Repurposing a polymer precursor scaffold for medicinal application: Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of ferrocenyl 1,3-benzoxazine derivatives as potential antiprotozoal and anticancer agents

Thesis (PhD)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Science, Chemistry, 202

Synthesis, characterisation and evaluation of ferrocene-containing novobiocin analogues for anticancer and antiplasmodial activity through inhibition of Hsp90

Expected release date-May 201

Recent Advances in the Biological Investigation of Organometallic Platinum-Group Metal (Ir, Ru, Rh, Os, Pd, Pt) Complexes as Antimalarial Agents

In the face of the recent pandemic and emergence of infectious diseases of viral origin, research on parasitic diseases such as malaria continues to remain critical and innovative methods are required to target the rising widespread resistance that renders conventional therapies unusable. The prolific use of auxiliary metallo-fragments has augmented the search for novel drug regimens in an attempt to combat rising resistance. The development of organometallic compounds (those containing metal-carbon bonds) as antimalarial drugs has been exemplified by the clinical development of ferroquine in the nascent field of Bioorganometallic Chemistry. With their inherent physicochemical properties, organometallic complexes can modulate the discipline of chemical biology by proffering different modes of action and targeting various enzymes. With the beneficiation of platinum group metals (PGMs) in mind, this review aims to describe recent studies on the antimalarial activity of PGM-based organometallic complexes. This review does not provide an exhaustive coverage of the literature but focusses on recent advances of bioorganometallic antimalarial drug leads, including a brief mention of recent trends comprising interactions with biomolecules such as heme and intracellular catalysis. This resource can be used in parallel with complementary reviews on metal-based complexes tested against malaria

Coumarin-Annulated Ferrocenyl 1,3-Oxazine Derivatives Possessing In Vitro Antimalarial and Antitrypanosomal Potency

A tailored series of coumarin-based ferrocenyl 1,3-oxazine hybrid compounds was synthesized and investigated for potential antiparasitic activity, drawing inspiration from the established biological efficacy of the constituent chemical motifs. The structural identity of the synthesized compounds was confirmed by common spectroscopic techniques: NMR, HRMS and IR. Biological evaluation studies reveal that the compounds exhibit higher in vitro antiparasitic potency against the chemosensitive malarial strain (3D7 P. falciparum) over the investigated trypanosomiasis causal agent (T. b. brucei 427) with mostly single digit micromolar IC50 values. When read in tandem with the biological performance of previously reported structurally similar non-coumarin, phenyl derivatives (i.e., ferrocenyl 1,3-benzoxazines and α-aminocresols), structure-activity relationship analyses suggest that the presence of the coumarin nucleus is tolerated for biological activity though this may lead to reduced efficacy. Preliminary mechanistic studies with the most promising compound (11b) support hemozoin inhibition and DNA interaction as likely mechanistic modalities by which this class of compounds may act to produce plasmocidal and antitrypanosomal effects

Novobiocin–ferrocene conjugates possessing anticancer and antiplasmodial activity independent of HSP90 inhibition.

A series of tailored novobiocin–ferrocene conjugates was prepared in moderate yields and investigated for in vitro anticancer and antiplasmodial activity against the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer line and Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 strain, respectively. While the target compounds displayed moderate anticancer activity against the breast cancer cell line with IC50 values in the mid-micromolar range, compounds 10a–c displayed promising antiplasmodial activity as low as 0.889 µM. Furthermore, the most promising compounds were tested for inhibitory effects against a postulated target, heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)

Ferrocenyl and organic novobiocin derivatives: synthesis and their in vitro biological activity

A focused series of novobiocin derivatives containing a ferrocene unit together with their corresponding organic novobiocin analogues have been synthesized in modest to good yields. These compounds were screened for biological activity against a chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) and human breast cancer cell line (HCC38). With the exception of compounds 5c and 5d, the general trend observed is that incorporation of the ferrocene moiety into novobiocin scaffold resulted in compounds 6a–d/6f showing enhanced activity compared to organic analogues 5a–b and 5e–f

Ferrocenyl and organic novobiocin derivatives: synthesis and their in vitro biological activity

publisher versionA focused series of novobiocin derivatives containing a ferrocene unit together with their corresponding organic novobiocin analogues have been synthesized in modest to good yields. These compounds were screened for biological activity against a chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum (3D7) and human breast cancer cell line (HCC38). With the exception of compounds 5c and 5d, the general trend observed is that incorporation of the ferrocene moiety into novobiocin scaffold resulted in compounds 6a–d/6f showing enhanced activity compared to organic analogues 5a–b and 5e–f

Repurposing a polymer precursor: Synthesis and in vitro medicinal potential of ferrocenyl 1, 3-benzoxazine derivatives

Cancer and malaria remain relevant pathologies in modern medicinal chemistry endeavours. This is compounded by the threat of development of resistance to existing clinical drugs in use as first-line option for treatment of these diseases. To counter this threat, strategies such as drug repurposing and hybridization are constantly adapted in contemporary drug discovery for the expansion of the drug arsenal and generation of novel chemotypes with potential to avert or delay resistance. In the present study, a polymer precursor scaffold, 1,3-benzoxazine, has been repurposed by incorporation of an organometallic ferrocene unit to produce a novel class of compounds showing in vitro biological activity against breast cancer, malaria and trypanosomiasis

The in vitro antiplasmodial and antiproliferative activity of new ferrocene-based α-aminocresols targeting hemozoin inhibition and DNA interaction:

Compounds incorporating ferrocene in a aminocresol scaffold showed antiplasmodial and anticancer activity. SAR studies revealed that an OH group and rotatable C–NH bond are vital for biological activity, with spectrophotometric techniques and docking simulations suggesting a dual mode of action involving hemozoin inhibition and DNA interaction. Targeting multiple pathways could delay the development of clinical resistance