General Strategy for Integrated Bioorthogonal Prodrugs: Pt(II)-Triggered Depropargylation Enables Controllable Drug Activation In Vivo

J Med Chem. 2020 Nov 25;63(22):13899-13912. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01435. Epub 2020 Nov 3.

Abstract

Bioorthogonal decaging reactions for controllable drug activation within complex biological systems are highly desirable yet extremely challenging. Herein, we find a new class of Pt(II)-triggered bioorthogonal cleavage reactions in which Pt(II) but not Pt(IV) complexes effectively trigger the cleavage of O/N-propargyl in a variety of ranges of caged molecules under biocompatible conditions. Based on these findings, we propose a general strategy for integrated bioorthogonal prodrugs and accordingly design a prodrug 16, in which a Pt(IV) moiety is covalently connected with an O2-propargyl diazeniumdiolate moiety. It is found that 16 can be specifically reduced by cytoplasmic reductants in human ovarian cancer cells to liberate cisplatin, which subsequently stimulates the cleavage of O2-propargyl to release large amounts of NO in situ, thus generating synergistic and potent tumor suppression activity in vivo. Therefore, Pt(II)-triggered depropargylation and the integration concept might provide a general strategy for broad applicability of bioorthogonal cleavage chemistry in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activation, Metabolic / drug effects*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cisplatin / chemistry*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Prodrugs
  • Cisplatin