The Conjunction of Extension, Teaching and Research: the Experience of the Scientific Journey of Pharmacy and Biochemistry Students

A Jornada Científica dos Acadêmicos de Farmácia-Bioquímica ( JCAFB), da Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas da Universidade de São Paulo (FCF/USP), é um projeto voluntário, autogerido e de extensão universitária. Criado em 1965, conta com a participação de professores, residentes farmacêuticos e estudantes. Inicialmente, teve a finalidade de investigar a presença de caramujos da espécie Biomphalaria, hospedeiro intermediá- rio do Schistosoma mansoni, transmissor da esquistossomose, em Peruíbe-SP. Atualmente, caracteriza-se pela prestação de serviços voluntários de assistência farmacêutica em cidades com deficiências nas áreas de saúde e saneamento básico, visando melhorar as condições de vida da população, procurando soluções locais. Em um ciclo de 4 anos, durante os meses de janeiro, uma equipe de cerca de 50 estudantes realiza atividades educativas sobre saúde e meio ambiente, exames laboratoriais, análises físico-química e microbiológica da água, levantamento do perfil socioeconômico, orientações domiciliares sobre uso de medicamentos, capacitação dos agentes comunitários de saúde e promoção de saúde de animais domésticos. O projeto já envolveu mais de 1500 alunos da FCF/USP, além de residentes (farmacêuticos e veterinários), pós-graduandos e graduandos de outras unidades da Universidade. Preservando a indissociabilidade entre a pesquisa, ensino e extensão universitária, a Jornada visa proporcionar aprendizado científico, humanitário e social aos participantes.The Jornada Científica dos Acadêmicos de Farmácia e Bioquímica (Scientific Journey of Pharmacy and Biochemistry Students, JCAFB), a project from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of University of São Paulo (FCF/USP), is a volunteering, self-managed, extension project. Founded in 1965, it relies on the support of professors, pharmaceutical residents, and undergraduate students. Initially, the goal was to investigate the presence of Biomphalaria snails, an intermediate host of the schistosomiasis transmitter, in Peruíbe-SP. Currently, the project is characterized as a volunteer pharmaceutical assistance service, acting in cities with healthcare and sanitation deficiencies, improving life quality through local solutions. In a 4-year cycle, a team of 50 undergraduate students performs educational activities on environment and healthcare topics, laboratorial tests, water quality analysis, socioeconomic data collection, lectures to community health agents, domiciliary orientations about rational use of medicines and health promotion of domestic animals. More than 1,500 students from FCF/USP have already participated, besides many pharmaceutical and medical veterinary residents, and undergraduate students from other institutions within the University of São Paulo. By preserving the principle of inseparability between university research, teaching, and extension, JCAFB aims to provide an opportunity for scientific, humanitarian and social learning to its participants

Synthesis of dendrimer prodrugs potentially antichagasic and antileishmanial derivatives from hydroxymethylnitrofurazone, 3-hydroxyflavone and quercetin

