James L Little

Publications of James L Little

• Identification of "known unknowns" utilizing accurate mass data and ChemSpider.

  Authors: James L Little, Antony J Williams, Alexey Pshenichnov, Valery Tkachenko

  Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. 11/2011; 23(1):179-85.

  In many cases, an unknown to an investigator is actually known in the chemical literature, a reference database, or an internet resource. We refer to these types of compounds as "known unknowns."In many cases, an unknown to an investigator is actually known in the chemical literature, a reference database, or an internet resource. We refer to these types of compounds as "known unknowns." ChemSpider is a very valuable internet database of known compounds useful in the identification of these types of compounds in commercial, environmental, forensic, and natural product samples. The database contains over 26 million entries from hundreds of data sources and is provided as a free resource to the community. Accurate mass mass spectrometry data is used to query the database by either elemental composition or a monoisotopic mass. Searching by elemental composition is the preferred approach. However, it is often difficult to determine a unique elemental composition for compounds with molecular weights greater than 600 Da. In these cases, searching by the monoisotopic mass is advantageous. In either case, the search results are refined by sorting the number of references associated with each compound in descending order. This raises the most useful candidates to the top of the list for further evaluation. These approaches were shown to be successful in identifying "known unknowns" noted in our laboratory and for compounds of interest to others.

  Download

• Identification of "known unknowns" utilizing accurate mass data and chemical abstracts service databases.

  Authors: James L Little, Curtis D Cleven, Stacy D Brown

  Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. 02/2011; 22(2):348-59.

  In many cases, an unknown to an investigator is actually known in the chemical literature. We refer to these types of compounds as "known unknowns." Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry is aIn many cases, an unknown to an investigator is actually known in the chemical literature. We refer to these types of compounds as "known unknowns." Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry is a particularly good source of these substances as it contains over 54 million entries. Accurate mass measurements can be used to query the CAS Registry by either molecular formulae or average molecular weights. Searching the database by the web-based version of SciFinder is the preferred approach when molecular formulae are available. However, if a definitive molecular formula cannot be ascertained, searching the database with STN Express by average molecular weights is a viable alternative. The results from either approach are refined by employing the number of associated references or minimal sample history as orthogonal filters. These approaches were shown to be successful in identifying "known unknowns" noted in LC-MS and even GC-MS analyses in our laboratory. In addition, they were demonstrated in the identification of a variety of compounds of interest to others.

• Inhibiting efflux with novel non-ionic surfactants: Rational design based on vitamin E TPGS.

  Authors: Michael F Wempe, Charles Wright, James L Little, Janet W Lightner, Shannon E Large, George B Caflisch, Charles M Buchanan, Peter J Rice, Vincent J Wacher, Karen M Ruble, Kevin J Edgar

  International journal of pharmaceutics. 12/2008;

  Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol Succinate 1000 (TPGS 1000) can inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp); TPGS 1000 was not originally designed to inhibit an efflux pump. Recent work from our laboratoriesTocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol Succinate 1000 (TPGS 1000) can inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp); TPGS 1000 was not originally designed to inhibit an efflux pump. Recent work from our laboratories demonstrated that TPGS activity has a rational PEG chain length dependency. In other recent work, inhibition mechanism was investigated and appears to be specific to the ATPase providing P-gp energy. Based on these observations, we commenced rational surface-active design. The current work summarizes new materials tested in a validated Caco-2 cell monolayer model; rhodamine 123 (10muM) was used as the P-gp substrate. These results demonstrate that one may logically construct non-ionic surfactants with enhanced propensity to inhibit in vitro efflux. One new surfactant based inhibitor, Tocopheryl Polypropylene Glycol Succinate 1000 (TPPG 1000), approached cyclosporine (CsA) in its in vitro efflux inhibitory potency. Subsequently, TPPG 1000 was tested for its ability to enhance the bioavailability of raloxifene - an established P-gp substrate -in fasted male rats. Animals dosed with raloxifene and TPPG 1000 experienced an increase in raloxifene oral bioavailability versus a control group which received no inhibitor. These preliminary results demonstrate that one may prepare TPGS analogs that possess enhanced inhibitory potency in vitro and in vivo.

• Pharmacokinetics of saquinavir after intravenous and oral dosing of saquinavir: hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin formulations.

  Authors: Charles M Buchanan, Norma L Buchanan, Kevin J Edgar, James L Little, Michael G Ramsey, Karen M Ruble, Vincent J Wacher, Michael F Wempe

  Biomacromolecules. 02/2008; 9(1):305-13.

