Synthesis, antiproliferative and apoptosis induction potential activities of novel bis(indolyl)hydrazide-hydrazone derivatives

Preliminary evaluation of antiproliferative and apoptotic activities of novel indolin-2-one derivatives

Indole-based agents are frequently used in targeted or supportive therapy of several cancers. In this study, we investigated the anticancer properties of originally synthesized novel indolin-2-one derivatives (6a-d) against Malignant Mesothelioma, Breast cancer, and Colon Cancer cells. Our results revealed that all derivatives were effectively delayed cell proliferation by inhibiting the ERK1/2, AKT, and STAT3 signaling pathways in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, these variants induced cell cycle arrest in the S phase, accompanied by elevated levels of p21 and p27 expressions. Derivatives also initiated mitochondrial apoptosis through the upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 proteins, leading to the activation of caspase 3 and PARP cleavage in exposed cells. Remarkably, three of the indolin-2-one derivatives displayed significant selectivity towards Breast and Colon Cancer cells, with compound 6d promising as the most potent and wide spectral one for all cancer cell lines.

Transition metal complexes of hydrazones as potential antimicrobial and anticancer agents: A short review

Hydrazones display an interesting profile of biological activities, which includes mainly antimicrobial and antiproliferative properties. Hydrazones also play an important role in the synthesis of heterocyclic rings and in coordination chemistry. Currently, the synthesis of complexes of hydrazones with transition metals is quite frequently reported in the scientific literature. The interest in this topic is largely due to diverse biological activities of the metal complexes of hydrazones that in some cases are much more effective than hydrazones themselves. This review focuses on the complexes of hydrazones with transition metals which display antibacterial, antitubercular, antifungal and anticancer activities. In the following subchapters devoted to a given activity, an attempt has been made to present the most active complexes of hydrazones, their trends in their activity and application in medicinal chemistry. The paper presents the literature data from 2009 to 2023. This review constitutes a useful guide for the researchers who intend to synthesize and investigate complexes of hydrazones in terms of their antimicrobial and anticancer activities.

In vitro and in vivo activity of a novel oxamide-hydrazone hybrid derivative against triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer is a subtype of breast cancer with poor clinical outcome, and currently, no effective targeted therapies are available. Since cancer develops owing to deregulation of apoptosis, employing therapeutic strategies with the ability to target the molecules involved in apoptosis induction would provide a valid approach to hinder tumor progression. Hydrazide-hydrazones and oxamide molecules are the subject of intense studies due to their anticancer effects via apoptosis induction. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the mechanism of action of a synthesized compound (compound A) in inducing cell death. Annexin/PI and Western blotting analyses, DAPI staining, mitochondrial membrane potential probe, and flow cytometry were applied for the in vitro evaluations. 4T1 syngeneic mouse model and immunohistochemistry were used for the in vivo assessments. Compound A caused cell death by inducing apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells in a mitochondrial-dependent manner at high concentrations after 72 h of incubation. Compound A also impeded tumor growth in a 4T1 syngeneic mouse model as evidenced by hematoxylin and eosin staining of the tumors. Furthermore, it significantly diminished the expression of pro-caspase-3, Ki67, and CD31 markers in the tumor sections. Conclusively, this study for the first time reports the anti-cancer efficacy of compound A in both in vitro and in vivo models and its potential in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer.

Discovery of Potent Indolyl-Hydrazones as Kinase Inhibitors for Breast Cancer: Synthesis, X-ray Single-Crystal Analysis, and In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Cancer Activity Evaluation