O Trypanosoma cruzi é o agente etiológico da tripanossomíase americana ou doença de Chagas. A infecção ocorre desde o sul dos EUA até o sul da Argentina e cerca de 20 milhões de pessoas da América Latina correm o risco de adquirir a doença. Já a leishmaniose é causada por aproximadamente 17 diferentes espécies de protozoários unicelulares pertencentes à família Trypanosomatidae. Aproximadamente 350 milhões de pessoas correm o risco de contrair a infecção e estimam-se que existam 12 milhões de pessoas infectadas. A quimioterapia para estas duas doenças negligenciadas é limitada e os fármacos disponíveis na terapêutica são tóxicos, com eficácia discutível, podem causar resitência e, ocasionalmente, a administração parenteral é necessária. Frente ao exposto, a pesquisa e desenvolvimento de novos fármacos é necessária. À vista de tais fatos e utilizando-se o método de modificação molecular latenciação, o objetivo deste trabalho é a síntese e caracterização de pró-fármacos dendriméricos de primeira geração de hidroximetilnitrofural, 3-hidroxiflavona e quercetina. O hidroximetilnitrofural tem mostrado atividade contra as formas amastigotas e tripomastigotas do T. cruzi in vitro e in vivo. Os flavonóides 3-hidroxiflavona e quercetina mostraram-se mais ativos que o padrão miltefosina em ensaios in vitro para leishmaniose. Já os dendrímeros são novas arquiteturas moleculares com estruturas nanoscópicas, extremamente organizadas e apresentam massa molecular definida. As aplicações incluem, por exemplo, a atuação como agentes transportadores de fármacos. Diversas metodologias sintéticas foram desenvolvidas na tentativa de se obter os pró-fármacos dendriméricos. Um das maiores dificuldades encontradas foi a purificação dos compostos sintetizados. Adicionalmente, foram realizados estudos de modelagem molecular para auxiliar a compreensão sobre a liberação das substâncias ativas da malha dendrimérica. Experimentos sobre hidrólise enzimática do pró-fármaco composto por PAMAM (geração 1) e 3-hidroxiflavona também foram desenvolvidos.Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of American trypanosomiasis or Chagas\' disease. The infection occurs from the southern USA to southern Argentina and about 20 million people in Latin America are at risk of acquiring the disease. Leishmaniasis is caused by approximately 17 different species of unicellular protozoa belonging to the family Trypanosomatidae. Approximately 350 million people are at risk of acquiring the infection and it is estimated that there are 12 million people infected. Chemotherapy for these two neglected diseases is limited and the drugs available on therapy are toxic, with uncertain efficacy, may cause resistance and, occasionally, intravenous administration is required. Based on these facts, research and development for new drugs is needed. Considering that and using the method of molecular modification prodrug design, the purpose of this work is the synthesis and characterization of first generation dendrimer prodrug of hydroxymethylnitrofurazone (NFOH), quercetin and 3-hydroxyflavone. The NFOH has shown activity against amastigotes and trypomastigotes of T. cruzi, in vitro and in vivo. The flavonoids quercetin and 3-hydroxyflavone were more active than miltefosine in in vitro assays for leishmaniasis. Dendrimers are new molecular architectures with nanoscopic structures, extremely organized and it has defined molecular weight. The applications include, for instance, working as drugs carriers. A range of synthetic methodologies have been developed in an attempt to synthesize the dendrimers prodrugs. A major difficulty was the purification of the compounds. Additionally, molecular modeling studies were performed to assist understanding the release of active agents from dendrimers. Experiments concerning the enzymatic hydrolysis of the dendrimer prodrug composed by PAMAM (generation 1) and 3-hydroxyflavone were also made

Potentially antichagasic dendrimeric prodrugs of hydroxymethylnitrofurazone. Study of synthetic conditions for the first generation

