Chemical derivatization as a strategy to enhance detectability of agents used in cancer management

The bioanalysis of drugs used in the management of cancer is often complicated by the lack of selectivity and sensitivity. Chemical derivatization of these drugs prior to their chromatographic analysis represents a viable strategy to improve chromatographic resolution and to enhance detectability. This review provides examples of how this approach can meet these objectives. Derivatization of racemic cyclophosphamide with a chiral acylating agent, following hydroxyalkylation to introduce a reactive centre into the molecule, provides the basis for its stereospecific analysis. The analysis of dianhydrogalactitol is described, in which diethyldithiocarbamate is used as a nucleophilic derivatizing agent that improves chromatographic behaviour and analytical sensitivity. The final example that is described is the design and preparation of improved fluorogenic reagents (o-phthalaldehyde analogues) for the derivatization of peptides and application of these reagents to the trace analysis of leu-enkephalin in plasma.     

Stereoselectivity of L-baclofen in hippocampal slices of the rat

Extra- and intracellular recording from hippocampal slices of the rat revealed the following effects when baclofen (BF) (0.1-10 microM) was added to the perfusion fluid: a block of synaptic potentials evoked by stimulation of stratum radiatum; a direct hyperpolarization and a conductance increase (for potassium ions) of CA1 pyramidal cells. All this activity was found in the L- none in the D-enantiomer. D-BF did not antagonize the action of L-BF.     

皮肤羧酸酯酶代谢的立体选择性

目的研究人皮肤羧酸酯酶代谢的立体选择性，为利用前体药物方法促进透皮吸收提供分子生物学基础。方法以酮洛芬乙酯为模型药物，利用皮肤匀浆代谢方法考察皮肤羧酸酯酶代谢的立体选择性。以人肝脏L02细胞株中羧酸酯酶的表达为对照，采用RT-PCR方法从mRNA水平研究皮肤组织及其细胞中羧酸酯酶的表达。结果 酮洛芬乙酯在人皮肤匀浆中的代谢产物以R-酮洛芬为主。人羧酸酯酶-2(hCE-2)在皮肤组织及其细胞中都有很强的表达，而人羧酸酯酶-1(hCE-1)在皮肤组织及其细胞中的表达量很小或不表达。结论皮肤表达的hCE-2是透皮吸收常用酯类前体药物的主要水解酶，其对手性酯类前体药物的水解具有立体选择性。     

Stereoselective hepatic disposition of ibuprofen in the perfused liver of rat with adjuvant-induced arthritis

1.?The effects of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) on the stereoselective hepatic disposition and chiral inversion of “profens” have scarcely been investigated. Ibuprofen (IB) undergoes unidirectional chiral inversion from R-IB to S-IB and is metabolized to IB-glucuronide (IB-Glu).

2.?We used an in situ perfused rat liver system to clarify the effects of inflammation on the metabolic activities and chiral inversion of IB without protein binding.

3.?After dosing of R-IB, AA had minimal effect on the elimination of R-IB from the perfusate. Larger amounts of S-IB-Glu than R-IB-Glu were observed in the bile at the dose of 2.4 and 4.8?μmol. However, after dosing of S-IB, the elimination of S-IB from the perfusate in AA rats was delayed, indicating a significant decrease in the hepatic clearance in AA rats. The cumulative biliary excretion of S-IB-Glu in AA rats was promoted after dosing with S-IB. There was little difference between the chiral inversion ratios of the control and AA rats.

4.?The present study demonstrated that AA results in the delayed elimination of S-IB, the active form, without changes to the chiral inversion ratio. Thus, further attention to the altered stereoselective pharmacokinetics of IB during inflammation is required.     

手性药物代谢的立体选择性

手性药物的代谢具有多种立体选择性，且相互关联，共同影响药物的体内过程，也必将影响到药效和毒副作用。充分了解手性异构体的代谢过程有助于准确评价手性异构体的药理活性，并为临床合理用药提供依据。本文综述了手性药物代谢的各种立体选择性及其对代谢的影响。     

Influence of age on the enantiomeric disposition of ibuprofen in healthy volunteers

AIMS: To determine the influence of age on the enantioselective disposition of ibuprofen in humans. METHODS: Healthy young (n = 16; aged 20-36 years) and elderly (n = 16; aged 66-84 years) volunteers were given a 400-mg oral dose of racemic ibuprofen, and blood and urine samples were collected for 24 h post drug administration. Serum concentrations, total and free, and urinary excretion of both enantiomers of ibuprofen together with the urinary excretion of the stereoisomers of the two major metabolites of the drug, both free and conjugated, were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Ageing had little effect on the distribution and metabolism of R-ibuprofen, unbound clearance of the R-enantiomer via inversion being approximately two-fold that via noninversion mechanisms in both age groups. In contrast, the free fraction of S-ibuprofen was significantly greater [33%; young 0.48 +/- 0.10%; elderly 0.64 +/- 0.20%] mean difference -0.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.05, -0.27; P < 0.01; and the unbound clearance of the drug enantiomer was significantly lower (28%; young 15.9 +/- 2.2 l min-1; elderly 11.5 +/- 4.1 l min-1; mean difference 4.4; 95% CI 2.12, 6.68; P < 0.001) in the elderly. The metabolite formation clearances of S-ibuprofen via glucuronidation, and oxidation at the 2- and 3- positions of the isobutyl side chain decreased by 24, 28 and 30%, respectively, in the elderly compared with the young, the differences between the two age groups being significant in each case (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Following administration of racemic ibuprofen age-associated stereoselective alterations in drug disposition have been observed, with the elderly having increased free concentrations and lower unbound clearance of the S-enantiomer in comparison with the young. In contrast, the handling of the R-enantiomer is essentially unaltered with age. The results of this study indicate that the elderly have an increased exposure to the active ibuprofen enantiomer and thus some caution may be required when using this drug in this age group.     

