Factors Affecting Bioactivity

The biochemical systems encountered by a drug molecule are extremely complex. Therefore, it should not be surprising that the factors affecting the drug's interactions and contributing to its final effect are also manyfold. The factors may be divided into three categories:

1. Physicochemical properties such as solubility, partition coefficients, and ionization.

2. Chemical structure parameters such as resonance, inductive effect, oxidation potentials, types of bonding, and isosterism.

3. Spatial considerations such as molecular dimensions, interatomic distances, and stereochemistry.

Factors Affecting Bioactivity
Figure 1-1. The fate of a drug. R is a receptor.

1.2.1. Physicochemical Properties

The physicochemical properties considered in this discussion are important because they all relate to the transport of the drug molecule to its site of action, more than likely a receptor with which the drug will interact in a given tissue or in an invading microorganism. Figure 1-1 represents a simplified distribution chart of a bioactive substance in the body.

A drug given orally or parenterally must traverse several semipermeable membranes before reaching its destination. The efficiency of the passage depends on the solubility characteristics of the drug, that is, its behavior in aqueous solution and toward lipids. Also, note that in each compartment the molecule is subject to various factors tending to decrease the concentration of the active form. Thus the drug may be constantly excreted either directly or following biochemical inactivation. In addition, if the drug is bound in a stored but inactive form, such as to plasma proteins, there tends to be a decrease in its effectiveness. Since it is only the unbound free drug that produces the desired pharmacologic actions, it may be possible to compensate for this phenomenon by increasing the dose.

We are concerned with solubility in polar solvents such as water and in nonpolar solvents such as lipids. More specifically we are interested in a drug's partition coefficient, which is the relative solubility between these two phases. Such a coefficient is determined by dissolving the substance in an aqueous solution and equilibrating it by agitation with an organic solvent.1 The ratio of the concentration of the drug in the two phases is the partition coefficient. Any ratio greater than 0.01 indicates appreciable lipid solubility.

Since most drugs are not structurally similar to normal cellular components, they are not likely to be transported across the membranes by "active transport" mechanisms. Rather, their rate of passage through the lipoprotein membranes is mainly a passive process determined by their degree of lipid solubility, or partition coefficient.

1 Chloroform, olive oil, or 1 -octanol to simulate the lipid phase of a biological system.

Solubility is important to bioactivity. Many groups of drugs, especially those with closely related structures, exhibit a direct relationship to solubility (i.e., increased lipid solubility exhibits higher bioactivity). This correlation is true in general anesthetics, local anesthetics, certain antibacterial agents, antiviral agents, and others. Of course, solubility factors are closely related to drug absorption. The degree of absorption is one important determinant of the intensity of the drug's action.

In addition to lipid solubility, another physicochemical property of molecules, which affects solubility directly, is the degree of the drug's electrolytic nature. All chemical compounds can be classified by their electrical conductivity behavior in aqueous solution. When dissolved, inorganic salts will completely dissociate into ions (charged particles). Positively charged ions, which are electron deficient with respect to the neutral atom, are called cations, whereas negatively charged ions (carrying excess electrons) are called anions. Thus sodium chloride will dissociate, or ionize, yielding sodium ions and chloride ions.

Substances that ionize completely in solution are considered to be strong electrolytes. Compounds that are completely undissociated, but that are still very water soluble, are termed nonelectrolytes. They do not ordinarily increase the electrical conductivity of the solution. Examples of nonelectrolytes are such polar organic compounds as sugars, low-molecular-weight alcohols, and urea. A majority of drugs are in a third category, weak electrolytes. These substances are only partially ionized in solution. They exist as a mixture of ionized and un-ionized molecular forms. The un-ionized molecular species is the more lipid-soluble form. The ionized portion of such a drug molecule usually has a much lower, often negligible, lipid solubility. Therefore, its passage through membranes frequently approaches insignificant levels. This fact has direct bearing on a drug's capacity for absorption, and therefore activity.

When a drug is a weak acid or a weak base, we find that its lipid solubility is greatly affected by the pH of its environment and by its degree of dissociation, expressed as pKa. The fraction of the total drug concentration that is in the molecular and ionic forms is indicated by the dissociation constant Ka. Equations 1.2 and 1.3 illustrate the interaction of weak acids and weak bases with water, which results in dissociation. A and B represent acids and bases, respectively.