  The current research evaluated the ability of hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HBenBCD) to enhance saquinavir in vitro solubility and in vivo oral bioavailability; both the base and mesylate saltThe current research evaluated the ability of hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HBenBCD) to enhance saquinavir in vitro solubility and in vivo oral bioavailability; both the base and mesylate salt forms of saquinavir were investigated. HBenBCD was effective and significantly improved saquinavir solubility in aqueous media. In the presence of 10 wt % HBenBCD, saquinavir base solubility in water was increased to ca. 5.5 +/- 0.4 mg/mL and represents a 27-fold increase from that observed in water (207 +/- 5 microg/mL) in the absence of HBenBCD. Saquinavir-HBenBCD formulations were found to have rapid dissolution over a wide pH range (1.2-6.8), and saquinavir solubility in these media was maintained throughout the experiments. When saquinavir-HBenBCD formulations were administered to Wistar-Hannover rats, saquinavir was rapidly absorbed and rapidly eliminated. Rapid saquinavir elimination was particularly pronounced when saquinavir-HBenBCD formulations were given as an oral aqueous gavage. Saquinavir oral bioavailability in rats obtained from saquinavir mesylate capsules (2.0% +/- 0.7%) was increased (9 +/- 4)-fold (18.6% +/- 7.3%) when dosed with saquinavir base-HBenBCD capsules. Clearly, HBenBCD can significantly improve the solubility and oral bioavailability of saquinavir; however, further formulation studies are required to optimize saquinavir oral delivery using this technology.

• Pharmacokinetics of itraconazole after intravenous and oral dosing of itraconazole-cyclodextrin formulations.

  Authors: Charles M Buchanan, Norma L Buchanan, Kevin J Edgar, Sandra Klein, James L Little, Michael G Ramsey, Karen M Ruble, Vincent J Wacher, Michael F Wempe

  Journal of pharmaceutical sciences. 12/2007; 96(11):3100-16.

  The current research evaluated and compared the efficacy of hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HBenBCD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) as enhancers of itraconazole solubility and oralThe current research evaluated and compared the efficacy of hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HBenBCD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) as enhancers of itraconazole solubility and oral bioavailability. At 10 wt% cyclodextrin, 17-fold and 3.8-fold increases in itraconazole aqueous solubility were observed in the presence of HBenBCD and HPBCD, respectively. Significant differences in the dissolution of itraconazole in the presence of these two cyclodextrins were also observed. Itraconazole pharmacokinetics is known to exhibit a significant food effect. However, testing in biorelevant media indicated that no food effects should be observed after oral administration of itraconazole:HBenBCD complexes. Formulations of itraconazole with HBenBCD were prepared and these complexes, along with the commercial forms of itraconazole with and without HPBCD (Sporanox) were administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats by oral and intravenous routes. Intravenous administration of itraconazole formulated with HBenBCD resulted in a higher AUC relative to Sporanox. When administered as oral solutions, the itraconazole:HBenBCD formulation provided higher oral bioavailability than the Sporanox oral solution. When administered as solid formulations, the itraconazole:HBenBCD solid formulation provided a 2x increase in oral bioavailability relative to the Sporanox solid formulation. No food effects were observed with the itraconazole:HBenBCD solid dosage forms. Drug/metabolite ratios were dependent upon the dosage form.

• Pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen after intravenous and oral dosing of tamoxifen-hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin formulations.

  Authors: Charles M Buchanan, Norma L Buchanan, Kevin J Edgar, James L Little, Michael O Malcolm, Karen M Ruble, Vincent J Wacher, Michael F Wempe

  Journal of pharmaceutical sciences. 04/2007; 96(3):644-60.

  Oral and intravenous administration of tamoxifen base and tamoxifen citrate formulated with hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HBenBCD) to Sprague-Dawley rats significantly increased the oralOral and intravenous administration of tamoxifen base and tamoxifen citrate formulated with hydroxybutenyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HBenBCD) to Sprague-Dawley rats significantly increased the oral bioavailability of tamoxifen relative to that of parent drug (no HBenBCD). When formulated with HBenBCD, the form of tamoxifen (base vs. salt) made no difference in the oral bioavailability of tamoxifen. Liquid formulations (PG:PEG400:H2O) provided higher oral bioavailability than solid formulations dissolved and dosed as aqueous oral solutions. The oral bioavailability of tamoxifen was significantly influenced by both dietary status and time of dosing of the animals. Tamoxifen metabolite plasma concentrations were not affected by complexation of tamoxifen with HBenBCD. Collectively, the data indicated that dosing of fasted animals in the morning with tamoxifen:HBenBCD formulations provided a very significant increase in tamoxifen oral bioavailability (up to 10- to 14-fold).

• Characterization of 'Schizokinen'; a dihydroxamate-type siderophore produced by Rhizobium leguminosarum IARI 917.

  Authors: E P Storey, R Boghozian, James L Little, Douglas W Lowman, R Chakraborty

  Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine. 01/2007; 19(6):637-49.