According to data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 2.3 million women across the globe received a diagnosis of breast cancer in the year 2020, and among these cases, 685,000 resulted in fatalities. As the incidence of breast cancer statistics continues to rise, it is imperative to explore new avenues in the ongoing battle against this disease. Therefore, a number of new indolyl-hydrazones were synthesized by reacting the ethyl 3-formyl-1H-indole-2-carboxylate 1 with thiosemicarbazide, semicarbazide.HCl, 4-nitrophenyl hydrazine, 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine, and 4-amino-5-(1H-indol-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione to afford the new hit compounds, which were assigned chemical structures as thiosemicarbazone 3, bis(hydrazine derivative) 5, semicarbzone 6, Schiff base 8, and the corresponding hydrazones 10 and 12 by NMR, elemental analysis, and X-ray single-crystal analysis. The MTT assay was employed to investigate the compounds' cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Cytotoxicity results disclosed potent IC50 values against MCF-7, especially compounds 5, 8, and 12, with IC50 values of 2.73 ± 0.14, 4.38 ± 0.23, and 7.03 ± 0.37 μM, respectively, compared to staurosproine (IC50 = 8.32 ± 0.43 μM). Consequently, the activities of compounds 5, 8, and 12 in relation to cell migration were investigated using the wound-healing test. The findings revealed notable wound-healing efficacy, with respective percentages of wound closure measured at 48.8%, 60.7%, and 51.8%. The impact of the hit compounds on cell proliferation was assessed by examining their apoptosis-inducing properties. Intriguingly, compound 5 exhibited a significant enhancement in cell death within MCF-7 cells, registering a notable increase of 39.26% in comparison to the untreated control group, which demonstrated only 1.27% cell death. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of compound 5 was scrutinized through testing against kinase receptors. The results revealed significant kinase inhibition, particularly against PI3K-α, PI3K-β, PI3K-δ, CDK2, AKT-1, and EGFR, showcasing promising activity, compared to standard drugs targeting these receptors. In the conclusive phase, through in vivo assay, compound 5 demonstrated a substantial reduction in tumor volume, decreasing from 106 mm³ in the untreated control to 56.4 mm³. Moreover, it significantly attenuated tumor proliferation by 46.9%. In view of these findings, the identified leads exhibit promises for potential development into future medications for the treatment of breast cancer, as they effectively hinder both cell migration and proliferation.

Design, synthesis, electrochemistry and anti-trypanosomatid hit/lead identification of nitrofuranylazines

Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are vector-borne infectious diseases affecting both humans and animals. These neglected tropical diseases can be fatal if not treated. Hundreds to thousands of new Chagas disease and leishmaniasis cases are being reported by the WHO every year, and currently available treatments are insufficient. Severe adverse effects, impractical administrations and increased pathogen resistance against current clinical treatments underscore a serious need for the development of new drugs to curb these ailments. In search for such drugs, we investigated a series of nitrofuran-based azine derivatives. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, electrochemistry, and biological activity of these derivatives against promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major, and L. donovani strains, as well as epimastigotes and trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Two leishmanicidal early leads and one trypanosomacidal hit with submicromolar activity were uncovered and stand for further in vivo investigation in the search for new antitrypanosomatid drugs. Future objective will focus on the identification of involved biological targets with the parasites.

Recent advances in nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds as receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer: Biological activity and structural activity relationship

Erratic cell proliferation is the initial symptom of cancer, which can eventually metastasize to other organs. Before cancer becomes metastatic, its spread is triggered by pro-angiogenic factors including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and Platelet Factor (PF4), all of which are part of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are cell-surface proteins and aresignaling enzymes that transfer ATP-phosphate to tyrosine residue substrates. Important biological processes like proliferation, differentiation, motility, and cell-cycle regulation are all possessedby these proteins. Unusual RTK expression is typically associated with cell growth abnormalities, which is linked to tumor acquisition, angiogenesis, and cancer progression. In addition to the already available medications, numerous other heterocyclic are being studied for their potential action against a variety of cancers. In the fight against cancer, in particular, these heterocycles have been used for their dynamic core scaffold and their inherent adaptability. In this review article, we have compiled last five years research work including nitrogen containing heterocycles that have targeted RTK. Herein, the SAR and activity of various compounds containing diverse heterocyclic (pyrimidine, indole, pyridine, pyrazole, benzimidazole, and pyrrole) scaffolds are discussed, and they may prove useful in the future for designing new leads against RTKs. Our focus in this manuscript is to comprehensively review the latest research on the biological activity and structural activity relationship of nitrogen compounds as RTK inhibitors. We believe that this may be an important contribution to the field, as it can help guide future research efforts and facilitate the development of more effective cancer therapies.

