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Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1) is elevated in breast cancer. The deregulation of LPAR1, including the function and level of expression, is linked to cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. LPAR1 antagonists, AM095 or Ki16425, may be effective therapeutic molecules, yet their limited water solubility hinders in vivo delivery. In this study, we report on the synthesis of two liposomal formulations incorporating AM095 or Ki16425, embedded within the lipid bilayer, as targeted nanocarriers for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The data show that the Ki16425 liposomal formulation exhibited a 50% increase in internalization by MBC mouse epithelial cells (4T1) and a 100% increase in tumor accumulation in a mouse model of MBC compared with that of a blank liposomal formulation (control). At the same time, normal mouse epithelial cells (EpH-4Ev) internalized the Ki16425 liposomal formulation 25% lesser than the control formulation. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the integration of AM095 or Ki16425 modified the physical and mechanical properties of the lipid bilayer, making it more flexible in these liposomal formulations compared with liposomes without drug. The incorporation of an LPAR1 antagonist within a liposomal drug delivery system represents a viable therapeutic approach for targeting the LPA-LPAR1 axis, which may hinder the progression of MBC.

Liposomal drug delivery represents a highly adaptable therapeutic platform for treating a wide range of diseases. Natural and synthetic lipids, as well as surfactants, are commonly utilized in the synthesis of liposomal drug delivery vehicles. The molecular diversity in the composition of liposomes enables drug delivery with unique physiological functions, such as pH response, prolonged blood circulation, and reduced systemic toxicity. Herein, we discuss the impact of composition on liposome synthesis, function, and clinical utility., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) ribonuclease H (RNaseH) is a promising but unexploited drug target. Here, we synthesized and analyzed a library of 57 amide-containing α-hydroxytropolones (αHTs) as potential leads for HBV drug development. Fifty percent effective concentrations ranged from 0.31 to 54 μM, with selectivity indexes in cell culture of up to 80. Activity against the HBV RNaseH was confirmed in semi-quantitative enzymatic assays with recombinant HBV RNaseH. The compounds were overall poorly active against human ribonuclease H1, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 5.1 to >1,000 μM. The αHTs had modest activity against growth of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, but had very limited activity against growth of the Gram - bacterium Escherichia coli and the Gram + bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, indicating substantial selectivity for HBV. A molecular model of the HBV RNaseH templated against the Ty3 RNaseH was generated. Docking the compounds to the RNaseH revealed the anticipated binding pose with the divalent cation coordinating motif on the compounds chelating the two Mn ++ ions modeled into the active site. These studies reveal that that amide αHTs can be strong, specific HBV inhibitors that merit further assessment toward becoming anti-HBV drugs., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

α-Hydroxytropolones (αHTs) are excellent metalloenzyme-inhibiting fragments that have been the basis for the development of potent inhibitors of various therapeutically important enzymes. The following manuscript describes a final-step amidation approach for αHT diversification. The method takes advantage of a scalable, chromatography-free synthesis of a carboxylic acid-appended αHT, and in the present manuscript we describe the synthesis of eight amide-containing αHTs, three of which we envision using as chemical probes. We expect that the general strategy will find widespread usage in both chemical biology and medicinal chemistry studies on αHTs.