Note that the initial reaction for both substances is shown as a protolytic reaction (pro-tonation) between an acid species and water. The water is present in such large excess that the proton transfer has only a negligible effect on its total concentration. Thus water can be eliminated from the equation without significant error. Our simplified equation for a weak acid now becomes

HA + H20 ^ H30+ + A~ BH+ + H20 ^ H30+ + B

Applying the law of mass action we obtain the general relationship:

The equation can be rearranged into the more useful Henderson-Hasselbach equation:

where Cu and Q represent the concentrations of un-ionized and ionized forms of the drug, respectively. The corresponding relationships for weak bases are:

Weak acids have a higher pKa than stronger ones. Thus, an acid with a pKa of 5 is 100 times weaker than an acid whose pKa is 3; conversely weaker bases have lower pKa values.

It is not surprising that the bioactivity of many weak acids and bases is directly related to their degree of ionization, which in turn is greatly affected by the pH of the medium in which the drug finds itself.

Since many of the drugs we encounter are weak acids or bases, an understanding of their solubility characteristics is important. Because the ionic form is the more water-soluble chemical species and the pH of the solvent environment determines the degree of ionization achieved, it becomes possible, for example, to formulate liquid pharmaceutical products such as injectables, syrups, and elixirs of drugs that would ordinarily be poorly soluble.

Low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids such as acetic acid and propionic are totally water soluble. However, as they go beyond a five-carbon content their solubility decreases rapidly. An interesting example of how advantage can be taken of these factors to form a water-soluble parenteral dosage form of a drug that is highly insoluble is the steroid methylprednisolone (structure I).

C—CH -O-R Methylprednisolone chu o a

Methylprednisolone-21-hemisuccinate

Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate

Reacting the drug with succinic anhydride results in the hemisuccinate derivative, obviously now a large 25-carbon carboxylic acid. Its solubility is less than 1 mg/ml. However, by the simple expedient of neutralizing the acidic function and forming the ionic sodium salt the solubility is increased to over 200 mg/ml. This is more than adequate to formulate injectable products of considerable concentrations.

Let us apply these concepts and attempt to make some predictions. The very useful, widely used drug aspirin is a weak acid with a pKa of 3.5. It is usually taken orally. The pH of gastric juice in the stomach is about 1; in the small intestine it is about 6. From which area would the majority of this drug be absorbed into the bloodstream? By applying Equation 1.6 we find that the drug is almost completely un-ionized in the gastric juice.

Since we have already seen that the molecular form of a drug is the lipid-soluble species, we would expect it to be readily absorbed in the stomach, which has lipoprotein membranes in its lining. This is actually the case for many weakly acidic drugs. The converse argument, of course, would apply to weakly basic drugs. We would expect their absorption from the stomach to be poor.

Consider the three barbituric acid derivatives thiopental, secobarbital, and barbital with respective pKa of 7.6, 7.9, and 7.8. These drugs are very weak acids. On the basis of their ionization constants we would expect very little difference in their absorption rates from the stomach, yet the drugs are absorbed at very different rates. The reason becomes apparent when the partition coefficients between chloroform and water are considered. Thiopental's value is over 100, whereas the values of secobarbital and barbital are 23 and 0.7, respectively. Now which would one predict to be the least rapidly absorbed and which the most? By considering only one physicochemical parameter and excluding others, erroneous conclusions can result. Figure 1-2 illustrates a hypothetical relationship of biological activity as a function of pH only.

Studies on the distribution of drugs between the intestine and plasma, between kidney tubules and urine, and between plasma and other body compartments suggests that the important general conclusion that only lipid-soluble, undissociated forms of a drug passes through membranes readily. Ionized species usually cannot pass unless a mediated transport system is present for a specific compound (or a close congener) in a given membrane, which is a rare occurrence.

