Curcumin coating: a novel solution to mitigate inherent carbon nanotube toxicity

Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) are inert structures with high aspect ratios that are widely used as vehicles for targeted drug delivery in cancer and many other diseases. They are largely non-toxic in nature however, when cells are exposed to these nanotubes for prolonged durations or at high concentrations, they show certain adverse effects. These include cytotoxicity, inflammation, generation of oxidative stress, and genotoxicity among others. To combat such adverse effects, various moieties can be attached to the surface of these nanotubes. Curcumin is a known anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytoprotective compound derived from a medicinal plant called Curcuma longa. In this study, we have synthesized and characterized Curcumin coated-lysine functionalized MWCNTs and further evaluated the cytoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic effect of Curcumin coating on the surface of MWCNTs. The results show a significant decrease in the level of inflammatory molecules like IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, TNFα and NFκB in cells exposed to Curcumin-coated MWCNTs as compared to the uncoated ones at both transcript and protein levels. Further, compared to the uncoated samples, there is a reduction in ROS production and upregulation of antioxidant enzyme-Catalase in the cells treated with Curcumin-coated MWCNTs. Curcumin coating also helped in recovery of mitochondrial membrane potential in the cells exposed to MWCNTs. Lastly, cells exposed to Curcumin-coated MWCNTs showed reduced cell death as compared to the ones exposed to uncoated MWCNTs. Our findings suggest that coating of Curcumin on the surface of MWCNTs reduces its ability to cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death.

Virulence traits and novel drug delivery strategies for mucormycosis post-COVID-19: a comprehensive review

The outbreak of a fatal black fungus infection after the resurgence of the cadaverous COVID-19 has exhorted scientists worldwide to develop a nutshell by repurposing or designing new formulations to address the crisis. Patients expressing COVID-19 are more susceptible to Mucormycosis (MCR) and thus fall easy prey to decease accounting for this global threat. Their mortality rates range around 32-70% depending on the organs affected and grow even higher despite the treatment. The many contemporary recommendations strongly advise using liposomal amphotericin B and surgery as first-line therapy whenever practicable. MCR is a dangerous infection that requires an antifungal drug administration on appropriate prescription, typically one of the following: Amphotericin B, Posaconazole, or Isavuconazole since the fungi that cause MCR are resistant to other medications like fluconazole, voriconazole, and echinocandins. Amphotericin B and Posaconazole are administered through veins (intravenously), and isavuconazole by mouth (orally). From last several years so many compounds are developed against invasive fungal disease but only few of them are able to induce effective treatment against the micorals. Adjuvant medicines, more particularly, are difficult to assess without prospective randomized controlled investigations, which are challenging to conduct given the lower incidence and higher mortality from Mucormycosis. The present analysis provides insight into pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, underlying fungal virulence, and growth mechanisms. In addition, current therapy for MCR in Post Covid-19 individuals includes conventional and novel nano-based advanced management systems for procuring against deadly fungal infection. The study urges involving nanomedicine to prevent fungal growth at the commencement of infection, delay the progression, and mitigate fatality risk.

Multifunctional GQDs for receptor targeting, drug delivery, and bioimaging in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease with a low survival rate and limited treatment options. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have recently become popular as a promising platform for cancer diagnosis and treatment due to their exceptional physicochemical properties, such as biocompatibility, stability, and fluorescence. This review discusses the potential of multifunctional GQDs as a platform for receptor targeting, drug delivery, and bioimaging in pancreatic cancer. The current studies emphasized the ability of GQDs to selectively target pancreatic cancer cells by overexpressing binding receptors on the cell surface. Additionally, this review discussed the uses of GQDs as drug delivery vehicles for the controlled and targeted release of therapeutics for pancreatic cancer cells. Finally, the potential of GQDs as imaging agents for pancreatic cancer detection and monitoring has been discussed. Overall, multifunctional GQDs showed great promise as a versatile platform for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Further investigation of multifunctional GQDs in terms of their potential and optimization in the context of pancreatic cancer therapy is needed.

Medicinal Aspects of PTP 1B Inhibitors as Anti-Breast Cancer Agents: An Overview

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) has gained interest as a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes and obesity. Besides metabolic signalling, PTP1B is a positive regulator of signalling pathways linked to ErbB2-induced breast tumorigenesis. Substantial evidence proves that its overexpression is involved in breast cancer, which suggests that selective PTP1B inhibition might be effective in breast cancer treatment. Therefore, huge research is being carried out on PTP1B inhibitors and their activity against breast cancer development. To date, only two PTP1B inhibitors, viz. ertiprotafib and trodusquemine, have entered clinical trials. The discovery of selective inhibitors of PTP1B could open a new avenue in breast cancer treatment. In this review, we provide an extensive overview on the involvement of PTP1B in breast cancer, its pathophysiology, with special attention on the discovery and development of various natural as well as synthetic PTP1B inhibitors. This study will provide significant information to the researchers developing PTP1B inhibitors for breast cancer treatment.

Design, synthesis, and anticancer activity of some novel 1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxamide derivatives as fatty acid synthase inhibitors

Multiple malignancies exhibit aberrant FASN expression, associated with enhanced de novo lipogenesis to meet the metabolic demands of rapidly proliferating tumour cells. Furthermore, elevated FASN expression has been linked to tumour aggressiveness and poor prognosis in a variety of malignant tumours, making FASN is an attractive target for anticancer drug discovery. Herein, we report the de novo design and synthesis of (2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)(piperazin-1-yl)methanone derivatives as novel FASN inhibitors with potential therapeutic applications in breast and colorectal cancers. Twelve (2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)(piperazin-1-yl)methanone derivatives (CTL) were synthesized and evaluated for FASN inhibition and cytotoxicity against colon cancer (HCT-116, Caco-2 cell lines), breast cancer (MCF-7 cell line) and normal cell line (HEK-293). Compounds CTL-06 and CTL-12 were chosen as the most promising lead molecules based on FASN inhibition and selective cytotoxicity profiles against colon and breast cancer cell lines. Compounds CTL-06 and CTL-12 demonstrate promising FASN inhibitory activity at IC50 of 3 ± 0.25 µM and 2.5 ± 0.25 µM when compared to the FASN inhibitor orlistat, which has an IC50 of 13.5 ± 1.0 µM. Mechanistic investigations on HCT-116 revealed that CTL-06 and CTL-12 treatment led to cell cycle arrest in Sub-G1/S phase along with apoptosis induction. Western blot studies indicated that CTL-06 and CTL-12 inhibited FASN expression in a dose-dependent manner. CTL-06 and CTL-12 treatment of HCT-116 cells enhanced caspase-9 expression in a dose-dependent manner, while upregulating proapoptotic marker Bax and downregulating antiapoptotic Bcl-xL. Molecular docking experiments of CTL-06 and CTL-12 with FASN enzyme revealed the mode of binding of these analogues in the KR domain of the enzyme.

