Synthesis and biological activity of 17-substituted androstane derivatives

U prvom delu ove doktorske disertacije je izvršena sinteza novih 17α-pikolil i 17(E)-pikoliniliden androstanskih derivata, sa modifikacijama u A- i/ili B-prstenovima. U drugom delu rada je ispitana antiproliferativna aktivnost odabranih novosintetizovanih jedinjenja prema humanim tumorskim  ćelijskim linijama (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, PC-3, HeLa, HT-29 i A549) kao i prema zdravim ćelijama fetalnih fibroblasta pluća (MRC-5).In the first part of this dissertation, the synthesis of new 17α-picolyl and 17(E)-picolinylidene androstane derivatives with modifications in A and/or B rings, were presented. The second part of the work consisted on investigation of antiproliferative activity of selected newly synthesized compounds toward human carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, PC-3, HeLa, HT-29 and A549), as well as the healthy fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5)

C18-UHPLC analysis of retention behavior of newly designed o-alkylated and rostane derivatives in ternary mixture methanol/acetonitrile/water

Different new groups of steroid compounds are the center of attention in a grate number of scientific publications since the majority of compounds are being researched as anticancer drugs. One of the most important feature of potential drug is its lipophilicity. Nowadays, ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) is used as one of the most sophisticated techniques for determination of the retention behavior determination of different biologically active compounds. The series of 18 newly designed O-alkylated androstane derivatives was investigated in reversed phase (RP)-UHPLC system using ternary mixture methanol/acetonitrile/water. A good agreement between experimentally observed and in silico lipophilicity was noticed given that coefficient of determination of 0.8406 was achieved

Highly selective anticancer activity of core shell particles based on hydroxyapatite, chitosan lactate and different androstane derivatives

Hybrid systems based on nano hydroxyapatites (HAp) are the subject of numerous studies in preventive and regenerative medicine. Special interests are directed towards the creation of a system based on HAp for use in a nano-oncology. The main objective of this research is directed towards the creation of a system with cytotoxic properties towards the cancer cells with the same time, minimum side effects. Carriers base on core shell of HAp/chitosan-poly(D,L)-lactide-coglycolide (PLGA) loaded with androstane-based cancer inhibitor could be seen as promising drug delivery platforms for selective cancer therapies. In this study we utilize an emulsification process and freeze drying to load the composite particles based on HAp nanocarrier, chitosane (Ch), PLGA and chitosan oligosaccharide lactate (ChOL) with 17β-hydroxy-17α-picolyl-androst-5-en-3β-acetate (A) and 3β,17β-dihydroxy-16-hydroxymino-androst-5-en (B), a chemotherapeutic derivatives of androstane. The picolyl androstane derivatives showed high potency in the cell inhibitors of hormone-dependent cancers (lung, prostate and colon cancer; adeno and cervix carcinoma; etc.). 1H NMR, 13C NMR and high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) techniques confirmed the intact structure of the derivatives A and B. The thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA, DTA) coupled with mass spectrometry was used to qualitatively confirm the drug loading process. FT-IR, XRD, AFM and DSC techniques have confirmed the success of androstane (A and B) loading process in core shell particles base on nano hydroxyapatite. All the synthesized particles were found to be spherical in shape with a uniform size distribution from d50=167 to d50=231 nm. Highly selective anticancer activity was noted towards the human lung carcinoma (A549) by A loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA and towards the human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231) by B loaded HAp/ChOL. The obtained results of the DET and MTT tests were in agreement

Tumor-selective hybrid system based on hydroxyapatite nanocarrier, chitosan, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and androstan derivate

The applicative potential of synthetic calcium phosphates, especially hydroxyapatite (HAp), has become intensely broadened in the past 10 years, from bone tissue engineering to multiple other fields of biomedicine. Previously we have shown that hydroxyapatite nanoparticles coated with chitosan-poly(D,L)-lactide-co-glycolide (HAp/Ch-PLGA) target lungs following their intravenous administration into mice. For this purpose radioactive 125-Iodine (125I), a low energy gamma emitter, was used to develop a novel in situ method for radiolabeling of particles and investigation of their biodistribution. In this study we utilize an emulsification process and freeze drying to load the composite particles based on hydroxyapatite nanocarrier, chitosane and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) with 17β- hydroxy-17α-picolyl-androst-5-en-3β-acetate (A), a chemotherapeutic derivative of androstane. The picolyl androstane derivatives showed high potency in the cell inhibitors of hormonedependent cancers (adenocarcinoma, prostate cancer, cervix carcinoma, colon cancer, etc.). 1H NMR, 13C NMR and high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) techniques confirmed the intact structure of the derivative A following its entrapment within HAp/Ch-PLGA particles. The synthesized particles of A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA were found to be spherical in shape with a uniform size distribution of d50=168 nm. The release of A from HAp/Ch-PLGA was sustained, with no burst release or plateauing after three weeks. The obtained results of the DET and MTT tests show that the particles of A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA exhibit almost three times higher cytotoxicity towards lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) than towards healthy cells (MRC5), while at the same time allowing twice as fast recovery of healthy cells. We have also analyzed the period of recovery of healthy, as well as cancer cells, following the treatment with A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA. After treatment with A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA, healthy cells recover twice as fast as the malignant ones. Immunofluorescent staining of primary fibroblasts interacting with HAp/Ch-PLGA and A-HAp/Ch-PLGA particles demonstrates no negative morphological or proliferative effects on cells