New supramolecules of bis(acylhydrazones)-linked bisphenol sulfide for Alzheimer's: targeting cholinesterases by in vitro and in silico approaches

In current research, two functional components, i.e., hydrazone and bisphenol sulfide were combined to get useful supramolecules in medicinal chemistry. Herein 25 new 4,4'-thiodiphenol bis-acylhydrazones were synthesized in good to excellent yields. Initially ethyl-2-chloroacetate was reacted with 4,4'-thiodiphenol, which was further reacted with excess hydrazine hydrate to produce 2,2'-((thiobis(4,1-phenylene))bis(oxy))di(acetohydrazide), which was then combined with various aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes to get the desired products (hydrazones, 4a-4y). The synthesized supramolecules were characterized by contemporary spectroscopic techniques such as 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectroscopy. The synthetic compound's cholinesterase blocking activity was tested against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes where compounds 4n, and 4h showed excellent inhibitory potential for AChE, while 4b, and 4h, demonstrated most potent inhibition of BChE. The starting compound (SM3) and compounds 4h and SM3 depicted excellent dual inhibitory capabilities for both enzymes. The chemical basis of anticholinesterase activity was investigated using a structure-based molecular docking approach. The biological significance and the ease of synthesis of this class of compounds should be considered in therapeutic development for Alzheimer's disease treatments.

Autophagy Inhibition with Chloroquine Increased Pro-Apoptotic Potential of New Aziridine-Hydrazide Hydrazone Derivatives against Glioblastoma Cells

Tumor therapy escape due to undesired side effects induced by treatment, such as prosurvival autophagy or cellular senescence, is one of the key mechanisms of resistance that eventually leads to tumor dormancy and recurrence. Glioblastoma is the most frequent and practically incurable neoplasm of the central nervous system; thus, new treatment modalities have been investigated to find a solution more effective than the currently applied standards based on temozolomide. The present study examined the newly synthesized compounds of aziridine-hydrazide hydrazone derivatives to determine their antineoplastic potential against glioblastoma cells in vitro. Although the output of our investigation clearly demonstrates their proapoptotic activity, the cytotoxic effect appeared to be blocked by treatment-induced autophagy, the phenomenon also detected in the case of temozolomide action. The addition of an autophagy inhibitor, chloroquine, resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis triggered by the tested compounds, as well as temozolomide. The new aziridine-hydrazide hydrazone derivatives, which present cytotoxic potential against glioblastoma cells comparable to or even higher than that of temozolomide, show promising results and, thus, should be further investigated as antineoplastic agents. Moreover, our findings suggest that the combination of an apoptosis inducer with an autophagy inhibitor could optimize chemotherapeutic efficiency, and the addition of an autophagy inhibitor should be considered as an optional adjunctive therapy minimizing the risk of tumor escape from treatment.

Anti-proliferative activity of nitroquinolone fused acylhydrazones as non-small cell human lung cancer agents

A new series of 8-nitroquinolone-based aromatic heterocyclic acyl hydrazones have been synthesised and characterised through various spectroscopic techniques. They were theoretically examined for molecular docking with various proteins related to the apoptosis of the non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549. The results indicate that the possible modes of interaction of all the synthesised compounds are compatible for use as anti-proliferative drugs. Also, the drug-likeness of the compounds was examined through theoretical ADMET analysis, which indicated good gastrointestinal absorption as well as low toxicity. Selected compounds were evaluated for their in vitro anti-cancer activity using A549, MCF-7 and HeLa cell lines through an MTT assay to determine cytotoxicity. Compounds 3c, 3a and 11c exhibited significant cytotoxicity towards A549 cells in the order of 3c (15.3 ± 0.7) > 3a (15.8 ± 0.1) > 11c (17.1 ± 0.2), whereas all the compounds show insignificant toxicity on normal human embryonic kidney cells up to a concentration of 200 μM. The best compounds among the series (3c and 11c) were chosen for further detection of apoptosis through fluorescence microscopic techniques using AO/EtBr and DAPI. The reduced DNA synthesis during the cell cycle was also investigated through flow cytometric techniques. The results indicate that the compounds possess significant anticancer properties due to the activation of the mitochondrial mediated intrinsic pathway.

Novel N-Acyl Hydrazone Compounds as Promising Anticancer Agents: Synthesis and Molecular Docking Studies

In this study, a new series of N-acyl hydrazones 7a-e, 8a-e, and 9a-e, starting from methyl δ-oxo pentanoate with different substituted groups 1a-e, were synthesized as anticancer agents. The structures of obtained target molecules were identified by spectrometric analysis methods (FT-IR, ¹¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and LC-MS). The antiproliferative activity of the novel N-acyl hydrazones was evaluated on the breast (MCF-7) and prostate (PC-3) cancer cell lines by an MTT assay. Additionally, breast epithelial cells (ME-16C) were used as reference normal cells. All newly synthesized compounds 7a-e, 8a-e, and 9a-e exhibited selective antiproliferative activity with high toxicity to both cancer cells simultaneously without any toxicity to normal cells. Among these novel N-acyl hydrazones, 7a-e showed the most potent anticancer activities with IC₅₀ values at 7.52 ± 0.32-25.41 ± 0.82 and 10.19 ± 0.52-57.33 ± 0.92 μM against MCF-7 and PC-3 cells, respectively. Also, molecular docking studies were applied to comprehend potential molecular interactions between compounds and target proteins. It was seen that the docking calculations and the experimental data are in good agreement.

