piperidino and thiomorpholino derivatives did not undergo chemical hydrolysis. The compounds contain two possible sites for hydrolysis with an increased hydrolytic susceptibility at the terminal aliphatic carbonyl site in aqueous buffers and human plasma solutions. They were found to be cleaved at two hydrolytic carbonyls, namely the nicotinyl (2-5 % in enzymatic hydrolysis) and the aliphatic site (7-55 % and 70-85 % in buffer and plasma hydrolysis, respectively) as revealed by HPLC analysis. The glycolamide ester prodrugs of niflumic acid underwent chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis to release mainly the metabolite 2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenylamino) nicotinic acid carboxymethyl ester (III) and not the parent drug 2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenylamino)nicotinic acid. The structure of the metabolite was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LCMS).     

Dextran successful carrier molecule for the delivery of NSAIDs with reduced gastrointestinal effect

The dextran ester polymeric prodrug of aceclofenac and mefenamic acid was synthesized through carbonyldiimidazole coupling agent. The prepared polymeric prodrug was characterized by UV, IR, X-RD and ¹H NMR. The in vitro hydrolysis study was performed by HPLC and polymeric conjugate subjected for in vitro hydrolysis showed negligible hydrolysis in simulated gastric fluid pH 1.2 for 3 h. The half-life of the aceclofenac dextran conjugate in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) pH 7.4 and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) pH 9.0 was found to be 8.51 h and 33.72 min, respectively. The half-life 4.66 h and 25.4 min was found in SIF pH 7.4 and PBS pH 9.0, respectively for mefenamic acid conjugates. The conjugates were screened for biological activity such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and ulcerogenic activity. The statistical data obtained from the biological experiment suggested that the value was found to be significant with respect to normal control.     

Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Zenarestat 1-O-Acylglucuronide

Abstract— Zenarestat, (3-(4-bromo-2-fluorobenzyl)-7-chloro-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolin-1-y1) acetic acid, an aldose reductase inhibitor is metabolized mainly to the glucuronide in rat and man. The glucuronide was purified from urine of volunteers after ingestion of zenarestat. The structure of the glucuronide was confirmed by LC-MS and NMR as 1-O-acyl-β-glucuronide. This compound was unstable at physiological pH, being converted to its structural isomers and the aglycone with half-life of 25 min at pH 7·4 and 37°C in aqueous solution. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the glucuronide was studied in urine, blood and tissues. β-Glucuronidase in human urine contributed little to the hydrolysis of the glucuronide, while in rat urine at pH 6, it was degraded by β-glucuronidase and the formation of zenarestat was clearly faster than its formation in buffer at pH 6. In both rat and human blood, these reactions were accelerated by albumin, although rat red blood cells may also contribute. The rate of degradation was not affected by red blood cell membrane, haemoglobin, globulin, esterases or β-glucuronidase. Arylesterase in rat liver, arylesterase and acetylcholinesterase in the kidney, and β-glucuronidase in both tissues may contribute. Thus, enzymatic degradation of zenarestat 1-O-acyl-β-glucuronide is dependent not only on pH and temperature but also on species and the type of tissue or body fluid.     

Methyl esters of N-(dicyclohexyl)acetyl-piperidine-4-(benzylidene-4-carboxylic acids) as drugs and prodrugs: a new strategy for dual inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase type 1 and type 2

Steroid 5alpha-reductase (5alphaR) inhibitory potency of three N-(dicyclohexyl)acetyl-piperidine-4-(benzylidene-4-carboxylic acids) and their corresponding methyl esters was monitored for type 2 isoenzyme in a benign prostatic hyperplasia cell free preparation and for type 1 isoenzyme in DU145 cells and in a cell free assay. The hydrolytic stability of the esters and their bioconversion to the corresponding acids was assessed in aqueous buffered solution (pH 7.4) and in selected biological media having measurable esterase activities. The carboxylic acids 1, 2, and 3 with high type 2 inhibitory potencies displayed only little type 1 inhibition. The esters 1a, 2a, and 3a, originally designed as prodrugs to enhance cell permeation, proved to be potent type 1 inhibitors and are therefore acting as drugs themselves. They are stable in buffered salt solution (pH 7.4), Caco-2 cells, and human plasma, whereas all esters are cleaved into the corresponding acids in benign prostatic hyperplasia tissue homogenate. Methyl esters, applied as hydrolytically stable precursor drugs to facilitate cell permeation, will yield the corresponding carboxylic acids as type 2 inhibitors after hydrolysis in the target organ. The esters themselves--stable in human plasma and Caco-2 cells--are acting as potent drugs toward 5alphaR type 1. Thus, dual inhibition of 5alphaR type 1 and type 2 can be achieved by applying a single parent compound.     