Tumor-selective hybrid system based on hydroxyapatite nanocarrier, chitosan, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and androstan derivate

The applicative potential of synthetic calcium phosphates, especially hydroxyapatite (HAp), has become intensely broadened in the past 10 years, from bone tissue engineering to multiple other fields of biomedicine. Previously we have shown that hydroxyapatite nanoparticles coated with chitosan-poly(D,L)-lactide-co-glycolide (HAp/Ch-PLGA) target lungs following their intravenous administration into mice. For this purpose radioactive 125-Iodine (125I), a low energy gamma emitter, was used to develop a novel in situ method for radiolabeling of particles and investigation of their biodistribution. In this study we utilize an emulsification process and freeze drying to load the composite particles based on hydroxyapatite nanocarrier, chitosane and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) with 17β- hydroxy-17α-picolyl-androst-5-en-3β-acetate (A), a chemotherapeutic derivative of androstane. The picolyl androstane derivatives showed high potency in the cell inhibitors of hormonedependent cancers (adenocarcinoma, prostate cancer, cervix carcinoma, colon cancer, etc.). 1H NMR, 13C NMR and high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) techniques confirmed the intact structure of the derivative A following its entrapment within HAp/Ch-PLGA particles. The synthesized particles of A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA were found to be spherical in shape with a uniform size distribution of d50=168 nm. The release of A from HAp/Ch-PLGA was sustained, with no burst release or plateauing after three weeks. The obtained results of the DET and MTT tests show that the particles of A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA exhibit almost three times higher cytotoxicity towards lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) than towards healthy cells (MRC5), while at the same time allowing twice as fast recovery of healthy cells. We have also analyzed the period of recovery of healthy, as well as cancer cells, following the treatment with A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA. After treatment with A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA, healthy cells recover twice as fast as the malignant ones. Immunofluorescent staining of primary fibroblasts interacting with HAp/Ch-PLGA and A-HAp/Ch-PLGA particles demonstrates no negative morphological or proliferative effects on cells

Determination of 17α-hydroxylase-C_17,20-lyase (P450_17α) enzyme activities and their inhibition by selected steroidal picolyl and picolinylidene compounds

17α-hydroxylase-C17,20-lyase (P45017α) is a key regulator enzyme of the steroid hormone biosynthesis in both the adrenals and the testes. Inhibition of this enzyme can block androgen synthesis in an early step, and may thereby be useful in the treatment of several androgen-dependent diseases. We developed radio-substrate in vitro incubation methods for the determination of the distinct 17α-hydroxylase and C17,20-lyase activities of the enzyme using rat testicular homogenate as enzyme source. With this method we have studied the inhibiting activity of selected steroidal picolyl and picolinylidene compounds. Tests revealed a substantial inhibitory action of the 17-picolinyliden-androst-4-en-3-one compound

Selective Anticancer Activity of Hydroxyapatite/Chitosan-poly(d,l)-lactide-co-glycolide Particles Loaded with an Androstane-Based Cancer Inhibitor

