D-amino acids boost the selectivity and confer supramolecular hydrogels of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)

J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Jan 16;135(2):542-5. doi: 10.1021/ja310019x. Epub 2012 Nov 14.

Abstract

As systemically used therapeutics for treating acute or chronic pains or inflammations, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also associate with the adverse gastrointestinal and renal effects and cardiovascular risks. Thus, it is beneficial to develop topical gels that selectively inhibit cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) for the management of local inflammation. In this work, we demonstrate that the covalent conjugation of d-amino acids to naproxen (i.e., a NSAID) not only affords supramolecular hydrogelators for the topical gels but also unexpectedly and significantly elevates the selectivity toward COX-2 about 20× at little expense of the activity of naproxen. This work illustrates a previously unexplored approach that employs d-amino acids for the development of functional molecules that have dual or multiple roles and exceptional biostability, which offers a new class of molecular hydrogels of therapeutic agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / chemistry*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / chemistry*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / metabolism
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / chemistry
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry*
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Models, Molecular
  • Naproxen / chemistry
  • Naproxen / metabolism
  • Protein Binding

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Hydrogels
  • Naproxen
  • Cyclooxygenase 2