O Trypanosoma cruzi é o agente etiológico da tripanossomíase americana ou doença de Chagas. O vetor desta parasitose é um inseto hemíptero da família Triatominae, conhecido popularmente como barbeiro, chupões, chupança. A doença de Chagas ocorre desde o sul dos EUA até o sul da Argentina e cerca de 20 milhões de pessoas da América Latina correm o risco de adquirir a infecção. O problema desta patologia está na ausência de fármacos não tóxicos e ativos para a fase crônica da doença. O nifurtimox (retirado recentemente do mercado) e benznidazol, utilizados na terapêutica têm alta incidência de efeitos colaterais, o que compromete o tratamento. Face ao exposto, é necessária a pesquisa de novos agentes que sejam eficazes para a cura e bem-estar do paciente chagásico. À vista de tais fatos e utilizando-se o método de modificação molecular latenciação, o objetivo deste trabalho foi o estudo de condições sintéticas para pró-fármacos dendriméricos de hidroximetilnitrofural potencialmente antichagásicos. O hidroximetilnitrofural tem mostrado atividade contra as formas amastigotas e tripomastigotas do Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro. Já os dendrímeros são novas arquiteturas moleculares, estruturas nanoscópicas, extremamente organizadas com massa molecular definida. Possuem diversas vantagens em relação aos polímeros tradicionais e podem atuar como agentes transportadores de fármacos, permitindo-Ihes liberação controlada. Os estudos desenvolvidos acerca das condições reacionais para a obtenção do dendrímero de primeira geração mostraram a dificuldade em se obtê-los. O hidroximetilnitrofural apresentou baixa reatividade nas condições estudadas, o que conduz à necessidade de estudos adicionais sobre novas rotas para a síntese dos dendrímeros a partir dos ésteres desse derivado.The Trypanosoma cruzi is an etiological agent of American tripanosomiasis or Chagas\' disease. The vector of this parasitic disease is a hemipter insect from Triatominae family, known popularly as barber. Chagas\' disease occurs from the South of USA to the South of Argentine and about 20 million of people in Latin America are under the risk of acquiring the infection. The problem of this pathology is the absence of non toxic and active drugs for its chronic phase. Nifurtimox (recently removed from the market) and benznidazole, the only that has been available for therapeutics have high incidence of side effects. So, the research of new agents for the cure and welfare of the patient is needed. Taking into account such facts and employing a process of molecular modification, named latentiation, the aim of this work was the study of the synthetic conditions for obtaining potentially antichagasic dendrimeric prodrugs of hydroxymethylnitrofurazone. The hydroxymethylnitrofurazone showed to be active against the trypomastigotes and amastigotes forms of Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro. On the other hand, the dendrimers are new molecular architecture, nanoscopic structure extremely organized with defined molecular weight. They have a wide range of advantages related to traditional polymers and can act as drug carriers, towards drug controlled release. The studies developed concerning the reaction conditions for the attainment of the first generation of dendrimer showed the difficulty in obtaining these prodrugs. The hydroxymethylnitrofurazone presented low reactivity in the studied conditions, which leads to the necessity of developing further studies about new synthetic routes for obtaining dendrimers from its ester derivative

Potentially antichagasic dendrimeric prodrugs of hydroxymethylnitrofurazone. Study of synthetic conditions for the first generation

O Trypanosoma cruzi é o agente etiológico da tripanossomíase americana ou doença de Chagas. O vetor desta parasitose é um inseto hemíptero da família Triatominae, conhecido popularmente como barbeiro, chupões, chupança. A doença de Chagas ocorre desde o sul dos EUA até o sul da Argentina e cerca de 20 milhões de pessoas da América Latina correm o risco de adquirir a infecção. O problema desta patologia está na ausência de fármacos não tóxicos e ativos para a fase crônica da doença. O nifurtimox (retirado recentemente do mercado) e benznidazol, utilizados na terapêutica têm alta incidência de efeitos colaterais, o que compromete o tratamento. Face ao exposto, é necessária a pesquisa de novos agentes que sejam eficazes para a cura e bem-estar do paciente chagásico. À vista de tais fatos e utilizando-se o método de modificação molecular latenciação, o objetivo deste trabalho foi o estudo de condições sintéticas para pró-fármacos dendriméricos de hidroximetilnitrofural potencialmente antichagásicos. O hidroximetilnitrofural tem mostrado atividade contra as formas amastigotas e tripomastigotas do Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro. Já os dendrímeros são novas arquiteturas moleculares, estruturas nanoscópicas, extremamente organizadas com massa molecular definida. Possuem diversas vantagens em relação aos polímeros tradicionais e podem atuar como agentes transportadores de fármacos, permitindo-Ihes liberação controlada. Os estudos desenvolvidos acerca das condições reacionais para a obtenção do dendrímero de primeira geração mostraram a dificuldade em se obtê-los. O hidroximetilnitrofural apresentou baixa reatividade nas condições estudadas, o que conduz à necessidade de estudos adicionais sobre novas rotas para a síntese dos dendrímeros a partir dos ésteres desse derivado.The Trypanosoma cruzi is an etiological agent of American tripanosomiasis or Chagas\' disease. The vector of this parasitic disease is a hemipter insect from Triatominae family, known popularly as barber. Chagas\' disease occurs from the South of USA to the South of Argentine and about 20 million of people in Latin America are under the risk of acquiring the infection. The problem of this pathology is the absence of non toxic and active drugs for its chronic phase. Nifurtimox (recently removed from the market) and benznidazole, the only that has been available for therapeutics have high incidence of side effects. So, the research of new agents for the cure and welfare of the patient is needed. Taking into account such facts and employing a process of molecular modification, named latentiation, the aim of this work was the study of the synthetic conditions for obtaining potentially antichagasic dendrimeric prodrugs of hydroxymethylnitrofurazone. The hydroxymethylnitrofurazone showed to be active against the trypomastigotes and amastigotes forms of Trypanosoma cruzi in vitro. On the other hand, the dendrimers are new molecular architecture, nanoscopic structure extremely organized with defined molecular weight. They have a wide range of advantages related to traditional polymers and can act as drug carriers, towards drug controlled release. The studies developed concerning the reaction conditions for the attainment of the first generation of dendrimer showed the difficulty in obtaining these prodrugs. The hydroxymethylnitrofurazone presented low reactivity in the studied conditions, which leads to the necessity of developing further studies about new synthetic routes for obtaining dendrimers from its ester derivative