  The Rhizobia comprise one of the most important groups of beneficial bacteria, which form nodules on the roots (rarely on the stems) of leguminous plants. They live within the nodules and reduceThe Rhizobia comprise one of the most important groups of beneficial bacteria, which form nodules on the roots (rarely on the stems) of leguminous plants. They live within the nodules and reduce atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia, which is further assimilated by plants into required nitrogenous compounds. The Rhizobia in return obtain nutrition from the plant. Rhizobia are free-living soil bacteria and have to compete with other microorganisms for the limited available iron in the rhizosphere. In order to acquire iron Rhizobia have been shown to express siderophore-mediated iron transport systems. Rhizobium leguminosarum IARI 917 was investigated for its ability to produce siderophore. It was found to produce a dihydroxamate type siderophore under iron restricted conditions. The siderophore was purified and chemically characterized. The ESMS, MS/MS and NMR analysis indicate the dihydroxamate siderophore to be 'schizokinen', a siderophore reported to be produced by Bacillus megaterium that shares a similar structure to 'rhizobactin 1021' produced by Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021. This is the first report of production of schizokinen by a strain of R. leguminosarum, therefore it was carefully investigated to confirm that it is indeed 'schizokinen' and not a degradation product of 'rhizobactin 1021'. Since ferric-siderophore complexes are transported across the outer membrane (OM) into the periplasm via an OM receptor protein, R. leguminosarum IARI 917 was investigated for the presence of an OM receptor for 'ferric-schizokinen'. SDS PAGE analysis of whole cell pellet and extracted OM fractions indicate the presence of a possible iron-repressible OM receptor protein with the molecular weight (MW) of approximately 74 kDa.

• Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry method development for drug metabolism studies: Examining lipid matrix ionization effects in plasma.

  Authors: James L Little, Michael F Wempe, Charles M Buchanan

  Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences. 05/2006; 833(2):219-30.

  Glycerophosphocholines (GPCho's) are known to cause liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) matrix ionization effects during the analysis of biological samples (i.e.Glycerophosphocholines (GPCho's) are known to cause liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) matrix ionization effects during the analysis of biological samples (i.e. blood, plasma). We have developed a convenient new method, which we refer to as "in-source multiple reaction monitoring" (IS-MRM), for detecting GPCho's during LC-MS/MS method development. The approach uses high energy in-source collisionally induced dissociation (CID) to yield trimethylammonium-ethyl phosphate ions (m/z 184), which are formed from mono- and disubstituted GPCho's. The resulting ion is selected by the first quadrupole (Q1), passed through the collision cell (Q2) in the presence of collision gas at low energy to minimize fragmentation, and m/z 184 selected by the third quadrupole. This approach can be combined with standard multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions with little compromise in sensitivity during method development and sample analysis. Hence, this approach was used to probe ionization matrix effects in plasma samples. The resulting information was employed to develop LC-MS/MS analyses for drugs and their metabolites with cycle times less than 5 min.

• Inhibiting efflux with novel non-ionic surfactants: Rational design based on vitamin E TPGS

  Authors: Michael F. Wempe, Charles Wright, James L. Little, Janet W. Lightner, Shannon E. Large, George B. Caflisch, Charles M. Buchanan, Peter J. Rice, Vincent J. Wacher, Karen M. Ruble, Kevin J. Edgar

  International Journal of Pharmaceutics.

  Tocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol Succinate 1000 (TPGS 1000) can inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp); TPGS 1000 was not originally designed to inhibit an efflux pump. Recent work from our laboratoriesTocopheryl Polyethylene Glycol Succinate 1000 (TPGS 1000) can inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp); TPGS 1000 was not originally designed to inhibit an efflux pump. Recent work from our laboratories demonstrated that TPGS activity has a rational PEG chain length dependency. In other recent work, inhibition mechanism was investigated and appears to be specific to the ATPase providing P-gp energy. Based on these observations, we commenced rational surface-active design. The current work summarizes new materials tested in a validated Caco-2 cell monolayer model; rhodamine 123 (10 μM) was used as the P-gp substrate. These results demonstrate that one may logically construct non-ionic surfactants with enhanced propensity to inhibit in vitro efflux. One new surfactant based inhibitor, Tocopheryl Polypropylene Glycol Succinate 1000 (TPPG 1000), approached cyclosporine (CsA) in its in vitro efflux inhibitory potency. Subsequently, TPPG 1000 was tested for its ability to enhance the bioavailability of raloxifene – an established P-gp substrate – in fasted male rats. Animals dosed with raloxifene and TPPG 1000 experienced an increase in raloxifene oral bioavailability versus a control group which received no inhibitor. These preliminary results demonstrate that one may prepare TPGS analogs that possess enhanced inhibitory potency in vitro and in vivo.