Nanoenabling MbtI Inhibitors for Next-Generation Tuberculosis Therapy

J Med Chem. 2025 Mar 13;68(5):5312-5332. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02386. Epub 2025 Mar 3.

Abstract

The urgent need for safer and innovative antitubercular agents remains a priority for the scientific community. In pursuit of this goal, we designed and evaluated novel 5-phenylfuran-2-carboxylic acid derivatives targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) salicylate synthase (MbtI), a key enzyme, absent in humans, that plays a crucial role in Mtb virulence. Several potent MbtI inhibitors demonstrating significant antitubercular activity and a favorable safety profile were identified. Structure-guided optimization yielded 5-(3-cyano-5-isobutoxyphenyl)furan-2-carboxylic acid (1e), which exhibited strong MbtI inhibition (IC50 = 11.2 μM) and a promising in vitro antitubercular activity (MIC99 = 32 μM against M. bovis BCG). Esters of 1e were effectively loaded into poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine)-poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PMPC-PDPA) polymersomes (POs) and delivered to intracellular mycobacteria, resulting in reduced Mtb viability. This study provides a foundation for the use of POs in the development of future MbtI-targeted therapies for tuberculosis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antitubercular Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Antitubercular Agents* / chemistry
  • Antitubercular Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antitubercular Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis* / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis / microbiology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors