Recent advances in biotransformation by Cunninghamella species

: The goal of the biotransformation process is to develop structural changes and generate new chemical compounds, which can occur naturally in mammalian and microbial organisms, such as filamentous fungi, and represent a tool to achieve enhanced bioactive compounds. Cunninghamella spp is among the fungal models most widely used in biotransformation processes at phase I and II reactions, mimicking the metabolism of drugs and xenobiotics in mammals and generating new molecules based on substances of natural and synthetic origin. Therefore, the goal of this review is to highlight the studies involving the biotransformation of Cunninghamella species between January 2015 and March 2021, in addition to updating existing studies to identify the similarities between the human metabolite and Cunninghamella patterns of active compounds, with related advantages and challenges, and providing new tools for further studies in this scope.

Identification, isolation and characterization of a pharmaceutical impurity in levocetirizine hydrochloride

: Levocetirizine is the active R-enantiomer of the racemate cetirizine, the latter being a piperazine derivative and human metabolite of the first-generation antihistamine hydroxyzine. In this study, a pharmaceutical impurity was detected and isolated through various chromatographic methods. The structure was identified as levocetirizine quaternary ammonium by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. The formation mechanisms of the impurity were also presented.

Human metabolite-derived alkylsuccinate/dilinoleate copolymers: from synthesis to application

In a set of experiments, we demonstrated that the combination of alkyl succinates and dilinoleic acid-based monomers produces biocompatible polyesters outperforming, biologically and mechanically, polymers used for bioapplications such as PVC, PLGA and PCL.

Formaldehyde quantification using ampicillin is not selective

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a simple and highly reactive human metabolite but its biochemistry is poorly defined. A limiting factor in HCHO research is lack of validated quantification methods for HCHO relevant to biological samples. We describe spectroscopic studies on a reported fluorescence-based HCHO detection method involving its reaction with ampicillin. The results validate the structure and fluorescence properties of the HCHO-ampicillin reaction product. However, the same adduct is observed after reaction of ampicillin with glyoxylate. Related fluorophores were formed with other biologically relevant carbonyl compounds. Overall, our studies suggest the ampicillin method is not reliable for selective detection and quantification of HCHO in biological samples.