@article{BorovaSchluttNickeletal.2022, author = {Borova, Solomiia and Schlutt, Christine and Nickel, Joachim and Luxenhofer, Robert}, title = {A Transient Initiator for Polypeptoids Postpolymerization α-Functionalization via Activation of a Thioester Group}, series = {Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics}, volume = {223}, journal = {Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1002/macp.202100331}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257587}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Here, a postpolymerization modification method for an α-terminal functionalized poly-(N-methyl-glycine), also known as polysarcosine, is introduced. 4-(Methylthio)phenyl piperidine-4-carboxylate as an initiator for the ring-opening polymerization of N-methyl-glycine-N-carboxyanhydride followed by oxidation of the thioester group to yield an α-terminal reactive 4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl piperidine-4-carboxylate polymer is utilized. This represents an activated carboxylic acid terminus, allowing straightforward modification with nucleophiles under mild reaction conditions and provides the possibility to introduce a wide variety of nucleophiles as exemplified using small molecules, fluorescent dyes, and model proteins. The new initiator yielded polymers with well-defined molar mass, low dispersity, and high end-group fidelity, as observed by gel permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. The introduced method can be of great interest for bioconjugation, but requires optimization, especially for protein conjugation.}, language = {en} } @article{SunAnhaltSarosietal.2022, author = {Sun, Meng-Jia and Anhalt, Olga and S{\´a}rosi, Menyh{\´a}rt B. and Stolte, Matthias and W{\"u}rthner, Frank}, title = {Activating Organic Phosphorescence via Heavy Metal-π Interaction Induced Intersystem Crossing}, series = {Advanced Materials}, volume = {34}, journal = {Advanced Materials}, number = {51}, doi = {10.1002/adma.202207331}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312248}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Heavy-atom-containing clusters, nanocrystals, and other semiconductors can sensitize the triplet states of their surface-bonded chromophores, but the energy loss, such as nonradiative deactivation, often prevents the synergistic light emission in their solid-state coassemblies. Cocrystallization allows new combinations of molecules with complementary properties for achieving functionalities not available in single components. Here, the cocrystal formation that employs platinum(II) acetylacetonate (Pt(acac)\(_{2}\)) as a triplet sensitizer and electron-deficient 1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimides (NDIs) as organic phosphors is reported. The hybrid cocrystals exhibit room-temperature phosphorescence confined in the low-lying, long-lived triplet state of NDIs with photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (Φ\(_{PL}\)) exceeding 25\% and a phosphorescence lifetime (τ\(_{Ph}\)) of 156 µs. This remarkable PL property benefits from the noncovalent electronic and spin-orbital coupling between the constituents.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Wohlfart2022, author = {Wohlfart, Jonas}, title = {Analysis of Drug Impurities by Means of Chromatographic Methods: Targeted and Untargeted Approaches}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-27387}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-273878}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The presented works aimed on the analysis of new impurities in APIs and medicinal products. Different subtypes of LC were coupled to suitable detection methods, i.e. UV and various MS techniques, depending on the chemical natures of the analytes and the analytical task. Unexpected impurities in medicinal products and APIs caused several scandals in the past, concomitant with fatalities or severe side effects in human and veterinary patients. The detection of nitrosamines in sartans led to the discovery of nitrosamines in various other drugs, of which the antibiotic rifampicin was analyzed in this work. An examination of the synthesis of rifampicin revealed a high potential for the formation of 4-methyl-1-nitrosopiperazine (MeNP). An LC-MS/HRMS method suitable for the quantification of MeNP was applied in the analysis of drugs collected from Brazil, Comoros, India, Nepal, and Tanzania, where a single dose of rifampicin is used in the post-exposure prophylaxis of leprosy. All batches were contaminated with MeNP, ranging from 0.7-5.1 ppm. However, application of rifampicin containing up to 5 ppm MeNP was recommended by the regulatory authorities for the post-exposure prophylaxis of leprosy. In the 1990s the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin attracted attention after causing fatalities in the USA, but the causative agent was never identified unequivocally. The related substance sisomicin was recognized as a lead impurity by the Holzgrabe lab at the University