Anti-colorectal Cancer Activity of Quinazoline Derivatives: A Comprehensive Review

Introduction and Objective:

The identification of a bioactive template (or lead) is one of the important features of modern drug discovery. Natural products, synthetic and biotechnological sources, serve as important templates for the development of novel bioactive molecules. Quinazoline is one of the heterocyclic templates present in many natural and synthetic drugs and exhibits various biological activities, including anticancer, by blocking the pharmacological pathway of different targets.

Methodology:

This study collected data from the literature and patents to examine the anti-colorectal cancer efficacy of quinazoline compounds and their action mechanisms. According to the published literature and patents, the benzene and/or pyrimidine rings of the quinazoline have been substituted with amino groups or substituted amino groups to develop novel analogues endowed with anticancer properties. The anti-colorectal cancer activity of quinazolines was due to the flexible chain containing terminal phenyl and/or heterocyclic rings (thiazole, pyrazole, piperidine, piperazine, etc.).

Results:

These quinazoline derivatives were found to inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells by modulating the expression of specific genes and proteins involved in cancer progression, such as receptor tyrosine kinases, epidermal growth factor receptors, dihydrofolate reductase, topoisomerases, histone deacetylase, and apoptotic proteins.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest that the quinazoline nucleus may be exploited to identify new anti-colorectal cancer agents with suitable pharmacokinetic profiles.

Classification analysis of fatty acid synthase inhibitors using multialgorithms on topological descriptors and structural fingerprints

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is one of the enzymes required for fatty acid biosynthesis and is expressed as low or absent in most normal cells/tissues. However, this enzyme is upregulated in various cancer cells; hence, it can act as an important target to design and develop novel FASN inhibitors for cancer therapy. In the present investigation, a series of structurally diverse compounds that possessed FASN inhibitory activities were subjected to classification analysis using different algorithms such as support vector machine, decision tree, Naïve Bayes and random forest. The physicochemical descriptors and MACCS fingerprints were calculated using PaDEL software, and the WEKA software was utilized for the classification model building. The statistical parameters/confusion matrix calculated from the analysis revealed that the selected models have significant predictive performances. The results showed that the topological properties of the molecules are the main determinant for the activity classification. The key descriptors comprised of hydrogen bonding groups, especially acceptor (nHBAcc, minHBint9, minHBint5 and nwHBa), charge on the topological surface of the molecules (JGI10 & GGI2), ionization potential (GATS5i and GATS1i) and branching and distance between the groups (ETA_Eta_B_RC) are significantly contributed in the classification models. Further, the presence of heteroatoms (MACCSFP82, MACCSFP93 and MACCSFP131), especially nitrogen atom(s) and hydrogen bond acceptor groups (N-N group, NC(=O)N, N-C(=O)), actively contributed to the inhibitory activities. The results concluded that the topological polar properties concentrated in a specific region have significant FASN inhibitory activity. Hence, these results shall be used to develop novel molecules with increased FASN inhibitory activity.

Synthesis, properties and antibacterial activity of Ca doped Zn2SnO4 nanoparticles by microwave assisted method

A major problem in world health care is the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. In light of this, pure and calcium-doped zinc tin oxide (ZTO) nanoparticles, Zn2SnO4 (S1), Zn2Sn0.7Ca0.3O4 (S2), Zn2Sn0.5Ca0.5O4 (S3), and Zn2Sn0.3Ca0.7O4 (S4), were synthesized via simple and cost effective microwave assisted method. The doping effect on antibacterial activity was studied in detail. The XRD spectrum revealed that all the deposited samples exhibited a spinel cubic structure. A decrease in crystallite size, an increase in strain and dislocation density was observed with an increase in Ca concentration. FESEM images exhibited an irregular and non-homogeneous nature with crystalline morphology having a physical dimension of nm size. EDAX confirmed the purity of deposited samples. We used the agar well diffusion technique to study the antibacterial activity of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The doping of the ZTO matrix with Ca ions increased its antibacterial performance by 99% against Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, and its effectiveness was enhanced with increasing Ca ion concentration inside the Zn2SnO4 nanoparticles.

Microwave-Assisted Functionalization of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Biosensor and Drug Delivery Applications

Microwave-assisted synthetic methods have emerged as a popular technique for surface modification and the functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for diverse drug delivery applications. Microwave-induced functionalization of MWCNTs provides a high functionalization and requires less time than conventional techniques. Microwave methods are simple, fast, and effective for the covalent and noncovalent conjugation of MWCNTs with various biomolecules and polymers. The present review focuses on the synthetic and drug delivery applications of microwave irradiation techniques (MITs) for the functionalization of MWCNTs, using amino acids and other molecular frameworks containing amino groups, vitamins, proteins, epoxy moieties, metal nanoparticles, and polymers.

Fatty Acid Synthase (FASN): A Patent Review Since 2016-Present

INTRODUCTION

Fatty acid synthase (FASN), is a key metabolic enzyme involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and is an essential target for multiple disease progressions like cancer, obesity, NAFLD, etc. Aberrant expression of FASN is associated with deregulated energy metabolism of cells in these diseases.

AREA COVERED

This article provides a summary of the most recent developments in the discovery of novel FASN inhibitors with potential therapeutic uses in cancer, obesity, and other metabolic disorders such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease from 2016 to the present. The recently published patent applications and forthcoming clinical data of FASN inhibitors from both academia and the pharma industries are also highlighted in this study.

EXPERT OPINION

The implication of FASN in multiple diseases has provided an impetus for developing novel inhibitors by both pharma companies and academia. Critical analysis of the patent literature reveals the exploration of diverse molecular scaffolds to identify potential FASN inhibitors that target the different catalytic domains of the enzyme. In spite of these multifaceted efforts, only one molecule, TVB-2640, has reached phase II trials for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and many malignancies. However, thecombined efforts of pharma companies to produce several FASN inhibitors might facilitate the clinical translation of this unique class of inhibitors. Nevertheless, concerted efforts towards developing multiple FASN inhibitors by pharma companies might facilitate the clinical translation of this novel class of inhibitors.

