Application of the cycloSal-prodrug approach for improving the biological potential of phosphorylated biomolecules

Pronucleotides represent a promising tool to improve the biological activity of nucleoside analogs in antiviral and cancer chemotherapy. The cycloSal-approach is one of several conceptually different pronucleotide systems. This approach can be applied to various nucleoside analogs. A salicyl alcohol as a cyclic bifunctional masking unit is used, and shown to afford a chemically driven release of the particular nucleotide from the lipophilic phosphate triester precursor molecule. A conceptual extension of the cycloSal-approach results in the design of “lock-in”-cycloSal-derivatives. The cycloSal-approach is not restricted to the delivery of bioactive nucleotides but also useful for the intracellular delivery of hexose-1-phosphates.