Plasma protein properties

Table 9. Properties of Human Albumin and Plasma Protein Fraction ...

Biomedical Applications Due to their excellent blood compatibility (low interaction with plasma proteins) and high oxygen and moisture permeabilities, siloxane containing copolymers and networks have been extensively evaluated and used in the construction of blood contacting devices and contact lenses 376). Depending on the actual use, the desired mechanical properties of these materials are usually achieved by careful design and selection of the organic component in the copolymers. 

The fundamental role of blood in the maintenance of homeostasis and the ease with which blood can be obtained have meant that the study of its constituents has been of central importance in the development of biochemistry and clinical biochemistry. The basic properties of a number of plasma proteins, including the immunoglobulins (antibodies), are described in this chapter. Changes in the amounts of various plasma proteins and immunoglobulins occur in many diseases and can be monitored by electrophoresis or other suitable procedures. As indicated in an earlier chapter, alterations of the activities of certain enzymes found in plasma are of diagnostic use in a number of pathologic conditions. 

The distribution of a drug in the body is largely driven by its physicochemical properties and in part for some compounds by the contribution of transporter proteins [17]. By using the Oie-Tozer equation and estimates for ionization (pfCj). plasma protein binding (PPB) and lipophilicity (log quite robust predictions for the volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss), often within 2-fold of the observed value, can be made [18]. 

Hansch and Leo [13] described the impact of Hpophihdty on pharmacodynamic events in detailed chapters on QSAR studies of proteins and enzymes, of antitumor drugs, of central nervous system agents as well as microbial and pesticide QSAR studies. Furthermore, many reviews document the prime importance of log P as descriptors of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties [5-18]. Increased lipophilicity was shown to correlate with poorer aqueous solubility, increased plasma protein binding, increased storage in tissues, and more rapid metabolism and elimination. Lipophilicity is also a highly important descriptor of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability [19, 20]. Last, but not least, lipophilicity plays a dominant role in toxicity prediction [21]. 

Oncley, J.L., Gurd, F.R.N. and Melin, M. (1950). Preparation and properties of serum and plasma proteins XXV. Composition and properties on human serum d-lipoprotein. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 72, 458-464. 

Heparin has been reported to complex with a variety of basic species, including biogenic amines and drugs for reviews, see Refs. 10 and 391. For its possible relevance to the pharmacological properties of heparin and complexed species, mention is made here of complexes with histamine392,393 and anthracycline antibiotics.394 C.d. studies on the interaction of basic homopolypeptides with heparin and other glycosaminogly-cans have shown that heparin is able to induce an ordered, helical conformation in the polypeptide.395 397 Similar, and even more dramatic, effects were observed with mixed basic polypeptides, presumed to represent better models for the biologically relevant interactions with plasma proteins.368... 

The aggregation and surface properties of Cardax, 3.19, in various aqueous formulations were comprehensively evaluated in 2005 (Foss et al. 2005c), as well as the potential plasma protein binding in mammalian applications with molecular modeling (Zsila et al. 2003). Cardax, 3.19, proved... 

A paper detailing the properties of the multikinase inhibitor ABT-869 (7) did not indicate whether plasma protein binding data were used in the optimization leading to this highly protein-bound (mouse 98.2%, human 99.0%) compound [45]. A dose which provided a 69% reduction in tumor growth and >50% inhibition of receptor phosphorylation and pharmacodynamic response afforded plasma concentration that remained above the cellular IC50 for receptor phosphorylation in the presence of plasma for 4 of 12 h in the bid dosing cycle. 

There have been several reports where plasma protein binding data was used in the prediction of in vivo properties of compounds. Two papers noted that the ability to predict in vivo clearance from in vitro microsome data was greatly improved when a plasma protein binding term was included [64,65]. In another study, binding to phospholipids and human serum albumin was assessed by HPLC retention times (on IAM and HAS columns, respectively) and used to predict volume of distribution [66]. 

The vague definition offered above or rather these characteristics appear to be sufficient since no plasma protein capable of forming a strong bond with Hb is known to occur in mammalian plasma except those mucoproteins with the general biochemical properties originally accepted as characteristic of haptoglobins. 

It was conclusively shown that deoxychlordiazepoxide (393) had none of the phototoxic properties of the parent drug, at least in the rat [225]. Chlordiazepoxide, demethylchlordiazepoxide, demoxepam and diazepam-4-oxide were all phototoxic to a bacterial cell preparation. There was a close relationship between the phototoxicities of the A-oxides and the toxicity in the dark of their oxaziridines. The reduced forms of the four compounds were not phototoxic [ 228 ]. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the oxaziridine (390) covalently bonds to plasma proteins. The half-life of the oxaziridine in the presence of high concentrations of protein was about 30 min. It therefore has time not only to bind to biomolecules in the skin surface, but also to attack internal organs. This was put forward as the explanation of previously observed kidney and liver damage in the rat [229]. 

Additional assays used in early pharmaceutical property profiles usually include plasma protein binding, individual cytochrome P450 assays, stability in the presence of serum, production of metabolites likely to be involved in covalent binding to biomolecules, and interaction with efflux pumps ... 

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