Nanorod-like Structure of ZnO Nanoparticles and Zn8O8 Clusters Using 4-Dimethylamino Benzaldehyde Liquid to Study the Physicochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Pathogenic Bacteria

To study their physicochemical and antimicrobial properties, zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple chemical route and 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (4DB) as an organic additive. ZnO nanoparticles were characterized with XRD analysis, which confirmed the presence of a hexagonal wurtzite structure with different crystalline sizes. The SEM morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles confirmed the presence of nanorods in both modifications of ZnO nanoparticles. EDS analysis proved the chemical composition of the synthesized samples via different chemical approaches. In addition, the optical absorption results indicated that the use of 4DB increased the band gap energy of the synthesized nanoparticles. The synthesized Zn₈O₈ and Zn₈O₈:4DB clusters were subjected to HOMO-LUMO analysis, and their ionization energy (I), electron affinity (A), global hardness (η), chemical potential (σ), global electrophilicity index (ω), dipole moment (μ), polarizability (α_tot), first-order hyperpolarizability (β_tot), and other thermodynamic properties were determined. Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of the ZnO nanoparticles were studied against G+ (S. aureus and B. subtilis) and G- (K. pneumoniae and E. coli) bacteria in a nutrient agar according to guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).

IND-2, a Quinoline Derivative, Inhibits the Proliferation of Prostate Cancer Cells by Inducing Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis and Inhibiting Topoisomerase II

In men, prostate cancer (PC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer, causing an estimated 375,000 deaths globally. Currently, existing therapies for the treatment of PC, notably metastatic cases, have limited efficacy due to drug resistance and problematic adverse effects. Therefore, it is imperative to discover and develop novel drugs for treating PC that are efficacious and do not produce intolerable adverse or toxic effects. Condensed quinolines are naturally occurring anticancer compounds. In this study, we determined the in vitro efficacy of IND-2 (4-chloro-2-methylpyrimido[1″,2″:1,5]pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolone) in the PC lines, PC-3 and DU-145. IND-2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of PC-3 and DU-145, with IC₅₀ values of 3 µM and 3.5 µM, respectively. The incubation of PC-3 cells with 5 and 10 µM of IND-2 caused the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential in PC-3 cells. Furthermore, IND-2, at 5 µM, increased the expression of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-7 and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The incubation of PC-3 cells with 5 µM of IND-2 significantly decreased the expression of the apoptotic protein, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Furthermore, 5 and 10 µM of IND-2 produced morphological changes in PC-3 cells characteristic of apoptosis. Interestingly, IND-2 (2.5, 5 and 10 µM) also induced mitotic catastrophe in PC-3 cells, characterized by the accumulation of multinuclei. The incubation of DU-145 cells with 1.25 and 5 μM of IND-2 significantly increased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, IND-2, at 10 μM, inhibited the catalytic activity of topoisomerase IIα. Overall, our findings suggest that IND-2 could be a potential lead compound for the development of more efficacious compounds for the treatment of PC.

Lysinated Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with Carbohydrate Ligands as an Effective Nanocarrier for Targeted Doxorubicin Delivery to Breast Cancer Cells

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are elongated, hollow cylindrical nanotubes made of sp2 carbon. MWCNTs have attracted significant attention in the area of drug delivery due to their high drug-loading capacity and large surface area. Furthermore, they can be linked to bioactive ligands molecules via covalent and noncovalent bonds that allow for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin. The majority of methodologies reported for the functionalization of MWCNTs for drug delivery are quite complex and use expensive linkers and ligands. In the present study, we report a simple, cost-effective approach for functionalizing MWCNTs with the carbohydrate ligands, galactose (GA), mannose (MA) and lactose (LA), using lysine as a linker. The doxorubicin (Dox)-loaded functionalized MWCNTs were characterized using FT-IR, NMR, Raman, XRD and FE-SEM. The drug-loaded MWCNTs were evaluated for drug loading, drug release and cell toxicity in vitro, in breast cancer cells. The results indicated that the carbohydrate-modified lysinated MWCNTs had greater Dox loading capacity, compared to carboxylated MWCNTs (COOHMWCNTs) and lysinated MWCNTs (LyMWCNTs). In vitro drug release experiments indicated that the carbohydrate functionalized LyMWCNTs had higher Dox release at pH 5.0, compared to the physiological pH of 7.4, over 120 h, indicating that they are suitable candidates for targeting the tumor microenvironment as a result of their sustained release profile of Dox. Doxorubicin-loaded galactosylated MWCNTs (Dox-GAMWCNTs) and doxorubicin loaded mannosylated MWCNTs (Dox-MAMWCNTs) had greater anticancer efficacy and cellular uptake, compared to doxorubicin-loaded lactosylated MWCNTs (Dox-LAMWCNTs) and pure Dox, in MDA-MB231 and MCF7 breast cancer cells. However, neither the ligand conjugated multiwall blank carbon nanotubes (GAMWCNTs, MAMWCNTs and LAMWCNTs) nor the lysinated multiwalled blank carbon nanotubes produced significant toxicity in the normal cells. Our results suggest that sugar-tethered multiwalled carbon nanotubes, especially the galactosylated (Dox-GAMWCNTs) and mannosylated (Dox-MAMWCNTs) formulations, may be used to improve the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs to breast cancer cells.

Substituent Orchestration in Dimethylquinoxaline Derivatives: A Tool for Fishing Out Appropriate CDK5 Inhibitors as Potential Therapeutics for Alzheimer's

A set of new heterocyclic analogs (Compounds I-IX), comprising of 6,7 dimethyl Quinoxalines were found to be active against the receptor GSK3β (Compounds IV-V) (Chem. Biodiversity 2021, 18, e2100364). In an effort to modulate effective CDK5 inhibitors herein our hypothesis underpinned to fish out an appropriate derivative from the same quinoxaline series, as these two targets GSK3β and CDK5 shared structural resemblance with each other. Aligned to the goal we have synthesized Compounds I-IX, characterized them using a combination of spectroscopic techniques and evaluated their activities against CDK5. Our analysis reflected that the adjacently located alkoxy/hydroxy functionality derivatives namely Compounds III and VI, to be the most potent (micromolar) amongst others in the series, backed by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and molecular modelling studies. Also, the efficacy of the Compounds I-IX, were monitored in few other members of the CMGC family namely DYRK1A, CLK1and CK1δ that have been known to be directly involved in hyperphosphorylation of Tau. But unfortunately in none of the targets, our quinoxaline series were active. In a nut shell further optimisation of these intelligent nucleus, would not only lead to the discovery of novel pharmacophores, but also marked selectivity against a pool of kinases, thereby implementing a distinct roadmap towards the design of potential therapeutics against Alzheimer's.

