Synthesis and biological evaluation of N,N'-squaramides with high in vivo efficacy and low toxicity: toward a low-cost drug against Chagas disease

J Med Chem. 2014 Feb 13;57(3):987-99. doi: 10.1021/jm4017015. Epub 2014 Jan 22.

Abstract

Access to basic drugs is a major issue in developing countries. Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is a paradigmatic example of a chronic disease without an effective treatment. Current treatments based on benznidazole and nifurtimox are expensive, ineffective, and toxic. N,N'-Squaramides are amide-type compounds that feature both hydrogen bond donor and acceptor groups and are capable of multiple interactions with complementary sites. When combined with amine and carboxylic groups, squaramide compounds have increased solubility and therefore make suitable therapeutic agents. In this work, we introduce a group of Lipinski's rule of five compliant squaramides as candidates for treating Chagas disease. The in vivo studies confirmed the positive expectations arising from the preliminary in vitro studies, revealing compound 17 to be the most effective for both acute and chronic phases. The activity, stability, low cost of starting materials, and straightforward synthesis make amino squaramides appropriate molecules for the development of an affordable anti-Chagasic agent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chagas Disease / drug therapy*
  • Chagas Disease / immunology
  • Chagas Disease / parasitology
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cyclobutanes / chemical synthesis*
  • Cyclobutanes / pharmacology
  • Cyclobutanes / toxicity
  • Diamines / chemical synthesis*
  • Diamines / pharmacology
  • Diamines / toxicity
  • Female
  • Immunosuppression Therapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Trypanocidal Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Trypanocidal Agents / pharmacology
  • Trypanocidal Agents / toxicity
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / drug effects
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / metabolism
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / ultrastructure
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • 3-(butylamino)-4-((3-(dimethylamino)propyl)(methyl)amino)cyclobut-3-en-1,2-dione
  • Cyclobutanes
  • Diamines
  • Trypanocidal Agents