Optimizing drug-like properties of selective butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors for cognitive improvement: Enhancing aqueous solubility by disrupting molecular plane

Most recently, worldwide interest in butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) as a potential target for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) has increased. In this study, the previously obtained selective BChE inhibitors with benzimidazole-oxadiazole scaffold were further structurally modified to increase their aqueous solubility and pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics. S16 – 1029 showed improved solubility (3280 μM, upgraded by 14 times) and PK parameters, including plasma exposure (AUC 0-inf  = 1729.95 ng/mL*h, upgraded by 2.6 times) and oral bioavailability (F po  = 48.18%, upgraded by 2 times). S16 – 1029 also displayed weak or no inhibition against Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and human ether a-go-go related gene ( h ERG) potassium channel. In vivo experiments on tissue distribution revealed that S16 – 1029 could cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and reach the central nervous system (CNS). In vivo cognitive improvement efficacy and good in vitro target inhibitory activity ( eq BChE IC 50  = 11.35 ± 4.84 nM, h BChE IC 50  = 48.1 ± 11.4 nM) were also assured. The neuroprotective effects against several AD pathology characteristics allowed S16 – 1029 to successfully protect the CNS of progressed AD patients. According to the findings of this study, altering molecular planarity might be a viable strategy for improving the drug-like property of CNS-treating drugs.