Synthesis of oxamide-hydrazone hybrid derivatives as potential anticancer agents

Background and purpose

Considering various studies implying anticancer activity of the hydrazone and oxamide derivatives through different mechanisms such as kinases and calpain inhibition, herein, we report the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of the antiproliferative effect of a series of hydrazones bearing oxamide moiety compounds (7a-7n) against a panel of cancer cell lines to explore a novel and promising anticancer agent (7k).

Experimental approach

Chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by FTIR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, and mass spectra. The antiproliferative activity and cell cycle progression of the target compound were investigated using the MTT assay and flow cytometry.

Findings/Results

Compound 7k with 2-hydroxybenzylidene structure was found to have a significant in vitro anti-proliferative influence on MDA-MB-231 (human adenocarcinoma breast cancer) and 4T1 (mouse mammary tumor) cells as the model of triple-negative breast cancer, with the IC50-72h values of 7.73 ± 1.05 and 1.82 ± 1.14 μM, respectively. Following 72-h incubation with compound 7k, it caused MDA-MB-231 cell death through G1/S cell cycle arrest at high concentrations (12 and 16 μM).

Conclusion and implications

Conclusively, this study for the first time reports the anti-proliferative efficacy of compound 7k possessing 2-hydroxyphenyl moiety, which may serve as a potent candidate in triple-negative breast cancer treatment.

Acylhydrazones and Their Biological Activity: A Review

Due to the structure of acylhydrazones both by the pharmacophore -CO-NH-N= group and by the different substituents present in the molecules of compounds of this class, various pharmacological activities were reported, including antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiedematous, antiglaucomatous, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and actions on the central nervous system and on the cardiovascular system. This fragment is found in the structure of several drugs used in the therapy of some diseases that are at the top of public health problems, like microbial infections and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the acylhydrazone moiety is present in the structure of some compounds with possible applications in the treatment of other different pathologies, such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease. Considering these aspects, we consider that a study of the literature data regarding the structural and biological properties of these compounds is useful.

Design and synthesis of novel ureido and thioureido conjugated hydrazone derivatives with potent anticancer activity

Background

Compounds possessing urea/thiourea moiety have a wide range of biological properties including anticancer activity. On the other hand, taking advantage of the low toxicity and structural diversity of hydrazone derivatives, they are presently being considered for designing chemical compounds with hydrazone moiety in the field of cancer treatment. With this in mind, a series of novel ureido/thioureido derivatives possessing a hydrazone moiety bearing nitro and chloro substituents (4a–4i) have been designed, synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic effect on HT-29 human colon carcinoma and HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cell lines.

Results

Two compounds (4c and 4e) having the chloro phenylurea group hybridized with phenyl hydrazone bearing nitro or chloro moieties demonstrated potent anticancer effect with the IC₅₀ values between 2.2 and 4.8 µM at 72 h. The mechanism of action of compound 4c was revealed in hepatocellular carcinoma cells as an inducer of apoptosis in a caspase-independent pathway.

Conclusion

Taken together, the current work presented compound 4c as a potential lead compound in developing future hepatocellular carcinoma chemotherapy drugs.

Methods

The compounds were synthesized and then characterized by physical and spectral data (FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, Mass). The anticancer activity was assessed using MTT assay, flowcytometry, annexin-V, DAPI staining and Western blot analysis.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13065-022-00873-3.

