Development of novel LP1-based analogues with enhanced delta opioid receptor profile

Abstract Pain relief achieved by co-administration of drugs acting at different targets is more effective than that obtained with conventional MOR selective agonists usually associated to relevant side effects. It has been demonstrated that simultaneously targeting different opioid receptors is a more effective therapeutic strategy. Giving the promising role for DOR in pain management, novel LP1-based analogues with different N -substituents were designed and synthesized with the aim to improve DOR profile. For this purpose, we maintained the phenyl ring in the N -substituent of 6,7-benzomorphan scaffold linked to an ethyl spacer bearing a hydroxyl/methyl or methoxyl group at carbon 2 or including it in a 1,4-benzodioxane ring. LP1 analogues were tested by competition binding assays. Compounds 6 (K i MOR  = 2.47 nM, K i DOR  = 9.6 nM), 7 (K i MOR  = 0.5 nM and K i DOR  = 0.8 nM) and 9 (K i MOR  = 1.08 nM, K i DOR  = 6.6 nM) retained MOR affinity but displayed an improved DOR binding capacity as compared to LP1 (K i MOR  = 0.83 nM, K i DOR  = 29.1 nM). Moreover, GPI and MVD functional assays indicated that compounds 6 (IC 50  = 49.2 and IC 50  = 10.8 nM), 7 (IC 50  = 9.9 and IC 50  = 11.8 nM) and 9 (IC 50  = 21.5 and IC 50  = 4.4 nM) showed a MOR/DOR agonist profile, unlike LP1 that was a MOR agonist/DOR antagonist (IC 50  = 1.9 and IC 50  = 1240 nM). Measurements of their antinociceptive effect was evaluated by mice radiant tail flick test displaying for compounds 6 , 7 and 9 ED 50 values of 1.3, 1.0 and 0.9 mg/kg, i.p., respectively. Moreover, the antinociceptive effect of compound 9 was longer lasting with respect to LP1. In conclusion the N -substituent nature of compounds 6 , 7 and 9 shifts the DOR profile of LP1 from antagonism to agonism.