The previous discussion may be an oversimplification since there are some anomalies that are more difficult to explain. For example, almost two thirds of a dose of salicylic acid (pKa 3) is absorbed from the rat stomach in 1 hour at pH 1, as might be expected. However, if the pH is raised to 8, at which point the acid is completely ionized, over one-tenth of the dose is still absorbed. Another possibility that should be kept in mind is that the un-ionized form of some weak electrolyte drugs may have intrinsically poor lipid solubility because of

Bask Consideration of Drug Activity

Bioactivity

Bioactivity

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Readers' Questions

  • caramella
    Do the sourse of bioactive compound affect its acticity?
    1 year ago
  • Yes, the source of a bioactive compound can affect its activity. For example, the same compound extracted from different plants may have different levels of activity due to the environmental conditions in which the plant grew and differences in the molecules themselves. Also, differences in the processing of the compound can also lead to different levels of activity.
    • Sabine
      How pka of drug affect shelf life?
      1 year ago
    • PKa affects the shelf life of a drug as it determines the degree of ionization which can in turn affect the physical and chemical stability of the drug. The higher the pKa, the lower the ionization, which can lead to increased chemical degradation of the drug with time. Low pKa values indicate higher ionization, which can help protect the drug from degradation.
      • Peter
        How these parameters affect the bioactivity of pharmaceutical?
        1 year ago
      • The parameters of a pharmaceutical can have a direct impact on its bioactivity, meaning that the effectiveness of the drug can be affected by certain factors related to its production and composition. For example, if the drug is not produced in the correct concentrations, it can affect its bioavailability, which is the rate and extent to which the active ingredient is absorbed and used by the body. Additionally, if the formulation of the drug is not correct, it can also have an effect on its bioactivity, as the amount, size, and regularity of particles all affect how effectively it is absorbed, distributed, and metabolized by the body. Lastly, storage conditions can also affect its bioactivity, as certain drugs are unstable and can degrade or degrade more quickly under certain conditions.
        • nile
          How inductive effect will effect the drug bioactivity?
          1 year ago
        • Inductive effect can have a significant effect on the bioactivity of drugs. Electronegative atoms (e.g. halogens) can withdraw electrons from nearby bonds and thus increase the electron density, making them more reactive and thus more bioactive. This is known as the inductive effect. For example, replacing a hydrogen atom with a halogen atom in a drug molecule can increase the drug's potency. Additionally, the inductive effect can also alter the stereochemical properties of drug molecules, resulting in different biological activities. Therefore, it is essential to consider the inductive effect when designing and developing novel drugs.
          • ermias afwerki
            How solubility will effect bioactivity of drug?
            1 year ago
          • Solubility is an important factor that can affect the bioactivity of a drug. Drugs with higher solubility tend to have higher bioactivity, as they can be more easily transported through the body and absorbed into the bloodstream. Conversely, drugs with lower solubility may experience reduced bioactivity, as they are not able to be absorbed as easily. Additionally, drugs with lower solubility can have increased clearance from the body, as they take longer to be broken down, resulting in reduced bioactivity.
            • lillie
              How the resonance effect affect the bioactivity of drug?
              1 year ago
            • The resonance effect can affect the bioactivity of a drug by enhancing its potency, stability, and selectivity. For example, when a drug molecule is arranged in a specific way, it can more effectively interact with its target site, allowing it to be more potent, stable, and selective. This resonance effect can thus improve the drug’s overall bioactivity. Additionally, the resonance effect can also reduce the amount of time the drug spends in the body and reduce its toxicity, making it more effective and efficient at delivering its desired effects.
              • katrin
                How is bioactivity of a drug determined?
                1 year ago
              • Bioactivity of a drug is determined by measuring the amount of the drug that interacts with a biological target. This can be done by measuring the binding of the drug to the target, or by measuring the effect of the drug on the target, such as changes in gene expression or enzyme activity. Other techniques, such as measuring the amount of drug that is metabolized or that enters the bloodstream, can also be used to assess bioactivity.
                • albert
                  How does molecular weight affect bioactivity?
                  1 year ago
                • Molecular weight has a direct effect on the bioactivity of a molecule. In general, molecules with higher molecular weights are less bioactive because they are less able to cross cell membranes and be taken up by cells. Smaller molecules, on the other hand, have higher bioactivity because they have greater permeability and can pass through cell membranes more easily. As a result, they can interact with proteins and other molecules more easily, leading to greater bioactivity.
                  • EGLANTINE
                    What are factars affecting bioactivity?
                    1 year ago
