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Biomedical subjects

A Fini

Publications and source records attributed to A Fini.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Antimicrobial activity of basic cholane derivatives. X. Synthesis of 3 alpha- and 3 beta-amino-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acids.

A simple and convenient route to 3 alpha- and 3 beta-amino-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acids was developed via Leuckart-Wallach amination reduction and subsequent acid hydrolysis. Two epimeric formylamino derivatives were produced (alpha and beta), approximately in a 1:1 ratio, as determined by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The two isomers were separated by making use of their different solubilities in ethyl ether. The absolute configuration of the two amino acids was assigned by comparison with authentic reference samples.

Lithocholic Acid↗

Chemical properties-dissolution relationship. IV. Behaviour in solution of the diclofenac/N-(2-hydroxyethyl) pyrrolidine salt (DHEP).

The behaviour in solution of the salt formed between diclofenac and N-(2-hydroxyethyl) pyrrolidine (DHEP) was examined. This salt is more soluble and dissolves more rapidly than sodium diclofenac and tends to give rise to supersaturated solutions, that only slowly evolve to equilibrium. Above 35 mM of DHEP, the solutions show unexpected solubilization ability towards sparingly soluble materials. The faster plasma level found, when DHEP is administered per os, can be associated to this weak detergency. These properties make DHEP a suitable pharmaceutical form to prepare extemporary solutions for short term analgesic therapy.

Diclofenac↗

Diffusion of naproxen in presence of beta-cyclodextrin across a silicone rubber membrane.

The diffusion of Naproxen through a silicone rubber membrane has been studied for four different release systems: solution and suspension both of Naproxen and Naproxen beta-cyclodextrin coprecipitates. Differences in transport between the two forms indicate the existence of an interaction between the acid and beta-cyclodextrin in solution. Independence of the transport on pH in the case of the coprecipitate indicates rapid liberation of Naproxen from the complex prior to entering the membrane. Increase in the cumulative amount diffused for the suspension of Naproxen with increasing pH was interpreted as due to an increase in its solubility with increasing pH.

Cyclodextrins↗

Controlled release of hydrocortisone acetate from dermal bases.

The effect of the complexation with beta-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin and polyvinylpyrrolidone on the diffusion kinetics of hydrocortisone acetate through a non porous lipidic membrane was analyzed starting from different dermal bases: a Carbopol gel and lanovaseline. A constant diffusive gradient was achieved; this suggests that the complexation equilibrium controls the diffusable form, according to its stability constant. The following sequence was observed for the cumulative amount diffused: hydrocortisone acetate greater than hydrocortisone acetate/polyvinylpyrrolidone greater than hydrocortisone acetate/hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin greater than hydrocortisone acetate/beta-cyclodextrin. Such behaviour was analyzed in terms of the main physical chemical parameters of the systems examined.

Acrylic Resins↗

Antimicrobial activity of basic cholane derivatives. Part IX.

Twenty new compounds derived from deoxycholic acid have been synthesized. They contain two basic functions: at C-24 (benzylamino, morpholino, diethanolamino, N,N-diethylethylenediamino, N-methylpiperazino) and at beta-C-3 (amino, methylamino, ethylamino, benzylamino). The compounds showed interesting antimicrobial activity, as expressed in terms of the low M.I.C. values (0.9-31-micrograms/ml) against five Gram(+) and four Gram(-) strains, two fungi and one yeast. The compounds inhibit the production of a fluorescent pigment in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: this result suggests that the ability to cross the bacterium cell membrane is the first step of activity. A discussion in terms of structure-activity relationship is reported.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Quantitative structure-antimicrobial activity relationship in 5 beta-cholanyl-24-benzylamine derivatives.

Some representative physicochemical properties of benzylamido and amino derivatives of common bile acids have been determined and correlated with their antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacterial strains. Steroid hydroxyls do not affect the basicity of amino derivatives; they promote solubility in a parallel way to unconjugated bile acids and mainly control hydrophobicity of this class of compounds as measured by log P values. Activity was correlated to hydrophobicity; that is, the nature of the side chain modulated activity, affected basicity, and facilitated changes in partition ability. Benzylamino derivatives proved to be even more active than the corresponding amides when ionization is taken into account. Trihydroxy derivatives possess the lowest log P values and were practically inactive. Decreased activity was also observed in those cases where, due to the orientation of the hydroxy group in the 6 or 7 position, the back beta face of the molecule had a reduced hydrophobic surface area. Antimicrobial activity, in terms of -log MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration), was found to correlate linearly with log P values of uncharged species. This linear relationship is discussed with respect to the structure of the steroid moiety and the ability of these molecules to cross cellular membranes.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Bile acid structure-activity relationship: evaluation of bile acid lipophilicity using 1-octanol/water partition coefficient and reverse phase HPLC.

Two independent methods have been developed and compared to determine the lipophilicity of a representative series of naturally occurring bile acids (BA) in relation to their structure. The BA included cholic acid (CA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), deoxycholic acid (DCA), hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA), ursocholic acid (UCA), hyocholic acid (HCA), as well as their glycine and taurine amidates. Lipophilicity was determined using a 1-octanol/water shake-flask procedure and the experiments were performed at different pH and ionic strengths and at initial BA concentrations below their critical micellar concentrations (CMC) and the water solubility of the protonated form. The experimental data show that both the protonated (HA) and ionized (A-) forms of BA can distribute in 1-octanol, and consequently a partition coefficient for HA (logP' HA) and for A- (logP' A-) must be defined. An equation to predict a weighted apparent distribution coefficient (D) value as a function of pH and pKa has been developed and fits well with the experimental data. Differences between logP for protonated and ionized species for unconjugated BA were in the order of 1 log unit, which increased to 2 for glycine-amidate BA. The partition coefficient of the A- form increased with Na+ concentration and total ionic strength, suggesting an ion-pair mechanism for its partition into 1-octanol. Lipophilicity was also assessed using reverse phase chromatography (C-18-HPLC), and a capacity factor (K') for ionized species was determined. Despite a broad correlation with the logP data, some BA behaved differently. The logP values showed that the order of lipophilicity was DCA greater than CDCA greater than UDCA greater than HDCA greater than HCA greater than CA greater than UCA for both the protonated and ionized unconjugated and glycine-amidate BA, while the K' data showed an inversion for some BA, i.e., DCA greater than CDCA greater than CA greater than HCA greater than UDCA greater than HDCA greater than UCA. The logP data fitted well with other indirect measurements of BA monomeric lipophilicity such as albumin binding or accessible total hydrophobic surface area data calculated by energy minimization and molecular computer graphics. Differences between unconjugated and amidated BA are consistent with the presence of an amide bond and a lower pKa when pH dependence was studied. Capacity factors, on the other hand, were related to properties of BA micelles such as cholesterol-solubilizing capacity and membrane disruption, reflecting the BA detergency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Availability of NSAIDH beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes.

The diffusion of a series of non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs through a silicone rubber membrane has been studied from suspensions both of the free and beta-cyclodextrin complexes forms at different pH values of the medium. Higher diffusion rates of the complexed forms as compared with the free ones and a rate-limiting effect of the apparent stability constant in the diffusion of the complexes were observed.

Administration, Topical↗

Antimicrobial activity of basic cholane derivatives, VIII.

Two series of new compounds derived from deoxycholic acid have been synthesized: 3,12-dioxo-5 beta-cholan-24-N-substituted amides and their 3 beta-amino and 3 beta-N-alkylamino derivatives. The first series of five compounds 1-5 carries at C-24 the residue of benzylamine, morpholine, diethanolamine, N,N-diethyl-ethylenediamine, and N-methylpiperazine. The second series of twenty compounds 1A-D - 5A-D was prepared by means of reductive amination starting from the compounds of the first series. This reaction proved to be regioselective and stereospecific: it attacks only C-3 of the steroid moiety and introduces the following axial beta-oriented substituents: amino, methylamino, ethylamino, and benzylamino. The compounds of the first series showed moderate scattered antimicrobial activity; while introduction of the 3 beta-amino and 3 beta-N-alkylamino residue greatly increased activity towards Gram (+) strains; even yeast and fungi appear to be sensitive towards this last series of compounds. The results have been discussed with respect to the nature of the substituents both at C-3 and C-24, the highest activity being associated to the hydrophobicity of these residues.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Diffusion of ketoprofen from coprecipitates through a non porous lipidic membrane.

The effect of inclusion with beta-cyclodextrin or hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin on the diffusion kinetics of Ketoprofen through a non porous lipidic membrane was analyzed starting from different dermal bases: a Carbopol gel, o/w emulsion and a fatty ointment. A constant diffusive gradient was achieved with the included forms at each concentration of the active principle in the vehicle. This suggests that the complex controls the diffusable form, according to its stability constant. The following sequence was observed for the diffusion rate: Carbopol gel greater than o/w emulsion greater than fatty ointment appears to depend mainly on the membrane/vehicle partition coefficient.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Quantitative relationship between bile acid structure and biliary lipid secretion in rats.