Abstract 5656: Design and development of novel anticancer dimethoxyquinazoline-4-amine analog, DW-8, against colorectal cancer

Patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) often have poor prognosis and survival. There are ongoing efforts to identify novel molecules to manage advanced and metastatic CRC. Modifications in the quinazoline ring has resulted in effective and clinically approved drugs such as gefitinib, erlotinib, vandetanib among others. We rationalized and synthesized a series of 4-anilinoquinazoline analogues, DW (1-10) and evaluated them for anticancer efficacy in human CRC cell lines (HCT116, HT29, SW620). We identified a lead molecule DW-8, with sub-micromolar potency against CRC lines with selectivity index of DW-8 being >2 folds in CRC cells compared to non-cancerous line, CRL1459. Mechanistically, DW-8 produced significant morphological changes in SW620 cells. This included nuclear condensation, cell shrinkage, blebbing and apoptotic bodies formation which are the hallmarks of apoptosis. We found that the DW-8 induced apoptosis by i) producing cell cycle arrest at G2 phase; ii) activated intrinsic apoptosis as shown by cleaved caspases such as caspase-9, the executioner caspases 3 and 7; iii) produced nuclear fragmentation; and iv) increased the level of reactive oxygen species. We are now synthesizing the analogs of DW-8 and are optimizing the formulations for efficient delivery to CRC tumors in vivo. Overall, our result suggests DW-8 may represent a suitable lead for developing novel compound to treat CRC.

Citation Format: Rabin Neupane, Saloni Malla, Mariam Sami Abou-Dahech, Swapnaa Balaji, Shikha Kumari, Yuan Tang, Chandrabose Karthikeyan, Amit K. Tiwari. Design and development of novel anticancer dimethoxyquinazoline-4-amine analog, DW-8, against colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5656.

Lead optimization of novel quinolone chalcone compounds by a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study to increase efficacy and metabolic stability

Many agents targeting the colchicine binding site in tubulin have been developed as potential anticancer agents. However, none has successfully made it to the clinic, due mainly to dose limiting toxicities and the emergence of multi-drug resistance. Chalcones targeting tubulin have been proposed as a safe and effective alternative. We have shown previously that quinolone chalcones target tubulin and maintain potent anti-proliferative activity vis-à-vis colchicine, while also having high tolerability and low toxicity in mouse models of cancer and refractivity to multi-drug resistance mechanisms. To identify the most effective anticancer chalcone compound, we synthesized 17 quinolone-chalcone derivatives based on our previously published CTR-17 and CTR-20, and then carried out a structure-activity relationship study. We identified two compounds, CTR-21 [((E)-8-Methoxy-3-(3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxoprop-1-enyl) quinolin-2(1H)-one)] and CTR-32 [((E)-3-(3-(2-ethoxyphenyl)-3-oxoprop-1-enyl) quinolin-2(1H)-one)] as potential leads, which contain independent moieties that play a significant role in their enhanced activities. At the nM range, CTR-21 and CTR-32 effectively kill a panel of different cancer cells originated from a variety of different tissues including breast and skin. Both compounds also effectively kill multi-drug resistant cancer cells. Most importantly, CTR-21 and CTR-32 show a high degree of selectivity against cancer cells. In silico, both of them dock near the colchicine-binding site with similar energies. Whereas both CTR-21 and CTR-32 effectively prevents tubulin polymerization, leading to the cell cycle arrest at G2/M, CTR-21 has more favorable metabolic properties. Perhaps not surprisingly, the combination of CTR-21 and ABT-737, a Bcl-2 inhibitor, showed synergistic effect in killing cancer cells, since we previously found the "parental" CTR-20 also exhibited synergism. Taken together, CTR-21 can potentially be a highly effective and relatively safe anticancer drug.

Unravelling the Selectivity of 6,7-Dimethyl Quinoxaline Analogs for Kinase Inhibition: An Insight towards the Development of Alzheimer's Therapeutics

Untangling the most selective kinase inhibitors via pharmacological intervention remains one of the challenging affairs to date. In accordance to this drift, herein we describe the design and synthesis of a set of new heterocyclic analogs consisting of 6,7-dimethyl Quinoxaline, appended to a connector, employing Schiff base strategy (Compounds I-IX). The compounds were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and the kinase inhibition assay were performed on few prime members of the CMGC family namely the GSK3β, DYRK1A and CLK1 receptors, respectively, that have been known to be directly involved in hyperphosphorylation of Tau. Interestingly the biological evaluation results revealed that Compounds IV and V, with bromo/chloro functionalities in the aromatic core were advantaged of being highly selective towards the target GSK3β over others. To strengthen our analysis, we adopted molecular modelling studies, where compounds IV/V were redocked in the same grid 4AFJ, as that of the reference ligand, 5-aryl-4-carboxamide-1,3-oxazole. Surprisingly, our investigation underpinned that for both the compounds IV/V, a primary H-bonding existed between the designed molecules (IV/V) and Val 135 residue in the receptor GSK3β, in line with the reference ligand. We attribute this interaction to instigate potency in the compounds. Indeed the other non-covalent interaction, between the derivative's aromatic nucleus and Arg 141/Thr 138 in the receptor GSK3β, might have been responsible for enhancing the selectivity in the targets. Overall, we feel that the present work depicts a logical demonstration towards fine tuning the efficacy of the inhibitors through systematic adjustment of electron density at appropriate positions in the aromatic ring be it the main quinoxaline or the other aromatic nucleus. Thus this pathway offers a convenient strategy for the development of efficient therapeutics for diversified neurodegenerative diseases like that of Alzheimer's.

Anaerobic mixed consortium (AMC) mediated enhanced biosynthesis of silver nano particles (AgNPs) and its application for the removal of phenol

In this research, silver nano particle (AgNP), was synthesized through a novel anaerobic mixed consortium mediation method and applied for the removal of phenol. The best operating conditions for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles were identified through response surface methodology (RSM) and the maximum yield was found to be 2.65 g/100 ml of anaerobic mixed consortium at optimal conditions of pH-8.6, temperature-90 °C, silver nitrate concentration-3 mg/ml and inoculum volume-3 ml. The synthesized nano particle exhibited a maximum phenol removal of 87.65% was achieved at pH:5.8. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by superior surface area (19.26 m²/g) and the stability was confirmed by thermo gravimetric analysis (upto 500 °C). The surface morphology was well explained using High Resolution Transmission Emission Microscopy (HR-TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscope with EDS (SEM-EDS) techniques. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the changes in crystalline structure due to the adsorption of phenol. Kinetic experiments fitted well with the intra-particle diffusion model. The nature of adsorption of phenol was confirmed as monolayer by the goodness of fit with Langmuir isotherm (R² > 0.9969).