                  • Factors affecting bioactivity include temperature, pH, nutrient availability, enzymes, and microbial population. Other environmental factors such as light, water quality, and heavy metal levels also affect bioactivity. Additionally, the metabolic activity of microorganisms and the presence of any toxins or pollutants in the environment can be important factors.
                    • awet
                      How does pKa relate to bioactivity of drugs?
                      1 year ago
                    • pKa is a measure of the acidity of a drug, which can describe its bioactivity. A drug with a lower pKa value is generally more active or bioavailable than a drug with a higher pKa. This occurs because the lower pKa value indicates that the drug is more easily soluble in different environments and can be more easily absorbed and transported to the desired tissue site. In addition, compounds with lower pKa values have weaker conjugation, which can lead to higher potency.
                      • PEREGRIN
                        What is bioactivity and factors effecting it?
                        1 year ago
                      • Bioactivity is the ability of a substance to interact with and influence different biological systems. This can involve anything from direct action, like an antibiotic binding to a bacterium and inhibiting its growth, to more indirect influence, such as an antioxidant’s ability to scavenge free radicals from the body. Factors that affect bioactivity include chemical structure, formulation, concentration, and exposure time. Additionally, personal factors such as age, metabolism, genetics, and health can also play a role.
                        • ghenet
                          How do chemical structure parameters influence bioactivity?
                          1 year ago
                        • Chemical structure parameters can influence the bioactivity of a molecule by affecting its ability to interact with target proteins in the body. Structural parameters such as the shape, size and chemical properties of a molecule can determine its ability to bind to active sites on proteins and initiate a biological response. When a molecule binds to a target protein, it can trigger signaling pathways that lead to specific cellular behavior. Therefore, subtle differences in the chemical structure of a molecule can have major impacts on observed bioactivity.
                          • Charles Garon
                            What are factor affecting bioactivity of a drug ?
                            1 year ago
                            1. Chemical composition: The chemical composition of a drug affects its bioactivity, as different chemicals may interact differently with the body.
                            2. Molecular size: The size of the molecule of a drug influences its ability to interact with the body, and the drug must be of the appropriate size to be bioavailable.
                            3. Concentration: The concentration at which a drug is administered can also affect its bioactivity, as higher concentrations may result in increased potency.
                            4. Physicochemical properties: Physicochemical properties such as solubility, lipophilicity, and pKa can all influence a drug’s ability to interact with the body.
                            5. Pharmacokinetic parameters: Pharmacokinetic parameters such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion can all affect the drug’s bioactivity.
                            6. Metabolic pathways: The metabolic pathways in which a drug is involved and the enzymes that metabolize it may affect the drug’s bioavailability.
                            7. Pharmaceutical formulation: The pharmaceutical formulation used for the drug can have an effect on its bioavailability.
                            8. Drug interactions: Drug-drug interactions can alter the bioactivity of a drug, either by increasing or decreasing its effects.
                            • Ernestine
                              How to increase solubility withouy affecting bioactivity?
                              1 year ago
                            • Increasing solubility without affecting bioactivity can be done by several methods. These methods include encapsulation, solubilization, cyclodextrin complexation, the formation of nanocrystals, the use of hydrotropic agents, and the incorporation of surfactants. Encapsulation methods include microencapsulation, nanocapsules, and liposomes. Solubilization involves the use of co-solvents and cosolubilizing agents in order to increase solubility. Cyclodextrin complexation increases solubility by forming complexes with active compounds. Nanocrystals are particles of a nanosize which helps to increase the solubility of active compounds. Hydrotropic agents can be added to increase solubility. Finally, surfactants can be added to increase solubility and help increase bioavailability.
                              • Morven
                                Is the dissociated form of a week acid or base have a high therapeutic activity?
                                1 year ago
                              • No, the dissociated form of a weak acid or base usually does not have high therapeutic activity. These molecules tend to form bonds with other molecules in the body and exert a weaker effect.
                                • leigha
                                  How ressonance affect the bioactivity?
                                  1 year ago
                                • Ressonance can have a big impact on the bioactivity of molecules. By altering the shape of molecules through resonance, the energetic state and geometry of the molecule can be changed, affecting the chemical reactivity and bioactivity of the molecule. Resonance can stabilise or destabilise molecules, depending on the effect it has on the overall energy of the molecule. If resonance destabilises a molecule, then it will be less likely to interact with biological systems; if resonance stabilises a molecule, then it will increase its affinity for biological systems and increase its bioactivity.
