Synthesis and transdermal permeation of novel N4-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) carbamates of cytarabine

Background: Cytarabine is a deoxycytidine analogue commonly used in the treatment of hematological malignant diseases. Its clinical utility, however, is severely limited by its short plasma half-life because of the catabolic action of nucleoside deaminases. Method: In this study, N4-carbamate derivatives of cytarabine (1) were synthesized and evaluated for transdermal penetration because this mode of administration may circumvent its limitations. The synthesis of these compounds was achieved in a two-step process. First, the methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) was activated by p-nitrophenyl chloroformate. Second, the activated intermediates were reacted with cytarabine in the presence of N-hydroxysuccinamide to give the N4-methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) carbamate derivatives. The transdermal flux values of the N4-carbamates of cytarabine were determined in vitro by Franz diffusion cell methodology. Aqueous solubility and log D (pH 7.4) values were determined and assessed for correlation with transdermal flux values. Results: The synthesized carbamates, particularly, (9)–(13), showed increased solubility in both aqueous and lipid media. Log D values decreased as the oxyethylene chain lengthened. Conclusion: Although none of the derivatives showed significantly higher transdermal penetration than cytarabine (1), it should be mentioned that the mean for cytarabine N4-methoxyethyleneoxycarbamate (8) was 10 times higher and the median was 2 times highe