Design, Synthesis, DNA Binding, Cytotoxicity, and Molecular Docking Studies of Amonafide‐Linked β ‐Lactam

Novel Hybrid Molecules Based on triazole-β-lactam as Potential Biological Agents

Triazole ring is a cyclic scaffold containing three heteroatoms of nitrogen. They display a broad variety of biological activities. The uncatalyzed/catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions are a chemical reaction between a 1,3-dipole and a dipolarophile to achieve 1,2,3-triazoles. The hybrid approach is an innovative and powerful synthetic tool for the synthesis of two or more distinct entities in one molecule with novel biological activities. Owing to the high potential of β-lactams to display noticeable biological properties, these compounds have been one of the important ingredients in hybrid molecules. The four-membered lactams have been recognized as a part of penicillin. There are various synthetic protocols for the synthesis of β-lactams. Staudinger reaction of the Schiff bases with diphenylketenes is a successful and famous strategy for the synthesis of these products. Even though, the number of heterocyclic compounds is limited, plenty of hybrids based on heterocyclic compounds can be designed and prepared. The synthesis of hybrid products of triazole-β-lactam has proved to be highly challenging. The current review article outlines the diversity and creativity in the elegant synthesis of triazole-β-lactam hybrids as potential biological agents. Molecules including isatin, ferrocene, bile acid, chalcone, and etc were attached to β-lactam with triazole linker, as well.

Spectroscopic Studies on the Interaction of Naphthyridines with DNA and Fluorescent Detection of DNA in Agarose Gel

Four new naphthyridine derivatives (R1-R4) possessing amino acid or boronic acid moieties have been synthesized and characterized using ¹H and ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, and mass spectral techniques. The mechanism of binding of these probes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been delineated through UV-Vis, fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) spectral techniques along with thermodynamic and molecular docking studies. Small hypochromicity in absorption maximum of the probes without any shift in wavelength of absorption suggests groove binding mode of interaction of these probes with CT-DNA, confirmed by CD and 1H NMR spectral data competitive binding assay with ethidium bromide (EB). CT-DNA quenches the fluorescence of these probes via a static quenching mechanism. In the case of R1 and R4, the observed ΔH^o < 0 and ΔS^o > 0suggest that these probes interact with CT-DNA through H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions, while in the interaction of R2 and R3, van der Walls and H-boding forces are found to be dominant (ΔH^o < 0 and ΔS^o < 0). Results of molecular docking investigations corroborate well with that of spectral studies, and these probes bind in the minor groove of DNA. These probes are found to be effective fluorescent staining agents for DNA in agarose gel in gel electrophoresis experiment with sensitivity comparable to that of EB, and DNA amounts as low as 37.5 ng are visually detectable in the gel.

Recent Advances in β-lactam Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents

Cancer, accounts for around 10 million deaths annually, is the second leading cause of death globally. The continuous emergency of drug-resistant cancers and the low specificity of anticancer agents are the main challenges in the control and eradication of cancers, so it is imperative to develop novel anticancer agents. Immense efforts have been made in developing new lead compounds and novel chemotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of various forms of cancers in recent years. β-Lactam derivatives constitute versatile and attractive scaffolds for the drug discovery since these kinds of compounds possess a variety of pharmacological properties, and some of them exhibited promising potency against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cancer cell lines. Thus, β-lactam moiety is a useful template for the development of novel anticancer agents. This review will provide an overview of β-lactam derivatives with the potential therapeutic application for the treatment of cancers covering articles published between 2000 and 2020. The mechanisms of action, the critical aspects of design and structureactivity relationships are also discussed.