Polymorphic flecainide disposition under conditions of uncontrolled urine flow and pH

Summary The pharmacokinetics of R- and S-flecainide have been determined in five poor (PM) and five extensive (EM) metabolisers of sparteine/debrisoquine under conditions of uncontrolled urine flow and pH. The half-lives of R- and S-flecainide in PMs (R 19.3 h; S 16.1 h) were approximately twice those observed in EMs (R 8.8 h; S 9.1 h). The apparent oral clearances of R- and S-flecainide were lower in PMs (R 313 ml·min^–1; S 379 ml·min^–1) than in EMs (R 783 ml·min^–1; S 828 ml·min^–1). The renal clearance, however, was comparable for both enantiomers in both EMs and PMs, and therefore the phenotypic differences in flecainide disposition observed must be due to differences in metabolic clearance. The nonrenal clearance of both enantiomers was significantly lower in poor (R 123 ml·min^–1; S 201 ml·min^–1) relative to extensive metabolisers (R 533 ml·min^–1; S 586 ml·min^–1). The partial clearance to the two major metabolites meta-O-dealkylated flecainide (MODF) and the meta-O-dealkylated lactam of flecainide (MODLF) was significantly lower in poor (62 ml·min^–1) than extensive (267 ml·min^–1) metabolisers.The impairment in flecainide metabolism in poor metabolisers of sparteine/debrisoquine has therefore been confirmed. Under conditions reflecting the clinical situation the difference in disposition between EMs and PMs would be considerable. However, it may be predicted that at standard doses concentrations greater than 1000 ng·ml^–1 would not be attained in the PMs studied. The serum protein binding of R- and S-flecainide was studied in each subject and no differences between the enantiomers or the phenotypes were observed (Free fraction EM: R 0.43; S 0.42; PM R: 0.46; S: 0.46). Enantioselective disposition was noted in all PMs studied, due to a significantly lower nonrenal clearance of the R-enantiomer. In extensive metaboliser subjects, considerable interindividual variation in the enantioselective disposition of flecainide was noted, ranging from metabolism favouring either enantiomer to the absence of any selectivity.Presented in part at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists, Sydney, 4–6 December, 1989     

Effects of tranylcypromine enantiomers on monoamine uptake and release and imipramine binding

Summary Studies were carried outin vitro to determine effects of tranylcypromine enantiomers ([+]- and [–]-TCP) on uptake and release of 5-HT, DA and NA in rat synaptosomes and on imipramine binding to rabbit platelets. (+)-TCP was more potent than (–)-TCP as inhibitor of 5-HT uptake and imipramine binding, whereas (–)-TCP was more potent than (+)-TCP as inhibitor of DA and NA uptake. The enantiomers differed only slightly in their effects on monoamine release. The findings agree with previous reports on the stereoselectivity of monoaminergic mechanisms toward TCP enantiomers, and support the notion that the 5-HT uptake site may be associated with the imipramine binding site.     

STEREOSELECTIVE EFFECT OF PROPRANOLOL ON ANTIPYRINE METABOLISM AND ISOPRENALINEINDUCED TACHYCARDIA IN RABBITS

The effects of l-, d- and dl-propranolol on antipyrine metabolism and isoprenaline-induced tachycardia were studied in rabbits. The plasma concentration of antipyrine was assayed by Brodie's spectrophotometric method and the change of heart rate was evaluated by ECG. Both isomers of propranolol hydrochloride were administered iv (800 μg/kg) to the rabbits. d-propranolol produced an antipyrine t 1/2 of 2.67±0.77h and a cl of 0.49±0.1 l/h while its levo-form produced an antipyrine t 1/2 of 1.7±0.39h and a cl of 0.88±0.22 l/h. The differences between the half-lives and between the clearances were statistically significant (P<0.05 for t 1/2, P<0.01 for cl). The inhibitory effects of l- and d-propranolol on isoprenaline-induced tachycardia were assessed. l-propranolol yielded an ID_(50) which was only 1/88 of d-propranolol's. Our studies showed that the β-receptor blocking activity of propranolol mainly came. from its levoform while the effect on antipyrine metabolism came from its dextro-form.