A series of unconjugated and taurine conjugated bile acids (BAs) differing in water solubility (SWo), critical micellar concentration (CMC), and hydrophilicity (K') were infused iv to rats at a tracer dose and a dose of 6 mumol/min/kg over a 1-h period. Bile was collected for 3 h to evaluate the role of BA structure on cholesterol, phospholipids secretions, and bile flow. The BAs studied differ in the number (2-3), position (-3, -6, -7, -12), and orientation of the hydroxyls (alpha/beta); the side chain structure was modified by shortening (C-23, nor-BA) and by lengthening (C-25, homo-BA), while maintaining the same structure of nuclear hydroxyls (3 alpha 7 beta). At a "tracer" dose, all C-24 natural BAs are efficiently recovered in bile when administered in both unconjugated and taurine conjugated forms. At a "high dose", all taurine conjugated BAs are efficiently recovered in bile (80-100%). However, a variable recovery was observed among unconjugated BAs: trihydroxy BAs are efficiently recovered (85-100%), while dihydroxy BAs are only partially recovered (25-40%). The side chain-modified BAs [i.e., C-23 nor and C-25 homo analogs of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)] are partially recovered at a tracer dose (20-30%), but less at a high dose (10-20%) when administered in the unconjugated form. In contrast, the corresponding taurine conjugates are more efficiently recovered in bile (60-80%). Conjugation with taurine increases total recovery of unconjugated BAs in bile by not more than 30-40%. Highly hydrophilic and water-soluble BAs, such as ursocholic acid (SWo = 1.67 mM) and cholic acid (SWo = 0.27 mM), can also be secreted as unconjugates, and this accounts for their complete recovery. The conjugation step is rate limiting for poorly soluble BAs such as ursodeoxycholic acid (SWo = 0.009 mM) when administered at a high dose, and critical for nor and homo analogs which are poorly soluble and whose side chain modification partially suppresses their conjugation with taurine or glycine and thereby induces alternative pathways such as glucuronidation or sulfation. The induced bile flow is directly related to the hydrophilicity of the natural C-24 bile acid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Acidity constants of sparingly water-soluble drugs from potentiometric determinations in aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide.

A brief analysis of the acid-base equilibria in pure organic solvents and/or in their aqueous mixtures is reported with the aim of determining dissociation constants of acidic drugs that are sparingly soluble in water. Among aqueous organic mixtures, aqueous Me2SO (80% w/w) presents properties particularly suitable for acid-base studies, and thermodynamically meaningful acidity constants can be obtained by a potentiometric technique, provided that the glass electrode is properly calibrated. Thermodynamic acidity constants of more than 100 acids have been potentiometrically determined at 25 degrees C in this mixed solvent, and the selected series of acids has been divided into four classes according to the nature of the acidic group (COOH, OH, SH) and the structure of the acid (aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic). A linear relationship between the experimental pKa values in water and pKa values in aqueous Me2SO (80% w/w) has been found within the single classes and a group of equations has been derived (the asterisk denotes pKa values in which infinite dilution in the mixed solvent is taken as a standard state). For the carboxylic acid class, the following "common" equation has been found: pKa(H2O) = -0.80 + 0.67 pKa (Me2SO; 80% w/w). As an application, pKa values in water are reported for a representative number of sparingly soluble acids. These values have been calculated by means of the "common" equation, using pKa values experimentally determined in aqueous Me2SO (80% w/w). The calculated values are in good agreement with those expected from the acid structures.

Dimethyl Sulfoxide↗

Chemical properties of bile acids. IV. Acidity constants of glycine-conjugated bile acids.

The dissociation constants for the carboxyl group of a series of glycine (N-acyl)-conjugated and unconjugated bile acids were determined by potentiometric titration using dimethylsulfoxide-water and methanol-water mixtures of varying proportions. The pKa values in water were calculated by extrapolating the experimental values determined in different mole fractions of the organic solvent mixtures. The following values were obtained: 3.9 +/- 0.1 for glycine-conjugated bile acids and 5.0 +/- 0.1 for unconjugated bile acids, as general pKa values for the two classes of bile acids, respectively. The amidation of bile acids with glycine lowers the pKa value because of the proximity of the amide bond to the terminal carboxyl group. Bile acid dissociation constants are independent of the substituents in the steroid nucleus, since inductive effects of the hydroxyl groups on the steroid nucleus are too distant from the acidic group at the end of the side chain to influence its ionization.

Bile Acids and Salts↗

Dissolution and partition thermodynamic functions of some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Solubility values of a selected group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been determined in water and 1-octanol as a function of temperature. Thermodynamic functions of dissolution and partition have been calculated and discussed with respect to various physical parameters of each solute and the two solvents. The calculated solubility values show good agreement with the experimental values. The analysis of the experimental solubility values of these compounds in terms of solid-state contribution and solute-solvent interaction suggests the different importance of these parameters in promoting solubility of solid nonelectrolytes.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