title: Stability studies of some glycolamide ester prodrugs of niflumic acid in aqueous buffers and human plasma by HPLC with UV detection.
abstract: Glycolamide esters (compounds 1-17) of 2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenylamino)nicotinic acid (niflumic acid, CAS 4394-00-7) have been synthesized and evaluated as possible prodrugs. In-vitro hydrolysis studies were conducted at selected pH values (1.2, 3.5, 4.8, 7.4 and 7.8) and in human plasma at 37 +/- 0.5 degree C using HPLC with UV detection. The aqueous (pH 7.4 and 7.8) and enzymatic rates of hydrolysis were substantially affected by the nature of promoieties in this series. The compounds showed good chemical stability in the buffers of low pH values (1.2, 3.5 and 4.8) and appreciable hydrolysis under alkaline conditions and in human plasma. They exhibited long hydrolytic half-lives of 7-46 h in aqueous buffer solutions (pH 7.4 and 7.8) and 14-21 min in human plasma, respectively. It was observed that N,N-disubstituted and cyclic glycolamide derivatives showed 2 fold more hydrolysis in the alkaline pH than monosubstituted derivatives, whereas the piperidino and thiomorpholino derivatives did not undergo chemical hydrolysis. The compounds contain two possible sites for hydrolysis with an increased hydrolytic susceptibility at the terminal aliphatic carbonyl site in aqueous buffers and human plasma solutions. They were found to be cleaved at two hydrolytic carbonyls, namely the nicotinyl (2-5 % in enzymatic hydrolysis) and the aliphatic site (7-55 % and 70-85 % in buffer and plasma hydrolysis, respectively) as revealed by HPLC analysis. The glycolamide ester prodrugs of niflumic acid underwent chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis to release mainly the metabolite 2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenylamino) nicotinic acid carboxymethyl ester (III) and not the parent drug 2-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenylamino)nicotinic acid. The structure of the metabolite was confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LCMS).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, J. N. Medical College, Belgaum, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sirajunisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Talath
authors.forename: Pramod J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Shirote
authors.forename: W John
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lough
authors.forename: Andanappa K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gadad
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D002021:Buffers; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009544:Niflumic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000737:chemistry*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012995:Solubility; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002021:Buffers; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011355:Prodrugs; D009544:Niflumic Acid