Protective Effect of Indomethacin-loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Cytotoxicity in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Model

Introduction: Anti-inflammatory drugs are being utilized to treat cancer because of its inflammatory microenvironment. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the antioxidant potential of indomethacin and its genotoxicity, since free or loaded in polymeric nanocapsules using MCF-7 (human breast cancer) cells as an in vitro model. Method: Development of indomethacin-loaded polyepsiloncaprolactone (PCL) nanocapsules by interfacial deposition method. It is characterized by pH determination by potentiometer, mean diameter and polydispersity index by dynamic light scattering; zeta potential by electrophoretic mobility; encapsulation efficacy by high performance liquid chromatography method; corona effect formation; 2ʹ,7ʹ-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) method by spectrofluorimetric assay; nitric oxide (NO) determination by spectrophotometric and genotoxicity assay by plasmid DNA cleavage method. Results: The results showed a mild acidic pH (4.78 ± 0.10), sizes around 200 nm and PDI<0.2 with a zeta potential around -20 mV and encapsulation efficiency of 99% (1 mg mL-1), showing a dose-dependent corona formation profile in 24h incubation. Conclusion: DCFH-DA assay showed no production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) while NO determination showed that Ind-OH-NC from 26.7 to 100 μM increased reactive nitrogen species (RNS), demonstrating antioxidant potential against MCF-7 cells. No sample at the concentrations evaluated induced DNA cleavage, being considered a safe treatment.

Pyrimidines-Based Heterocyclic Compounds: Synthesis, Cytoxicity Evaluation and Molecular Docking

A variety of structurally different pyrimidines were synthesized. Elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy were used to confirm the chemical structures of all prepared compounds. The synthesized pyrimidines were screened against the growth of five human cancer cell lines (prostate carcinoma PC3, liver carcinoma HepG-2, human colon cancer HCT-116, human breast cancer MCF-7, human lung cancer A-549), and normal human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) using MTT assay. Most of the screened pyrimidines have anti-proliferative activity on the growth of the PC3 cell line. Compounds 3b and 3d were more potent than the reference vinblastine sulfate (~2 to 3 × fold) and they can be considered promising leads for treating prostate cancer disease. Moreover, the screened compounds 3b, 3f, 3g, 3h, and 5 were assessed according to the values of their selectivity index (SI) and were found to be more selective and safer than vinblastine sulfate. Furthermore, using in silico computational tools, the physicochemical properties of all pyrimidine ligands were assessed, and the synthesized compounds fall within the criteria of RO5, thus having the potential to be orally bioavailable.

Evaluation of antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of phenolic N-acylhydrazones: structure-activity relationship

Cancer is still a relentless public health issue. Particularly, colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent cancer in men and the second in women. Moreover, cancer development and growth are associated with various cell disorders, such as oxidative stress and inflammation. The quest for efficient therapeutics is a challenging task, especially when it comes to achieving both cytotoxicity and selectivity. Herein, five series of phenolic N-acylhydrazones were synthesized and evaluated for their antioxidant potency, as well as their influence on HCT-116 and MRC-5 cells viability. Among 40 examined analogues, 20 of them expressed antioxidant activity against the DPPH radical. Furthermore, density functional theory was employed to estimate the antioxidant potency of the selected analogues from the thermodynamical aspect, as well as the preferable free-radical scavenging pathway. Cytotoxicity assay exposed enhanced selectivity of a number of analogues toward cancer cells. The structure-activity analysis revealed the impact of the type and position of the functional groups on both cell viability and selectivity toward cancer cells.

ERK: A Double-Edged Sword in Cancer. ERK-Dependent Apoptosis as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Cancer

The RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway regulates diverse cellular processes as exemplified by cell proliferation, differentiation, motility, and survival. Activation of ERK1/2 generally promotes cell proliferation, and its deregulated activity is a hallmark of many cancers. Therefore, components and regulators of the ERK pathway are considered potential therapeutic targets for cancer, and inhibitors of this pathway, including some MEK and BRAF inhibitors, are already being used in the clinic. Notably, ERK1/2 kinases also have pro-apoptotic functions under certain conditions and enhanced ERK1/2 signaling can cause tumor cell death. Although the repertoire of the compounds which mediate ERK activation and apoptosis is expanding, and various anti-cancer compounds induce ERK activation while exerting their anti-proliferative effects, the mechanisms underlying ERK1/2-mediated cell death are still vague. Recent studies highlight the importance of dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) in determining the pro- versus anti-apoptotic function of ERK in cancer. In this review, we will summarize the recent major findings in understanding the role of ERK in apoptosis, focusing on the major compounds mediating ERK-dependent apoptosis. Studies that further define the molecular targets of these compounds relevant to cell death will be essential to harnessing these compounds for developing effective cancer treatments.