Deep Learning Based Capsule Neural Network Model for Breast Cancer Diagnosis Using Mammogram Images

Breast cancer is a commonly occurring disease in women all over the world. Mammogram is an efficient technique used for screening and identification of abnormalities over the breast region. Earlier identification of breast cancer enhances the prognosis of patients and is mainly based on the experience of the radiologist in interpretation of mammogram with quality of image. The advent of Deep Learning (DL) and Computer Vision techniques is widely used to perform breast cancer diagnosis. This paper presents a new Optimal Multi-Level Thresholding-based Segmentation with DL enabled Capsule Network (OMLTS-DLCN) breast cancer diagnosis model utilizing digital mammograms. The OMLTS-DLCN model involves an Adaptive Fuzzy based median filtering (AFF) technique as a pre-processing step to eradicate the noise that exists in the mammogram images. Besides, Optimal Kapur's based Multilevel Thresholding with Shell Game Optimization (SGO) algorithm (OKMT-SGO) is applied for breast cancer segmentation. In addition, the proposed model involves a CapsNet based feature extractor and Back-Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) classification model is employed to detect the existence of breast cancer. The diagnostic outcomes of the presented OMLTS-DLCN technique is examined by means of benchmark Mini-MIAS dataset and DDSM dataset. The experimental values obtained highlights the superior performance of the OMLTS-DLCN model with a higher accuracy of 98.50 and 97.55% on the Mini-MIAS dataset and DDSM dataset, respectively.

Antiproliferative Efficacy of N-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-6,7-dimethoxyquinazolin-4-amine, DW-8, in Colon Cancer Cells Is Mediated by Intrinsic Apoptosis

A novel series of 4-anilinoquinazoline analogues, DW (1–10), were evaluated for anticancer efficacy in human breast cancer (BT-20) and human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines (HCT116, HT29, and SW620). The compound, DW-8, had the highest anticancer efficacy and selectivity in the colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116, HT29, and SW620, with IC₅₀ values of 8.50 ± 2.53 µM, 5.80 ± 0.92 µM, and 6.15 ± 0.37 µM, respectively, compared to the non-cancerous colon cell line, CRL1459, with an IC₅₀ of 14.05 ± 0.37 µM. The selectivity index of DW-8 was >2-fold in colon cancer cells incubated with vehicle. We further determined the mechanisms of cell death induced by DW-8 in SW620 CRC cancer cells. DW-8 (10 and 30 µM) induced apoptosis by (1) producing cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase; (2) activating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, as indicated by the activation of caspase-9 and the executioner caspases-3 and 7; (3) nuclear fragmentation and (4) increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overall, our results suggest that DW-8 may represent a suitable lead for developing novel compounds to treat CRC.

Green synthesis of bio-functionalized nano-particles for the application of copper removal - characterization and modeling studies

Green technology for the synthesis of nanoparticles has gained momentum due to its cost-effectiveness and eco-friendly nature. In this research study, silver nanoparticles (AgNps) were synthesized using an eco-friendly biological method involving the use of marine algae, Halimeda gracilis. The surface properties of the synthesized silver nanoparticles were studied using UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy methods. During the synthesis of nano particles, the parameters namely temperature (30 °C to 90 °C), pH (6-10), silver nitrate (AgNO₃) concentration (1-3 mg/ml) and quantity of algal extract (1-3 ml) were optimized to improve the production of AgNPs. The application of the synthesized silver nanoparticles for the adsorptive removal of copper from aqueous and industrial wastewater was investigated. Intra-particle diffusion mechanism was identified to be controlling step in metal removal. Regeneration of sorbent was carried out using 2.0 M HCl and the reusability was verified for 6 cycles. A removal efficiency of copper (64.8%) from electroplating wastewater demonstrated the industrial application potential of the synthesized silver nanoparticles.

Recent Advances in the Development of Fatty Acid Synthase Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is a multifunctional enzyme involved in the production of fatty acids for lipid biosynthesis. FASN is overexpressed in multiple diseases like cancer, viral, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic disorders, making it an attractive target for new drug discovery for these diseases. In cancer, FASN affects the structure and function of the cellular membrane by channelizing with signaling pathways along with the post-translational palmitoylation of proteins. There are several natural and synthetic FASN inhibitors reported in the literature, a few examples are GSK 2194069 (7.7 nM), imidazopyridine (16 nM), epigallocatechin-3-gallate (42.0 μg/ml) and platensimycin (300 nM) but except for TVB-2640, none of the aforementioned inhibitors have made into clinical trials. The present review summarizes the recent advancements made in anticancer drug discovery targeting FASN. Furthermore, the review also provides insights into the medicinal chemistry of small molecule inhibitors targeting different FASN enzyme domains, and also critically analyzes the structural requirements for FASN inhibition with an objective to support rational design and development of new generation FASN inhibitors with clinical potential in diseases like cancer.

The Rise and Fall of Chloroquine/Hydroxychloroquine as Compassionate Therapy of COVID-19

The emergence and rapid spread of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has posed a serious challenge to global public health in 2020. The speed of this viral spread together with the high mortality rate has caused an unprecedented public health crisis. With no antivirals or vaccines available for the treatment of COVID-19, the medical community is presently exploring repositioning of clinically approved drugs for COVID-19. Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have emerged as potential candidates for repositioning as anti-COVID-19 therapeutics and have received FDA authorization for compassionate use in COVID-19 patients. On March 28, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for HCQ in the treatment of COVID-19. However, it was later revoked by the FDA on June 15, 2020, after analyzing the emerging scientific data from ongoing clinical trials. Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) also conducted a Solidarity trial of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, lopinavir, and ritonavir. However, on May 23, 2020, the executive body of the "Solidarity trial" decided to put a temporary hold on the HCQ trial. On June 17, 2020, the WHO abruptly stopped the Solidarity trial of HCQ. The current review strives to examine the basis of compassionate use of CQ and HCQ for the treatment of COVID-19 in terms of literature evidence, establishing the antiviral efficacy of these drugs against corona and related viruses. Furthermore, the review presents a critical analysis of the clinical trial findings and also provides an insight into the dynamically changing decision on the authorization and withdrawal of HCQ as anti-COVID-19 therapy by the U.S. FDA and the WHO. Ultimately, our study necessitates an evidenced-based treatment protocol to confront the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and not the mere observational study that mislead the public healthcare system, which paralyzes the entire world.

Virtual Screening Based Discovery of PTP1B Inhibitors and Their Biological Evaluations

Background :

The discovery of novel antidiabetics for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an important task nowadays because the current treatment approaches have certain limitations. The reported studies showed that the protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a valuable target, can be used to develop significant antidiabetic molecules.

Objective:

In the present investigation, computational methods and biological evaluation studies have been applied to develop novel PTP1B inhibitors with good enzyme binding affinity and activity.

