The use of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers as a method of drug delivery for ligands to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRS)
by Keene-Klutz, Athena Marie, Ph.D., THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, 2009, 162 pages; 3381638

Abstract:

This dissertation reports the first research showing that it is feasible to enhance the pharmacological profile of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligand (specifically adenosine receptor [AR] ligand by conjugating the ligand to a dendrimer, a multi-branching polymer. First, it was determined that the 32 terminal amino groups on the generation 3 (G3) polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer caused ∼70% cell death to Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells at a 10 μM concentration. Therefore, a series of PAMAM G3-Acetyl (Ac) and PAMAM G3-poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) dendrimer conjugates was synthesized. To increase cell survival at a 10 μM concentration, a minimum of 20Ac or 7PEG550 groups was needed, allowing these PAMAM conjugates to serve as universal scaffolds for drug delivery. Next, nucleoside agonists of the A2A AR, an anti-aggregatory GPCR, were covalently attached to a PAMAM G3 dendrimers, and their binding to the human A2A AR was evaluated. Three drug conjugates were synthesized and characterized: 32, a conjugate with 5 nucleoside units and 20Ac (A2A K i 152 nM); 35, a dendrimer with 31 nucleoside moieties (A2A Ki 96 nM); and 34, a control dendrimer with 20Ac and no nucleoside (no A2A AR affinity). 32 and 35 significantly decreased platelet aggregation whereas 34 had no effect on platelet aggregation. Therefore, dendrimer-ligand conjugates are still able to bind and activate the A2A AR. Finally, synthesis and binding using derivatives of ADAC, an A1 agonist with anti-arrhythmic properties, were completed. N-(2-aminoethyl)-ADAC, was synthesized and found to be equipotent at the A1 AR and the anti-inflammatory A3 AR. This derivative was coupled by an amide bond to a fluorescently-labeled PAMAM G2.5 dendrimer. In binding and functional cAMP inhibition assays, this conjugate had a Ki of 2.4 nM and 100-fold selectivity for the A 3 AR. This is the first example showing that it is feasible to enhance the pharmacological profile of a GPCR ligand based on conjugation to a nanocarrier and the precise structure of the linking group. This dissertation proves that PAMAM dendrimers can serve as general scaffolds to deliver ligands to GPCRs.

 
AdviserKenneth A. Jacobson
SchoolTHE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
SourceDAI/B 70-10, p. , Dec 2009
Source TypeDissertation
SubjectsPharmacology; Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Publication Number3381638
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