of W{\"u}rzburg: sisomicin was accompanied by a variety of other impurities and batches containing sisomicin had caused the fatalities. In 2016, anaphylactic reactions were reported after application of gentamicin. A contamination of the medicinal products with histamine, an impurity of the raw material fish peptone used upon the production, could be identified as the cause of the adverse effects. Batches of gentamicin sulfate, which had been stored at the University of W{\"u}rzburg since the earlier investigations, were analyzed regarding their contamination with histamine to determine whether the biogenic amine was responsible for the 1990s fatalities as well. Furthermore, a correlation with the lead impurity sisomicin was checked. Histamine could be detected in all analyzed batches, but at a lower level than in the batches responsible for the anaphylactic reactions. Moreover, there is no correlation of histamine with the lead impurity sisomicin. Hence, the causative agent for the 1990s fatalities was not histamine and remains unknown. Another source of impurities is the reaction of APIs with excipients, e.g. the esterification of naproxen with PEG 600 in soft gel capsules. The influence of the formulation's composition on this reaction was investigated by means of LC-UV. Therefore, the impurity naproxen-PEG-ester (NPEG) was synthesized and used for the development of a method suitable for the analysis of soft gel capsule formulations. Different formulations were stressed for 7 d at 60 °C and the relative amount of NPEG was determined. The formation of NPEG was influenced by the concentrations of water and lactic acid, the pH, and the drug load of the formulation, which can easily be explained by the chemistry behind esterification reactions. Keeping in mind the huge variety of sources of impurities, it might be impossible to predict all potential impurities of a drug substance/product. Targeted and untargeted approaches were combined in the impurity profiling of bisoprolol fumarate. Eight versions of an LC-HRMS method were developed to enable the detection of a maximum number of impurities: an acidic and a basic buffered LC was coupled to MS detection applying ESI and APCI, both in positive in negative mode. MS and MS/MS data were acquired simultaneously by information dependent acquisition. In the targeted approach, potential impurities were derived from a reaction matrix based on the synthesis route of the API, while the untargeted part was based on general unknown comparative screening to identify additional signals. 18 and 17 impurities were detected in the targeted and the untargeted approach, respectively. The molecular formulae were assessed based on the exact mass and the isotope pattern. Theoretical fragment spectra generated by in silico fragmentation were matched with experimental data to estimate the plausibility of proposed/elucidated structures. Moreover, the detected impurities were quantified with respect to an internal standard.}, subject = {LC-MS}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{CalderonGiraldo2022, author = {Calder{\´o}n Giraldo, Jeniffer}, title = {Analysis of estrogen profiles including methoxyestrogen glucuronides: method validation and applicability to human plasma and breast tissue}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-20939}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-209396}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Estrogens, namely 17β-estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) are considered to play an important role in the initiation and promotion of breast cancer (summarized in Raftogianis et al., 2000), a malignancy responsible for around 500,000 deaths per year (summarized in Ghislain et al., 2016). Two major mechanisms have been postulated to explain the carcinogenic effects of estrogens: (1) the estrogen receptor-mediated stimulation of breast cell proliferation with a concomitant enhanced rate of mutations and (2) the metabolism of hydroxylated estrogens to quinone derivatives which can react with the DNA (Russo and Russo, 2006, summarized in Yager and Davidson, 2006). Nevertheless, as a detoxifying mechanism, E1, E2, and their hydroxylated and methoxylated metabolites are reversibly conjugated into sulfates and glucuronides devoid of biological activity (summarized in Guillemette et al., 2004). Yet, despite the key detoxifying function of these conjugates, the study of their circulating levels face some significant problems: (1) analysis by techniques such as radioimmunoassay lack specificity and accuracy and requires enzymatic/chemical hydrolysis before analysis, being unable to differentiate between sulfates and glucuronides (summarized in Stanczyk et al., 2007, summarized in Wang et al., 2016), (2) very little knowledge in healthy women, which has been identified as a barrier to advance in breast cancer research (summarized in Liu, 2000), and (3) far fewer studies in pre- than in postmenopausal women (summarized in Samavat and Kurzer, 2015). Therefore, to get more insights into the research of breast cancer etiology and prevention, the analysis of circulating levels of estrogens (including metabolites and conjugates) in women without breast cancer through reliable analytical techniques, is required.