Methods:

Virtual screening (docking) analysis of SPECS database compounds on PTP1B enzyme was performed using Schrodinger software. In vitro and in vivo biological evaluations had been conducted with the identified hits.

Results:

The results revealed that the molecules identified through these studies have shown significant interactions with the active site residues of the PTP1B enzyme. The compounds S1 and S2 provided significant binding interactions with the residues (Arg221 and Gln262) and have shown considerable in vitro PTP1B inhibitory activity and in vivo antidiabetic activity. The compounds S1 and S2 possessed 35.44±0.12% and 33.68±0.08% inhibitory activities, respectively.

Conclusion:

These identified hits will be used as a template for design and development of novel PTP1B inhibitors with a compatible pharmacokinetic profile.

Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 3-(2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2- ylthio)acetamido)benzoic Acid Derivatives as Inhibitors of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B

Background:

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is an attractive target for antidiabetic drug discovery owing to its pivotal role as a negative regulator of insulin and leptin signaling.

Objective:

The objective of this research is to design, synthesize, and evaluate some acetamidobenzoic acid derivatives as a novel class of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors with therapeutic potential for Type II diabetes.

Methods:

3-(2-(Benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylthio)acetamido)benzoic acid derivatives 4(a-j) were synthesized and characterized by employing spectral studies. All the synthesized compounds were screened for in vitro PTP1B inhibitory activity and the most potent compound in the series was also evaluated for in vivo anti-hyperglycemic activity using STZ induced diabetic Wistar rat model. Molecular docking studies were also performed with the most potent analog using FlexX docking algorithm to delineate its binding mode to the active site of the PTP1B.

Results:

Among all the synthesized compounds, 3-(2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylthio)acetamido)-4- methylbenzoic acid (4f) displayed good PTP1B inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 11.17 μM. The compound also exhibited good anti hyperglycemic efficacy in streptozotocin induced diabetic Wistar rats. Docking studies with 4f revealed that the compound bound in the catalytic and second aryl binding site of the PTP1B.

Conclusion:

Overall, compound 4f with good in vitro PTP1B inhibitory potency and in vivo antihyperglycemic efficacy would be a valuable lead molecule for the development of acetamidobenzoic acid based PTP1B inhibitors with antidiabetic potential.

Abacavir induces the transcriptional activity of YY1 and other oncogenic transcription factors in gastric cancer cells

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a ubiquitous transcription factor with both transcriptional activating and repressing functions. Targeting YY1 is considered as a potential therapeutic strategy for several malignancies. Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (TERT) is also considered as a potential target for cancer therapeutics. To enable the large-scale screening and identification of potential YY1 targeting drugs, a gastric cancer cell line-based drug screening assay was developed. In a YY1 targeted drug repurpose screen, abacavir sulfate, a nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor, known to target TERT was identified to show the feature of activating YY1 mediated transcription. We further explored i) the molecular targets of abacavir, ii) activation pattern of pathways regulated by abacavir in gastric tumors, and iii) therapeutic potential of abacavir for gastric cancer cells. Oncogenic signaling pathways like MYC, HIF1-α, ERK, WNT, E2F, NFκB and NRF1/2 were also found to be highly activated by abacavir. Abacavir was found to have less impact on the viability of gastric cancer cells. Across gastric tumors, we observed the co-activation of TERT, alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT), DNA repair, and the oncogenic pathways MYC, E2F/DP1, ERK, YY1, HIF1α, and NFκB specific gene-sets, in a subset of gastric tumors. The observed connectivity among TERT, DNA repair, and multiple oncogenic pathways indicate the need for the development of combinatorial therapeutics for the gastric tumors with the activated TERT.

Recent Advances in Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Targeted Drug Discovery for Type II Diabetes and Obesity

BACKGROUND

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is an important therapeutic target for type II diabetes and obesity because of its pivotal role as a negative modulator in both insulin and leptin signalling pathways.

OBJECTIVE

The discovery of PTP1B inhibitors has been the focus of researchers in both academia and pharmaceutical industry over the last two decades.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Though, intense pharmaceutical research in this area has resulted in many potent PTP1B inhibitors, a vast majority of them possessed pTyr mimetic group such as phosphonates, carboxylic acids and sulphamic acids, which led to poor PTP1B selectivity and insufficient in vivo efficacy due to low cell permeability and bioavailability. The availability of X-ray crystallographic structures of PTP1B together with the application of molecular modelling and other innovative strategies led to the development of many potent and selective PTP1B inhibitors with desirable physicochemical properties. This review traces the development of PTP1B inhibitors over the last decade and also records novel PTP1B inhibitors developed recently with greater emphasis on their selectivity and cell permeability.

Epilepsy Seizure Detection Using Akima Spline Interpolation Based Ensemble Empirical Mode Kalman Filter Decomposition by EEG Signals

Epilepsy is an incessant neurological disorder. The Epilepsy seizures are generated due to the aggravation in transient signals in Cerebrum. These seizures can be detected by analyzing the Electroencephalogram (EEG) Signals. The Akima Spline Interpolation based Ensemble Empirical Mode Kalman Filter Decomposition (ASI-EEMKFD) model proposed in the paper focuses on detecting seizures automatically through a stable algorithm written in Python by using PyEEG package. The signal detection process is done in three phases. First, the EEG signals are acquired through data sets. Then the signal is decomposed using Akima Spline interpolation for finding the intrinsic mode function. Further the signal is decomposed by implementing the steps involved in the Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD). During the decomposition Kalman filter is used in order to remove the white Gaussian noise. Finally, the decomposed signals are applied to the Long Term Short Term Memory (LTST) deep learning classifier which classifies the ictal, pre-ictal and healthy signal. Our proposed method produces the result higher compared with the existing EEMD Methods with the accuracy rate of 98.2%, sensitivity of 94.96% and specificity of 93.72%.

Novel 3-((2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methylene)indolin-2-one derivatives produce anticancer efficacy in ovarian cancer in vitro

A novel series of 3-((2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methylene)indolin-2-ones were synthesized, using the ‘molecular hybridization approach’ and evaluated for anticancer efficacy. Eleven 3-((2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methylene)indolin-2-ones (LM01 to LM11) were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic efficacy in cancer (ovarian, prostate and colon) and two non-cancerous cell lines. Among the 3-((2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methylene)indolin-2-one derivatives, LM08, with a 6-Cl substitution in the 3-quinolinyl moiety, had selective and potent cytotoxic efficacy in the ovarian cancer cell line A2780. Further mechanistic investigations indicated that LM08 significantly inhibited the clonogenic survival of A2780 cancer cells, which was mediated by inducing apoptosis.