                                  • lucas probst
                                    How does resonnance affects the bioactivity of drugs?
                                    1 year ago
                                  • Resonance can affect the bioactivity of drugs by affecting the physical properties of the drug, such as its solubility, stability, and cellular uptake. Resonance can also change the chemical properties of the drug, such as its reactivity and stability, which can affect its efficacy and bioactivity. For example, drugs with conjugated systems of alternating single and double bonds can have enhanced or reduced potency as a result of resonance effects.
                                    • Gilly Gardner
                                      Does the undissociated form of a weak acid or base drug have a high therapeutic effect?
                                      1 year ago
                                    • No, the undissociated form of a weak acid or base drug does not have a high therapeutic effect. When the drug is undissociated, it is not readily absorbed by the body, so it does not have the same potency as an ionized form of the drug.
                                      • Tuulikki
                                        What are the factor that could affect the bioactive?
                                        1 year ago
                                        1. Environmental factors: Climate, soil quality, water availability, and nutrient content can affect the production of bioactive compounds in crops.
                                        2. Genetic factors: Genetic variation can influence the structure, quantity, and activity of bioactive compounds in plants.
                                        3. Processing: Processing techniques used to produce food products can affect the levels and activity of bioactive compounds.
                                        4. Storage: Timing and conditions of storage can affect the levels of bioactive compounds in food products.
                                        5. Consumption: Consumption patterns and dietary preferences can affect bioactive levels and activity in food products.
                                        • virgilia
                                          How does solubility affect drug bioactivity?
                                          1 year ago
                                        • Solubility affects drug bioactivity in several ways. Firstly, solubility determines the rate at which a drug can be absorbed from the site of administration into the bloodstream and from there to its target site. Drugs with higher solubility are more readily absorbed by the body, meaning a greater amount of the drug reaches its target site and has a greater bioactivity. Secondly, solubility affects the stability of the drug in the bloodstream. If a drug is poorly soluble, it will be broken down quickly and its bioactivity will be diminished. Thirdly, solubility affects the amount of drug that can reach the target site, as drugs with high solubility are more likely to pass through biological membranes and therefore can reach the target site more easily than those with poor solubility. Finally, solubility can also affect the bioavailability of a drug, as drugs with higher solubility are more likely to be absorbed by the body and therefore have a higher bioavailability than those with poor solubility.
                                          • Silvia
                                            How does chemical structure parameters affect the bioactivity of drug?
                                            1 year ago
                                          • The chemical structure parameters of a drug can have a significant impact on its bioactivity. For example, the size, shape, and charge of molecules can influence how it binds or interacts with its target receptor, as well as how it is metabolized and absorbed. Structural parameters, such as polarizability, lipophilicity, hydrogen bonding, and electron donor-acceptor interactions, can also affect the pharmacokinetic profile, including the drug’s solubility, distribution, absorption, and metabolism. Additionally, the overall chemical stability of the drug molecule can influence its effective shelf life and ability to react with other drugs or toxins.
                                            • suoma
                                              What are the factors affecting the bioactivity of drugs?
                                              1 year ago
                                              1. Physical and chemical properties: The physical and chemical properties of a drug, such as its solubility, lipophilicity, pKa, and charge, can affect how the drug interacts with a target receptor or enzyme.
                                              2. Drug concentration: The concentration of a drug can determine how long it remains active in the body, as well as the amount of drug that has to be present to exert its desired effect.
                                              3. Metabolism: Drugs can be subject to metabolic breakdown by enzymes in the body, which can alter their effect.
                                              4. Interactions: The presence of other drugs, or food, can alter the bioactivity of a given drug.
                                              5. Dosage: The dosage of a drug affects the bioactivity, as taking too high of a dose can lead to toxicity and taking too low of a dose will fail to produce the desired effect.
                                              6. Delivery: The method of delivery of a drug, such as through injection, inhalation, oral, or topical administration, can affect the bioactivity of the drug.