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Jarzina2022, author = {Jarzina, Sebastian Oskar}, title = {Assessment of systemic toxicity in vitro using the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) concept: nephrotoxicity due to receptor-mediated endocytosis and lysosomal overload and inhibition of mtDNA polymerase-ɣ as case studies}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-26484}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-264842}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The US National Research Council (NRC) report "Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a strategy (Tox21)", published in 2007, calls for a complete paradigm shift in tox-icity testing. A central aspect of the proposed strategy includes the transition from apical end-points in in vivo studies to more mechanistically based in vitro tests. To support and facilitate the transition and paradigm shift in toxicity testing, the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) concept is widely recognized as a pragmatic tool. As case studies, the AOP concept was ap-plied in this work to develop AOPs for proximal tubule injuries initiated by Receptor-mediated endocytosis and lysosomal overload and Inhibition of mtDNA polymerase-. These AOPs were used as a mechanistic basis for the development of in vitro assays for each key event (KE). To experimentally support the developed in vitro assays, proximal tubule cells from rat (NRK-52E) and human (RPTEC/TERT1) were treated with model compounds. To measure the dis-turbance of lysosomal function in the AOP - Receptor-mediated endocytosis and lysosomal overload, polymyxin antibiotics (polymyxin B, colistin, polymyxin B nonapeptide) were used as model compounds. Altered expression of lysosomal associated membrane protein 1/2 (LAMP-1/2) (KE1) and cathepsin D release from lysosomes (KE2) were determined by im-munofluorescence, while cytotoxicity (KE3) was measured using the CellTiter-Glo® cell via-bility assay. Importantly, significant differences in polymyxin uptake and susceptibility be-tween cell lines were observed, underlining the importance of in vitro biokinetics to determine an appropriate in vitro point of departure (PoD) for risk assessment. Compared to the in vivo situation, distinct expression of relevant transporters such as megalin and cubilin on mRNA and protein level in the used cell lines (RPTEC/TERT1 and NRK-52E) could not be con-firmed, making integration of quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolations (QIVIVE) neces-sary. Integration of QIVIVE by project partners of the University of Utrecht showed an im-provement in the modelled biokinetic data for polymyxin B. To assess the first key event, (KE1) Depletion of mitochondrial DNA, in the AOP - Inhibition of mtDNA polymerase-, a RT-qPCR method was used to determine the mtDNA copy number in cells treated with mod-el compounds (adefovir, cidofovir, tenofovir, adefovir dipivoxil, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate). Mitochondrial toxicity (KE2) was measured by project partners using the high-content imaging technique and MitoTracker® whereas cytotoxicity (KE3) was determined by CellTiter-Glo® cell viability assay. In contrast to the mechanistic hypothesis underlying the AOP - Inhibition of mtDNA polymerase-, treatment with model compounds for 24 h resulted in an increase rather than a decrease in mtDNA copy number (KE1). Only minor effects on mitochondrial toxicity (KE2) and cytotoxicity (KE3) were observed. Treatment of RPT-EC/TERT1 cells for 14 days showed only a slight decrease in mtDNA copy number after treatment with adefovir dipivoxil and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, underscoring some of the limitations of short-term in vitro systems. To obtain a first estimation for risk assessment based on in vitro data, potential points of departure (PoD) for each KE were calculated from the obtained in vitro data. The most common PoDs were calculated such as the effect concentra-tion at which 10 \% or 20_\% effect was measured (EC10, EC20), the highest no observed effect concentration (NOEC), the lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC), the benchmark 10 \% (lower / upper) concentrations (BMC10, BMCL10, BMCU10) and a modelled non-toxic con-centration (NtC). These PoDs were then compared with serum and tissue concentrations de-termined from in vivo studies after treatment with therapeutic / supratherapeutic doses of the respective drugs in order to obtain a first estimate of risk based on in vitro data. In addition, AOPs were used to test whether the quantitative key event relationships between key events allow prediction of downstream effects and effects on the adverse outcome (AO) based on measurements of an early key event. Predictions of cytotoxicity from the mathematical rela-tionships showed good concordance with measured cytotoxicity after treatment with colistin and polymyxin b nonapeptide. The work also revealed uncertainties and limitations of the ap-plied strategy, which have a significant impact on the prediction and on a risk assessment based on in vitro results.