Unravelling the potency of 4,5-diamino-4H-1,2,4 triazole-3-thiol derivatives for kinase inhibition using a rational approach

This report describes the design of potent kinase inhibitors by simply fine tuning the surroundings of triazole core with diversified derivatization.

Review on diverse approaches used for epileptic seizure detection using EEG signals

Epileptic seizure detection is a common diagnosis practiced by the expert clinicians through direct visual observation from the electroencephalography (EEG) signal. This detection by the expert clinicians is considered sensitive to bias and time consuming. Further, it suffers from various problems like unsustainability in larger dataset processing and low power detection. Hence, many computerized detection approaches are highly preferred to eliminate the aforementioned problems and to expedite the research in epilepsy seizure detection for aiding the medical professionals. Many such automated epilepsy diagnosis framework has been designed by various researches, which is made to operate in a single or in a combined manner with other domains. This study reviews different approaches, which is been designed to aid the human diagnosis using new avenues that explains the causes of epilepsy and seizures. Further, this study summarizes various methods used previously to analyze the epilepsy and seizures based on its state of art approach. Also, investigations are carried out in terms of performance evaluation to find the best suitable epileptic seizure detection technique in the application of Neuro-informatics.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.17(4) 2018 p.526-531

Cariprazine, A Dopamine D₂/D₃ Receptor Partial Agonist, Modulates ABCG2-Mediated Multidrug Resistance in Cancer

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a continuing clinical problem that limits the efficacy of chemotherapy in cancer. The over expression of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family G2 (ABCG2) transporter is one of the main mechanisms that mediates MDR in cancer. Molecular modeling data indicated that cariprazine, a dopamine D₂/D₃ receptor partial agonist, had a significant binding affinity for ABCG2 transporter with a Glide XP score of -6.515. Therefore, in this in vitro study, we determined the effect of cariprazine on MDR resulting from the overexpression of ABCG2 transporters. Alone, cariprazine, at concentrations up to 20 μM, did not significantly decrease cell viability. Cariprazine, at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 μM, did not significantly alter the cytotoxicity of mitoxantrone (MX) in the parental non-small cell cancer cell line, H460 and colon cancer cell S1. However, cariprazine (1⁻20 μM) significantly enhanced the efficacy of ABCG2 substrate antineoplastic drug MX in the ABCG2-overexpressing MDR cell line, H460-MX20 and S1M1-80, by reducing the resistance fold from 28 to 1 and from 93 to 1.33, respectively. Cariprazine, in a concentration-dependent (1⁻20 μM), significantly increased the intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123 in S1M1-80. Interestingly, 10 or 20 μM of cariprazine significantly decreased the expression levels of the ABCG2 protein in the colon and lung cancer cell lines, suggesting that cariprazine inhibits both the function and expression of ABCG2 transporters at nontoxic concentrations. Overall, our results suggest that cariprazine, via several distinct mechanisms, can resensitize resistant cancer cells to mitoxantrone.

Comparative studies of energy saving polymers and fabrication of high performance transparent polymer by solvent bonding

This work investigates the possibility of using polyetherimide (PEI) as an energy saving alternative to glass, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) by carrying out heat transfer analysis and suggests vaporized solvent bonding as a viable bonding technique for the fabrication of PEI. By heat transfer analysis using building energy simulation, it is observed that less energy is expended for space-conditioning of a building with windows made of PEI when compared to glass, PMMA and PC. The compression moulding technique is used to mould PEI and fabrication is done using a solvent mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide and tetrahydrofuran in 1:1 ratio. The optical properties of the bonded specimen are studied using UV-visible spectrophotometry and it is found that PEI does not allow UV wavelength radiation to pass through while transmitting visible wavelengths. The mechanical strength of the bond is tested using lap shear tensile strength test and the type of failure is observed to be cohesive from the structure. This is indicative of the fact that using this particular solvent to bond PEI results in the maximum possible strength.

Bax/Tubulin/Epithelial-Mesenchymal Pathways Determine the Efficacy of Silybin Analog HM015k in Colorectal Cancer Cell Growth and Metastasis

The inhibition of apoptosis, disruption of cellular microtubule dynamics, and over-activation of the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), are involved in the progression, metastasis, and resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC) to chemotherapy. Therefore, the design of a molecule that can target these pathways could be an effective strategy to reverse CRC progression and metastasis. In this study, twelve novel silybin derivatives, HM015a-HM015k (15a−15k) and compound 17, were screened for cytotoxicity in CRC cell lines. Compounds HM015j and HM015k (15k and 15j) significantly decreased cell proliferation, inhibited colony formation, and produced cell cycle arrest in CRC cells. Furthermore, 15k significantly induced the formation of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis. It induced the cleavage of the intrinsic apoptotic protein (Bax p21) to its more efficacious fragment, p18. Compound 15k also inhibited tubulin expression and disrupted its structure. Compound 15k significantly decreased metastatic LOVO cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, 15k reversed mesenchymal morphology in HCT116 and LOVO cells. Additionally, 15k significantly inhibited the expression of the mesenchymal marker N-cadherin and upregulated the expression of the epithelial marker, E-cadherin. Compound 15k inhibited the expression of key proteins known to induce EMT (i.e., DVL3, β-catenin, c-Myc) and upregulated the anti-metastatic protein, cyclin B1. Overall, in vitro, 15k significantly inhibited CRC progression and metastasis by inhibiting apoptosis, tubulin activity and the EMT pathways. Overall, these data suggest that compound 15k should be tested in vivo in a CRC animal model for further development.

Mechanisms of the anti-tumor activity of Methyl 2-(-5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1 H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate against breast cancer in vitro and in vivo

Microtubule Targeting Agents (MTAs) induce cell death through mitotic arrest, preferentially affecting rapidly dividing cancer cells over slowly proliferating normal cells. Previously, we showed that Methyl 2-(-5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate (MBIC) acts as a potential MTA. In this study, we demonstrated that MBIC exhibits greater toxicity towards non-aggressive breast cancer cell-line, MCF-7 (IC50 = 0.73 ± 0.0 μM) compared to normal fibroblast cell-line, L-cells (IC50 = 59.6 ± 2.5 μM). The IC50 of MBIC against the aggressive breast cancer cell-line, MDA-MB-231 was 20.4 ± 0.2 μM. We hypothesized that the relatively high resistance of MDA-MB-231 cells to MBIC is associated with p53 mutation. We investigated p53 and three of its downstream proteins: survivin, cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk1) and cyclin B1. Following treatment with MBIC, survivin co-immunoprecipitated with caspases with higher affinity in MDA-MB-231 compared to MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, silencing survivin caused a 4.5-fold increase in sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 cells to MBIC (IC50 = 4.4 ± 0.3). In addition, 4 weeks of MBIC administration in MDA-MB-231 cells inoculated BALB/c nude mice resulted in 79.7% reduction of tumor volume compared to the untreated group with no severe sign of toxicity. Our results demonstrated MBIC has multiple anti-tumor actions and could be a potential drug in breast cancer therapy.