In an earlier study we demonstrated that hydroxyapatite nanoparticles coated with chitosan-poly(d,l)-lactide-co-glycolide (HAp/Ch-PLGA) target lungs following their intravenous injection into mice. In this study we utilize an emulsification process and freeze drying to load the composite HAp/Ch-PLGA particles with 17β-hydroxy-17α-picolyl-androst-5-en-3β-yl-acetate (A), a chemotherapeutic derivative of androstane and a novel compound with a selective anticancer activity against lung cancer cells. 1H NMR and 13C NMR techniques confirmed the intact structure of the derivative A following its entrapment within HAp/Ch-PLGA particles. The thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses coupled with mass spectrometry were used to assess the thermal degradation products and properties of A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA. The loading efficiency, as indicated by the comparison of enthalpies of phase transitions in pure A and A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA, equaled 7.47 wt.%. The release of A from HAp/Ch-PLGA was sustained, neither exhibiting a burst release nor plateauing after three weeks. Atomic force microscopy and particle size distribution analyses were used to confirm that the particles were spherical with a uniform size distribution of d50 = 168 nm. In vitro cytotoxicity testing of A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA using MTT and trypan blue dye exclusion assays demonstrated that the particles were cytotoxic to the A549 human lung carcinoma cell line (46 ± 2%), while simultaneously preserving high viability (83 ± 3%) of regular MRC5 human lung fibroblasts and causing no harm to primary mouse lung fibroblasts. In conclusion, composite A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA particles could be seen as promising drug delivery platforms for selective cancer therapies, targeting malignant cells for destruction, while having a significantly lesser cytotoxic effect on the healthy cells

A Facile Determination Method for an Androstane-based Lung Cancer Inhibitor Loaded in Nano/Micro Particles Based on Hydroxyapatite by Means of DTA/TGA Coupled with On-line Mass Spectrometry

In our study, we examined the possibilities for the application of Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis/Differential-Thermal Analysis (DTA/TGA) coupled on-line with mass spectrometry (MS) as a fingerprint for identification purposes in drug loading processes. Androstane derivative 17β-hydroxy-17α-picolyl-androst-5-en-3β-yl acetate (2-OAc) with antitumor activity was loaded in nano hydroxyapatite (HAp) coated with chitosan-poly(D,L)-lactide-co-glycolide (Ch-PLGA) by emulsification and finally freeze-dried. By means of DTA/TGA-MS, it was quickly determined that the form of 2-OAc was the same before and after loading. The observed exothermic and endothermic processes due to the transformation of material with simultaneous analysis of gas products have proven to be successful in the analysis of drug loading processes in multi-component ceramic-polymer carriers. The loading efficiency of 74.7% was determined using the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique. A FT-IR analysis confirmed the qualitative composition of the synthesized 2-OAc-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA. The in vitro antiproliferative activity was evaluated against human cell lines: lung adenocarcinoma (A549), as well as healthy fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC-5). The results of DET and MTT tests have revealed a high viability of healthy cells MRC-5 (82%) and the death of cancer cells A549 (46%) after a treatment with 2-OAc-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA

Tumor-selective hybrid system based on hydroxyapatite nanocarrier, chitosan, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and androstan derivate

The applicative potential of synthetic calcium phosphates, especially hydroxyapatite (HAp), has become intensely broadened in the past 10 years, from bone tissue engineering to multiple other fields of biomedicine. Previously we have shown that hydroxyapatite nanoparticles coated with chitosan-poly(D,L)-lactide-co-glycolide (HAp/Ch-PLGA) target lungs following their intravenous administration into mice. For this purpose radioactive 125-Iodine (125I), a low energy gamma emitter, was used to develop a novel in situ method for radiolabeling of particles and investigation of their biodistribution. In this study we utilize an emulsification process and freeze drying to load the composite particles based on hydroxyapatite nanocarrier, chitosane and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) with 17β- hydroxy-17α-picolyl-androst-5-en-3β-acetate (A), a chemotherapeutic derivative of androstane. The picolyl androstane derivatives showed high potency in the cell inhibitors of hormonedependent cancers (adenocarcinoma, prostate cancer, cervix carcinoma, colon cancer, etc.). 1H NMR, 13C NMR and high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) techniques confirmed the intact structure of the derivative A following its entrapment within HAp/Ch-PLGA particles. The synthesized particles of A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA were found to be spherical in shape with a uniform size distribution of d50=168 nm. The release of A from HAp/Ch-PLGA was sustained, with no burst release or plateauing after three weeks. The obtained results of the DET and MTT tests show that the particles of A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA exhibit almost three times higher cytotoxicity towards lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) than towards healthy cells (MRC5), while at the same time allowing twice as fast recovery of healthy cells. We have also analyzed the period of recovery of healthy, as well as cancer cells, following the treatment with A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA. After treatment with A-loaded HAp/Ch-PLGA, healthy cells recover twice as fast as the malignant ones. Immunofluorescent staining of primary fibroblasts interacting with HAp/Ch-PLGA and A-HAp/Ch-PLGA particles demonstrates no negative morphological or proliferative effects on cells