The novel positively charged pro-drugs of
aryl- and heteroarylacetic acids in the general formula(1) 'Structure 1' were designed and synthesized. The compounds of the general formula(1) 'Structure 1' indicated above can be prepared from functional derivatives of tolmetin, zomepirac,
etodolac, amfenac, bromofenac, alclofenac, fenclofenac, acemetacin, indomethacin,
sulindac, fentiazac, lonazolac, bendazac, 6MNA, ibufenac, and related compounds, (for example acid halides or mixed anhydrides), by reaction with suitable alcohols, thiols, or amines. The positively charged amino groups of these pro-drugs not only largely increases the
solubility of the drugs, but also bonds to the
negative charge on the
phosphate head group of membranes and pushes the pro-
drug into the
cytosol. The results suggest that the pro-drugs diffuses through
human skin 100 times faster than does tolmetin, zomepirac,
etodolac, amfenac, bromofenac, alclofenac, fenclofenac, acemetacin, indomethacin,
sulindac, fentiazac, lonazolac, bendazac, or related compounds. It takes 2-4 hours for tolmetin, zomepirac,
etodolac, amfenac, bromofenac, alclofenac, fenclofenac, acemetacin, indomethacin,
sulindac, fentiazac, lonazolac, bendazac, 6MNA, ibufenac, and related compounds to reach the
peak plasma level when they are taken orally, but these prodrugs only took about 40-50 minutes to reach the
peak plasma level when they are taken transdermally. In
plasma, more than 90% of these pro-drugs can change back to the
drug in a few minutes. The prodrugs can be used medicinally in treating any NSAIAs-treatable conditions in humans or animals. The prodrugs can be administered not only orally, but also transdermally for any kind of medical treatments and avoid most of the side effects of NSAIAs, most notably GI disturbances such as dyspepsia, gastroduodenal bleeding,
gastric ulcerations, and
gastritis.