Cytotoxic Potential, Metabolic Profiling, and Liposomes of Coscinoderma sp. Crude Extract Supported by in silico Analysis

Introduction

Sponge-Coscinoderma sp. (Family: Spongiidae) is a coastal sponge that possesses a broad variety of natural-products. However, the exact chemical constituents and cytotoxic activity of the extract are still undefinable.

Methodology

In the present study, the metabolomic profiling of Coscinoderma sp. dereplicated 20 compounds, utilizing liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRESIMS). Coscinoderma-derived crude extract, before and after encapsulation within nanosized liposomes, was in vitro screened against hepatic, breast, and colorectal carcinoma human cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7, and Caco-2, respectively).

Results

The identified metabolites were fit to diverse chemical classes, covering diterpenes, an indole alkaloid, sesterterpenoid, sterol, and methylherbipoline salt. Comprehensive in silico experiments predicted several compounds in the sponge-derived extract (eg, compounds 1-15) to have an anticancer potential via targeting multiple targets. The crude extract showed moderate antiproliferative activities towards studied cell lines with IC₅₀ values range from 10.7 to 12.4 µg/mL. The formulated extract-containing liposomes (size 141±12.3nm, PDI 0.222, zeta potential 20.8 ± 2.3), significantly enhanced the in vitro anticancer activity of the entrapped extract (IC₅₀ values ranged from 1.7 to 4.1 µg/mL).

Discussion

Encapsulation of both the hydrophilic and the lipophilic components of the extract within the lipid-based nanovesicles enhanced the cellular uptake and accessibility of the entrapped cargo. This study introduces liposomal nano-vesicles as a promising approach to improve the therapeutic potential of sponge-derived extracts.

Novel Derivatives of 4-Methyl-1,2,3-Thiadiazole-5-Carboxylic Acid Hydrazide: Synthesis, Lipophilicity, and In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity Screening

Bacterial infections, especially those caused by strains resistant to commonly used antibiotics and chemotherapeutics, are still a current threat to public health. Therefore, the search for new molecules with potential antimicrobial activity is an important research goal. In this article, we present the synthesis and evaluation of the in vitro antimicrobial activity of a series of 15 new derivatives of 4-methyl-1,2,3-thiadiazole-5-carboxylic acid. The potential antimicrobial effect of the new compounds was observed mainly against Gram-positive bacteria. Compound 15, with the 5-nitro-2-furoyl moiety, showed the highest bioactivity: minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 1.95–15.62 µg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)/MIC = 1–4 µg/mL.

Antinociceptive and Cytotoxic Activity of Opioid Peptides with Hydrazone and Hydrazide Moieties at the C-Terminus

In the present contribution, we analyze the influence that C-terminal extension of short opioid peptide sequences by organic fragments has on receptor affinity, in vivo analgesic activity, and antimelanoma properties. The considered fragments were based on either N-acylhydrazone (NAH) or N'-acylhydrazide motifs combined with the 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl moiety. Eleven novel compounds were synthesized and subject to biological evaluation. The analyzed compounds exhibit a diversified range of affinities for the µ opioid receptor (MOR), rather low δ opioid receptor (DOR) affinities, and no appreciable neurokinin-1 receptor binding. In three out of four pairs, N-acylhydrazone-based derivatives bind MOR better than their N'-acylhydrazide counterparts. The best of the novel derivatives have similar low nanomolar MOR binding affinity as the reference opioids, such as morphine and biphalin. The obtained order of MOR affinities was compared to the results of molecular docking. In vivo, four tested compounds turned out to be relatively strong analgesics. Finally, the NAH-based analogues reduce the number of melanoma cells in cell culture, while their N'-acylhydrazide counterparts do not. The antimelanoma properties are roughly correlated to the lipophilicity of the compounds.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 1,2,4-Thiadiazole-1,2,4-Triazole Derivatives Bearing Amide Functionality as Anticancer Agents

A novel library of amide functionality having 1,2,4-thiadiazole-1,2,4-triazole (8a–j) analogs was designed, synthesized, and structures were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass (ESI–MS) spectral data. Further, all compounds were evaluated for their anticancer activities against four different cancer cell lines including breast cancer (MCF-7, MDA MB-231), lung cancer (A549), and prostate cancer (DU-145) by MTT reduction assay method, and etoposide acts as a standard drug. The results confirmed that majority of the synthesized compounds showed moderate to potent anticancer activities aligned with four cell lines. Among the synthesized compounds, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8g and 8i displayed more potent activity along with inhibitory concentration values ranging from 0.10 ± 0.084 to 11.5 ± 6.49 µM than the standard IC₅₀ values, which ranges from 1.91 ± 0.84 to 3.08 ± 0.135 µM, respectively.

