Rational Design, Chemical Syntheses, and Biological Evaluations of Peripherally Selective Mu Opioid Receptor Ligands as Potential Opioid Induced Constipation Treatment

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common adverse effect of opioid analgesics. Peripherally acting μ Opioid Receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) can be applied in the treatment of OIC without compromising the analgesic effects. NAP, a 6β-N-4-pyridyl-substituted naltrexamine derivative, was previously identified as a potent and selective MOR antagonist mainly acting peripherally but with some CNS effects. Herein, we introduced a highly polar aromatic moiety, for example, a pyrazolyl or imidazolyl ring to decrease CNS MPO scores in order to reduce passive BBB permeability. Four compounds 2, 5, 17, and 19, when administered orally, were able to increase intestinal motility during morphine-induced constipation in the carmine red dye assays. Among them, compound 19 (p.o.) improved GI tract motility by 75% while orally administered NAP and methylnaltrexone showed no significant effects at the same dose. Thus, this compound seemed a promising agent to be further developed as an oral treatment for OIC.