Release characteristics of a short-chain fatty acid, n-butyric acid, from its beta-cyclodextrin ester conjugate in rat biological media

6(A)-O-(n-Butanoyl)-beta-cyclodextrin was prepared and its hydrolysis behavior in aqueous solutions and in rat intestinal fluids was investigated. Furthermore, the enzymatic hydrolyses of the n-butyric acid-beta-cyclodextrin conjugate using alpha-amylase and esterase were studied to gain insight into the release behavior of n-butyric acid from the conjugate. The hydrolysis of the conjugate proceeded according to a first-order kinetics in aqueous solution, and gave a V-shaped pH profile, indicating a specific acid-base-catalyzed hydrolysis at acidic and neutral-alkaline regions, respectively. The half-lives (t(1/2)) of the conjugate at pH 4.4, 6.8, and 7.4 at 37 degrees C were approximately 580, 43, and 6 days, respectively, indicating that the conjugate is stable in aqueous solution. No appreciable release of n-butyric acid from the conjugate was observed in the stomach and small intestinal contents of rats, or in the small and large intestinal homogenates of rats. On the other hand, a fast disappearance of the conjugate and an appearance of n-butyric acid were observed in the cecal and colonic contents of rats. The t(1/2) values of the disappearance were approximately 4, 1, and 6 h in 10 and 15% cecal contents and 10% colonic contents, respectively, and the appearance of n-butyric acid after 6 h was approximately 10% in the 15% cecal contents. Aspergillus oryzae alpha-amylase hydrolyzed the conjugate to small saccharide conjugates, such as the triose and maltose conjugates, but there was no appreciable release of n-butyric acid. The conjugate was less susceptible to carboxylic esterase (from porcine live), thus releasing no appreciable amounts of n-butyric acid. On the other hand, a fast release of n-butyric acid was observed when the esterase was employed after amylase hydrolysis, suggesting that two types of enzymes, sugar-degrading and ester-hydrolyzing enzymes, are necessary for the release of n-butyric acid from the conjugate in large intestinal contents.     

Enol esters as potential pro-drugs II. In vitro aqueous stability and enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of several enol esters of acetophenone

Several α-acyloxystyrenes were synthesized and evaluated as models of enol esters which might be used in pro-drug design. Their stabilities were evaluated in aqueous buffered solutions at various pH values and temperatures, and in human and rat plasma and tissue homogenates at 37°C. The enol esters studied were relatively stable in neutral aqueous media, but most hydrolyzed rapidly and completely to yield the parent ketone (acetophenone) with the aid of enzymatic catalysis in the biological media used. The aqueous and enzymatic rates of hydrolysis were substantially affected by the nature of the acyl group. The results of this study indicate that enol esters are rather stable yet bioreversible derivatives of ketones and therefore may be useful as pro-drugs of agents containing enolizable carboxyl groups.     

Prodrugs as drug delivery systems. 44. O-acyloxymethyl, O-acyl and N-acyl salicylamide derivatives as possible prodrugs for salicylamide

The hydrolysis kinetics and bioactivation characteristics of various O-acyloxymethyl, O-acyl and N-acyl derivatives of salicyl-amide were studied to assess their suitability as prodrugs for the parent compound in an effort to increase its systemic availability following oral or rectal administration. The O-acyloxymethyl derivatives were found to be much more stable in aqueous solution than the corresponding simple O-acylsalicylamides as they, in contrast to the latter, do not undergo an intramolecular O---N acyi migration to any significant extent. The rate of hydrolysis of the O-acyloxymethyl derivatives to give salicylamide was markedly accelerated in human plasma, the half-life of hydrolysis in 80% plasma solutions at 37°C being 16 min, 5.5 min and 2.7 h for the O-acetoxymethyl, O-butyryloxymethyl and O-pivaloyloxymethyl derivatives, respectively. The half-lives of hydrolysis of the corresponding O-acyl derivatives were less than 1 min at the same conditions whereas that of N-acetylsalicylamide was 3.6 h. It is suggested that O-acyloxymethylation of salicylamide may be a potentially useful approach to improve the oral or rectal delivery characteristics of the drug by affording a protection of the phenolic hydroxyl group against metabolic conjugation reactions. O-(butyryloxymethyl)salicylamide was found to possess both a higher water solubility and lipophilicity than salicylamide which was attributed to a decreased crystal lattice energy as manifested by the lower melting point of the derivative.