Tubulin inhibitors: Discovery of a new scaffold targeting extra-binding residues within the colchicine site through anchoring substituents properly adapted to their pocket by a semi-flexible linker

Bis-hydrazides 13a-h were designed and synthesized as potential tubulin inhibitors selectively targeting the colchicine site between α- and β-tubulin subunits. The newly designed ring-B substituents were assisted at their ends by 'anchor groups' which are expected to exert binding interaction(s) with new additional amino acid residues in the colchicine site (beyond those amino acids previously reported to interact with reference inhibitors as CA-4 and colchicine). Conformational flexibility of bis-hydrazide linker assisted these 'extra-binding' properties through reliving ligands' strains in the final ligand-receptor complexes. Compound 13f displayed the most promising computational and biological study results in the series: MM/GBSA binding energy of -62.362 kcal/mol (extra-binding to Arg α:221, Thr β:353 & Lys β:254); 34% NCI-H522 cells' death (at 10 µM), IC₅₀ = 0.073 µM (MTT assay); significant cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase; 11.6% preG1 apoptosis induction and 83.1% in vitro tubulin inhibition (at concentration = IC₅₀). Future researchers in bis-hydrazide tubulin inhibitors are advised to consider the 2-chloro-N-(4-substituted-phenyl)acetamide derivatives as compound 13f due to extra-binding properties of their ring B.

Synthesis, antibacterial and free radical scavenging activity of some newer N-((10-nitro-1H-indolo [1, 2-c]quinazolin-12-yl)methylene)benzenamines

Present research is oriented on the synthesis of some novel 12-(N-arylmethaniminyl)indolo[1,2-c]quinazoline analogs (4b1-4b11) and their characterization by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR and mass spectrophotometry. Their free radical scavenging activity and antibacterial potential were also evaluated. Many derivatives have shown a marked free radical scavenging capacity in all the concentrations but specifically compounds 4b7, 4b8 and 4b11 have shown good antioxidant potential with an IC50 value of 25.18 μmol/L, 28.09 μmol/L ---amp--- 44.22 μmol/L, respectively (DPPH method) and 39.46 μmol/L, 44.47 μmol/L ---amp--- 35.61 μmol/L, respectively (H2O2 method). The antibacterial evaluation was carried out against B. subtilis and E. coli by agar well diffusion method and it revealed that all the compounds in the series were having marked antibacterial activity but compounds 4b9 and 4b11 have shown best antibacterial potential. Then, it was concluded that the derivatives which were containing substituted anilines (4-Nitro, 4-Fluoro, 4-Bromo ---amp--- 4-Chloro-2-nitro) on the carbon attached on the 12th position of indoloquinazoline moiety were having marked potential as an antibacterial and free radical scavenger.

The N'-Substituted Derivatives of 5-Chloro-3-Methylisothiazole-4-Carboxylic Acid Hydrazide with Antiproliferative Activity

Thanks to the progress in oncology, pharmacological treatment of cancer is gaining in importance and in the near future anti-cancer chemotherapeutics are expected to be the main method of treatment for cancer diseases. What is more, the search for new anti-cancer compounds with the desired application properties is constantly underway. As a result of designed syntheses, we obtained some new N’-substituted 5-chloro-3-methylisothiazole-4-carboxylic acid hydrazide derivatives with anticancer activity. The structure of new compounds was determined by mass spectrometry (MS), elemental analysis, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR), carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹³C-NMR), ¹H-¹³C NMR correlations and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Moreover, the structures of the compounds were confirmed by crystallographic examination. The antiproliferative MTT tests for 11 prepared compounds was conducted towards human biphenotypic B cell myelomonocytic leukemia MV4-11. SRB test was used to examine their potential anticancer activity towards human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines sensitive LoVo, resistant to doxorubicin LoVo/DX, breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 and normal non-tumorigenic epithelial cell line derived from mammary gland MCF-10A. The most active compound was 5-chloro-3-methyl-N′-[(1E,2E)-(3-phenyloprop-2-en-1-ylidene]isothiazole-4-carbohydrazide, which showed the highest antiproliferative activity against all tested cell lines.