}, language = {en} } @article{SchlauersbachHanioRaschigetal.2022, author = {Schlauersbach, Jonas and Hanio, Simon and Raschig, Martina and Lenz, Bettina and Scherf-Cavel, Oliver and Meinel, Lorenz}, title = {Bile and excipient interactions directing drug pharmacokinetics in rats}, series = {European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics}, volume = {178}, journal = {European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics}, edition = {accepted version}, doi = {10.1016/j.ejpb.2022.07.016}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-296969}, pages = {65-68}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Bile solubilization plays a major role in the absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs. Excipients used in oral drug formulations impact bile-colloidal properties and their molecular interactions. Polymer-induced changes of bile colloids, e.g., by Eudragit E, reduced the flux of the bile interacting drug Perphenazine whereas bile non-interacting Metoprolol was not impacted. This study corroborates these in vitro findings in rats. Eudragit E significantly reduced systemic availability of Perphenazine but not Metoprolol compared to the oral administrations without polymer. This study confirms the necessity to carefully select polymers for bile interacting drugs whereas non-bile interacting drugs are more robust in terms of excipient choice for formulation. The perspective of bile interaction may introduce interesting biopharmaceutical leverage for better performing oral formulations of tomorrow.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Guentzel2022, author = {G{\"u}ntzel, Paul Mathias}, title = {Bioinspired Ion Pairs Transforming Poorly Water-soluble Compounds into Protic Ionic Liquids and Deep Eutectic Solvents}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-21980}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-219806}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Microbial, mammalian and plant cells produce and contain secondary metabolites, which typically are soluble in water to prevent cell damage by crystallization. The formation of ion pairs, e.g. with carboxylic acids or mineral acids, is a natural blueprint to keep basic metabolites in solution. It was aimed at showing whether the mostly large carboxylates form soluble protic ionic liquids (PILs) with basic natural products resulting in enhanced aqueous solubility. Furthermore, their supramolecular pattern in aqueous solution was studied. Thereby, naturally occurring carboxylic acids were identified being appropriate counterions for natural basic compounds and facilitate the formation of PILs with their beneficial characteristics, like improved dissolution rate and enhanced apparent solubility.}, subject = {Ionic Liquids}, language = {en} } @article{FengZhouQiuetal.2022, author = {Feng, Yi and Zhou, Jiadong and Qiu, Honglin and Schnitzlein, Matthias and Hu, Jingtao and Liu, Linlin and W{\"u}rthner, Frank and Xie, Zengqi}, title = {Boron-Locked Starazine - A Soluble and Fluorescent Analogue of Starphene}, series = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, volume = {28}, journal = {Chemistry - A European Journal}, number = {29}, doi = {10.1002/chem.202200770}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-276423}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A starlike heterocyclic molecule containing an electron-deficient nonaaza-core structure and three peripheral isoquinolines locked by three tetracoordinate borons, namely isoquinoline-nona-starazine (QNSA), is synthesized by using readily available reactants through a rather straightforward approach. This new heteroatom-rich QNSA possesses a quasi-planar π-backbone structure, and bears phenyl substituents on borons which protrude on both sides of the π-backbones endowing it with good solubility in common organic solvents. Contrasting to its starphene analogue, QNSA shows intense fluorescence with a quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 62 \% in dilute solution.