A novel benzimidazole derivative, MBIC inhibits tumor growth and promotes apoptosis via activation of ROS-dependent JNK signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

A prior screening programme carried out using MTT assay by our group identified a series of novel benzimidazole derivatives, among which Methyl 2-(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate (MBIC) showed highest anticancer efficacy compared to that of chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin. In the present study, we found that MBIC inhibited cell viability in different hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines without exerting significant cytotoxic effects on normal liver cells. Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry analysis and Western blotting results indicated that MBIC can induce apoptosis in HCC cells, which was found to be mediated through mitochondria associated proteins ultimately leading to the activation of caspase-3. The exposure to MBIC also resulted in remarkable impairment of HCC cell migration and invasion. In addition, treatment with MBIC led to a rapid generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and substantial activation of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). The depletion of ROS by N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) partially blocked MBIC-induced apoptosis and JNK activation in HCC cells. Finally, MBIC significantly inhibited tumor growth at a dose of 25 mg/kg in an orthotopic HCC mouse model. Taken together, these results demonstrate that MBIC may inhibit cell proliferation via ROS-mediated activation of the JNK signaling cascade in HCC cells.

Novel quinolone chalcones targeting colchicine-binding pocket kill multidrug-resistant cancer cells by inhibiting tubulin activity and MRP1 function

Agents targeting colchicine-binding pocket usually show a minimal drug-resistance issue, albeit often associated with high toxicity. Chalcone-based compounds, which may bind to colchicine-binding site, are found in many edible fruits, suggesting that they can be effective drugs with less toxicity. Therefore, we synthesized and examined 24 quinolone chalcone compounds, from which we identified ((E)-3-(3-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-3-oxoprop-1-enyl) quinolin-2(1H)-one) (CTR-17) and ((E)-6-Methoxy-3-(3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxoprop-1-enyl) quinolin-2(1H)-one) (CTR-20) as promising leads. In particular, CTR-20 was effective against 65 different cancer cell lines originated from 12 different tissues, largely in a cancer cell-specific manner. We found that both CTR-17 and CTR-20 reversibly bind to the colchicine-binding pocket on β-tubulin. Interestingly however, both the CTRs were highly effective against multidrug-resistant cancer cells while colchicine, paclitaxel and vinblastine were not. Our study with CTR-20 showed that it overcomes multidrug-resistance through its ability to impede MRP1 function while maintaining strong inhibition against microtubule activity. Data from mice engrafted with the MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells showed that both CTR-17 and CTR-20 possess strong anticancer activity, alone or in combination with paclitaxel, without causing any notable side effects. Together, our data demonstrates that both the CTRs can be effective and safe drugs against many different cancers, especially against multidrug-resistant tumors.

HM015k, a Novel Silybin Derivative, Multi-Targets Metastatic Ovarian Cancer Cells and Is Safe in Zebrafish Toxicity Studies

This study was designed to determine the in vitro mechanisms by which the novel silybin derivative, (E)-3-(3-(benzyloxy) phenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (HM015k or 15k), produces its anticancer efficacy in ovarian cancer cells. Compound 15k induced apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells in a time-dependent manner by significantly upregulating the expression of Bax and Bak and downregulating the expression of Bcl-2. Interestingly, 15k induced the cleavage of Bax p21 into its more efficacious cleaved form, Bax p18. In addition, caspase 3 and caspase 9 were cleaved to their active forms, inducing the cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) and β-catenin. Furthermore, in OV2008 cells, 15k induced significant cleavage in nuclear β-catenin to primarily inactive fragments of lower molecular weight. Furthermore, 15k reversed the metastatic potential of OV2008 cells by inhibiting their migration and invasiveness. The mesenchymal phenotype in OV2008 was reversed by 15k, causing cells to be rounder with epithelial-like phenotypes. The 15k-induced reversal was further confirmed by significant upregulation of the E-cadherin expression, an epithelial marker, while N-cadherin, a mesenchymal marker, was downregulated in OV2008 cells. Compound 15k inhibited the expression of the oncogenic c-Myc protein, downregulated proteins DVL3 and DVL2 and significantly upregulated cyclin B1. Also, 15k significantly downregulated the expression levels of ABCG2 and ABCB1 transporters in resistant ABCG2 overexpressing H460/MX20 and resistant ABCB1 overexpressing MDCK/MDR1 cells, respectively. Finally, 15k was safe in zebrafish in vivo model at concentrations up to 10 μM and induced no major toxicities in cardiac, morphology and swimming position parameters. Overall, 15k is a multi-targeted inhibitor with efficacy against metastatic and resistant ovarian cancer. Future in vivo studies will be conducted to determine the efficacy of 15k in tumor-bearing animals.

Thienopyrimidine derivatives exert their anticancer efficacy via apoptosis induction, oxidative stress and mitotic catastrophe

In this study, a series of 13 structural variants of thieno[2,3d]pyrimidine derivatives (6a-6m) were synthesized and screened for cytotoxicity in a panel of colorectal, ovarian, and brain cancer cell lines. The selectivity of the compounds was assessed by determining the cytotoxicity in normal epithelial cell line (CHO). The most potent compound, 6j, was efficacious (with IC₅₀ range of 0.6-1.2 μM) in colon (HCT116 and HCT15), brain (LN-229 and GBM-10) and ovarian (A2780 and OV2008) cancer cell lines. In contrast, in the normal cell line (CHO), the IC₅₀ values for 6j were 14 ± 1.3 μM. Compound 6j significantly inhibited the clonogenic potential of HCT116, OV2008 and A2780 cell lines in concentration - dependent (0.5-4 μM) manner. Also, 6j induced 1) formation of reactive oxygen species; 2) apoptosis and 3) mitotic catastrophe in HCT116 and OV2008 cells (IC₅₀ = 0.5-2 μM). Furthermore, apoptosis was the predominant mechanism of death in A2780 cells. The cytotoxicity of 6j in wild type HCT116 cells was similar to that in HCT116 cells lacking the apoptotic genes for Bax, Bak, or Bak and Bax, indicating that 6j induces mitotic catastrophe as alternative mechanism of death when when certain apoptotic proteins are absent. In summary, this study has identified a lead molecule, 6j, that selectively induces oxidative stress, apoptosis and mitotic catastrophe in specific cancer (colon and ovarian) cell lines.