Dendrimer Prodrugs

The main objective of this review is to describe the importance of dendrimer prodrugs in the design of new drugs, presenting numerous applications of these nanocomposites in the pharmaceutical field. Therefore, the use of dendrimer prodrugs as carrier for drug delivery, to improve pharmacokinetic properties of prototype, to promote drug sustained-release, to increase selectivity and, consequently, to decrease toxicity, are just some examples of topics that have been extensively reported in the literature, especially in the last decade. The examples discussed here give a panel of the growing interest dendrimer prodrugs have been evoking in the scientific community

2,3-Diarylindoles as COX-2 Inhibitors: Exploring the Structure-activity Relationship through Molecular Docking Simulations

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI linkBackground: Arylindole derivatives are promising scaffolds in the design of new drugs, including inhibition of COX-2, antitumor activity, receptor GABA agonism, and estrogenic receptor modulation. Objective: Taking this into account, this paper presents a study to better understand the inhibitory action of certain 2-arylindole derivatives, specifically a series of 2,3-diarylindoles with IC50 values from 0.006 nM to 100 nM on the COX-2 enzyme and supports its structural-activity relationship (SAR) through molecular docking simulations. Methods: Briefly, the ligands’ three-dimensional models were drawn, and the conformational analysis was accessed in the Chem3D 19.1 program (PerkinElmer). After different steps of parametrizations, the lowest energy conformations were selected for the molecular docking simulation, which used the crystal structure of human COX-2 in complex with meclofenamic acid to 2.4 Å resolution (PDB code 5IKQ) as molecular target. Results: The results indicated that Gly 526 and Phe 381 residues are relevant for the improvement of inhibitory activity on para-substituted 3-phenyl- compounds. Arg 120 was also demonstrated to be an important residue for COX-2 inhibition, since it is involved in enabling a π-cation interaction with the best compound in series A5 (experimental IC50 = 0.006 nM determined in advance). Furthermore, COX-2 presents flexibility in some regions of the active site to adequately accommodate 5-substituted compounds containing an indole ring. Conclusion: Such structural features can be used as support for further Structural-Based Drug Design (SBDD) and/or Ligand-Based Drug Design (LBDD) studies of new selective COX-2 inhibitors

New Advances in General Biomedical Applications of PAMAM Dendrimers

Dendrimers are nanoscopic compounds, which are monodispersed, and they are generally considered as homogeneous. PAMAM (polyamidoamine) was introduced in 1985, by Donald A. Tomalia, as a new class of polymers, named ‘starburst polymers’. This important contribution of Professor Tomalia opened a new research field involving nanotechnological approaches. From then on, many groups have been using PAMAM for diverse applications in many areas, including biomedical applications. The possibility of either linking drugs and bioactive compounds, or entrapping them into the dendrimer frame can improve many relevant biological properties, such as bioavailability, solubility, and selectivity. Directing groups to reach selective delivery in a specific organ is one of the advanced applications of PAMAM. In this review, structural and safety aspects of PAMAM and its derivatives are discussed, and some relevant applications are briefly presented. Emphasis has been given to gene delivery and targeting drugs, as advanced delivery systems using PAMAM and an incentive for its use on neglected diseases are briefly mentioned