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Meininger2022, author = {Meininger, Markus}, title = {Calcium hydroxide as antibacterial implant coating}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-26112}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-261122}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2022}, abstract = {In modern medicine hip and knee joint replacement are common surgical procedures. However, about 11 \% of hip implants and about 7 \% of knee implants need re-operations. The comparison of implant registers revealed two major indications for re-operations: aseptic loosening and implant infections, that both severely impact the patients' health and are an economic burden for the health care system. To address these problems, a calcium hydroxide coating on titanium was investigated in this thesis. Calcium hydroxide is a well-known antibacterial agent and used with success in dentistry. The coatings were applied with electrochemically assisted deposition, a versatile tool that combines easiness of process with the ability to coat complex geometries homogeneously. The pH-gradient during coating was investigated and showed the surface confinement of the coating process. Surface pre-treatment altered the surface morphology and chemistry of the titanium substrates and was shown to affect the morphology of the calcium hydroxide coatings. The influence of the coating parameters stirring speed and current pulsing were examined in various configurations and combinations and could also affect the surface morphology. A change in surface morphology results in a changed adhesion and behavior of cells and bacteria. Thus, the parameters surface pre-treatment, stirring speed and current pulsing presented a toolset for tailoring cellular response and antibacterial properties. Microbiological tests with S. aureus and S. epidermidis were performed to test the time-dependent antibacterial activity of the calcium hydroxide coatings. A reduction of both strains could be achieved for 13 h, which makes calcium hydroxide a promising antibacterial coating. To give insight into biofilm growth, a protocol for biofilm staining was investigated on titanium disks with S. aureus and S. epidermidis. Biofilm growth could be detected after 5 days of bacterial incubation, which was much earlier than the 3 weeks that are currently assumed in medical treatment. Thus, it should be considered to treat infections as if a biofilm were present from day 5 on. The ephemeral antibacterial properties of calcium hydroxide were further enhanced and prolonged with the addition of silver and copper ions. Both ionic modifications significantly enhanced the bactericidal potential. The copper modification showed higher antibacterial effects than the silver modification and had a higher cytocompatibility which was comparable to the pure calcium hydroxide coating. Thus, copper ions are an auspicious option to enhance the antibacterial properties. Calcium hydroxide coatings presented in this thesis have promising antibacterial properties and can easily be applied to complex geometries, thus they are a step in fighting aseptic loosening and implant infections.}, subject = {Calciumhydroxid}, language = {en} } @article{TenderaLuffKrummenacheretal.2022, author = {Tendera, Lukas and Luff, Martin S. and Krummenacher, Ivo and Radius, Udo}, title = {Cationic Nickel d\(^{9}\)-Metalloradicals [Ni(NHC)\(_{2}\)]\(^{+}\)}, series = {European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry}, volume = {2022}, journal = {European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry}, number = {31}, doi = {10.1002/ejic.202200416}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-293702}, year = {2022}, abstract = {A series of five new homoleptic, linear nickel d\(^{9}\)-complexes of the type [Ni\(^{I}\)(NHC)\(_{2}\)]\(^{+}\) is reported. Starting from the literature known Ni(0) complexes [Ni(Mes\(_{2}\)Im)\(_{2}\)] 1, [Ni(Mes\(_{2}\)Im\(^{H2}\))2] 2, [Ni(Dipp\(_{2}\)Im)\(_{2}\)] 3, [Ni(Dipp\(_{2}\)Im\(^{H2}\))\(_{2}\)] 4 and [Ni(cAAC\(^{Me}\))\(_{2}\)] 5 (Mes\(_{2}\)Im=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-imidazolin-2-ylidene, Mes\(_{2}\)Im\(^{H2}\)=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-imidazolidin-2-ylidene, Dipp\(_{2}\)Im=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-imidazolin-2-ylidene, Dipp\(_{2}\)Im\(^{H2}\)=1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-imidazolidin-2-ylidene, cAAC\(^{Me}\)=1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-yliden), their oxidized Ni(I) analogues [Ni\(^{I}\)(Mes\(_{2}\)Im)\(_{2}\)][BPh\(_{4}\)] 1\(^{+}\), [Ni\(^{I}\)(Mes\(_{2}\)Im\(^{H2}\))\(_{2}\)][BPh\(_{4}\)] 2\(^{+}\), [Ni\(^{I}\)(Dipp\(_{2}\)Im)\(_{2}\)][BPh\(_{4}\)] 3\(^{+}\), [Ni\(^{I}\)(Dipp\(_{2}\)Im\(^{H2}\))\(_{2}\)][BPh\(_{4}\)] 4\(^{+}\) and [Ni\(^{I}\)(cAAC\(^{Me}\))\(_{2}\)][BPh\(_{4}\)] 5\(^{+}\) were synthesized by one-electron oxidation with ferrocenium tetraphenyl-borate. The complexes 1\(^{+}\)-5\(^{+}\) were fully characterized including X-ray structure analysis. The complex cations reveal linear geometries in the solid state and NMR spectra with extremely broad, paramagnetically shifted resonances. DFT calculations predicted an orbitally degenerate ground state leading to large magnetic anisotropy, which was verified by EPR measurements in solution and on solid samples. The magnetic anisotropy of the complexes is highly dependent from the steric protection of the metal atom, which results in a noticeable decrease of the g-tensor anisotropy for the N-Mes substituted complexes 1\(^{+}\) and 2\(^{+}\) in solution due to the formation of T-shaped THF adducts.}, language = {en} }