Drug Delivery to the Malaria Parasite Using an Arterolane-Like Scaffold

Antimalarial agents artemisinin and arterolane act via initial reduction of a peroxide bond in a process likely mediated by ferrous iron sources in the parasite. Here, we report the synthesis and antiplasmodial activity of arterolane‐like 1,2,4‐trioxolanes specifically designed to release a tethered drug species within the malaria parasite. Compared with our earlier drug delivery scaffolds, these new arterolane‐inspired systems are of significantly decreased molecular weight and possess superior metabolic stability. We describe an efficient, concise and scalable synthesis of the new systems, and demonstrate the use of the aminonucleoside antibiotic puromycin as a chemo/biomarker to validate successful drug release in live Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Together, the improved drug‐like properties, more efficient synthesis, and proof of concept using puromycin, suggests these new molecules as improved vehicles for targeted drug delivery to the malaria parasite. Let it go! Targeted drug delivery to the malaria parasite is demonstrated with next‐generation 1,2,4‐trioxolanes closely related to antimalarial agents arterolane and OZ439. The new systems are prepared by an improved synthetic route and exhibit superior drug‐like properties compared with their progenitors. Efficient release of a small‐molecule payload is demonstrated with the aminonucleoside puromycin, which becomes incorporated into the Plasmodium falciparum proteome when released from a competent trioxolane conjugate.