Multi-functionalization of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets for tumor theragnosis: Synthesis, characterization, enzyme assay, in-silico study, radiolabeling and in vivo targeting evaluation.

BACKGROUND: In this study, a combination of nanotechnology, organic synthesis and radiochemistry were utilized in order to design an efficient nano-system conjugated with a suitable radionuclide and an antitumor agent for possible application as tumor theragnostic agent. METHOD: Four novel compounds (3 and 4a-c) bearing tetrahydroquinazoline-7-sulfonohydrazide or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazoline-7-sulfonamide scaffold were designed. Then, docking study predicted that the compounds can be considered as potential inhibitors for PARP-1. Following that; the four compounds were synthesized and properly characterized using 1HNMR, 13CNMR, IR and Mass spectroscopy. The cytotoxic effect of the four compounds was evaluated against breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-436), where compound 3 showed the most promising cytotoxic effect. The inhibitory effect of the four compounds was evaluated in vitro against PARP-1. RESULT: Carboxylated graphene oxide nanosheets (NGO-COOH) were synthesized by a modified Hummer's method and has size of range 40 nm. The NGO-COOH nanosheets were proven to be safe and biocompatible when tested in vitro against normal human lung fibroblast cells (MRC-5). The prepared NGO-COOH nanosheets were conjugated with compound 3 then radiolabeled with 99mTc to yield 99mTc-NGO-COOH-3 with a radiochemical yield of 98.5.0 ± 0.5%. 99mTc-NGO-COOH-3 was injected intravenously in solid tumor bearing mice to study the degree of localization of the nano-system at tumor tissue. The results of the study revealed, excellent localization and retention of the designed nano-system at tumor tissues with targeting ratio of 9.0. CONCLUSION: Stirred a new candidate tumor theragnostic agent that is safe, selective and stable.

New phenothiazine conjugates as apoptosis inducing agents: Design, synthesis, In-vitro anti-cancer screening and 131I-radiolabeling for in-vivo evaluation.

Phenothiazines (PTZs) are a group of compounds characterized by the presence of the 10H-dibenzo-[b,e]-1,4-thiazine system. PTZs used in clinics as antipsychotic drugs with other diverse biological activities. The current aim of the study is to investigate and understand the effect of potent PTZs compounds using a group of In-vitro and In-vivo assays. A total of seventeen novel phenothiazine derivatives have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated primarily in-vitro for their ability to inhibit proliferation activity against NCI-60 cancer cell lines, including several multi-drug resistant (MDR) tumor cell lines. Almost all compounds were active and displayed promising cellular activities with GI50 values in the sub-micromolar range. Four of the most promising derivatives (4b, 4h, 4g and 6e) have been further tested against two selected sensitive cancer cell lines (colon cancer; HCT-116 and breast cancer; MDA-MB231). The apoptosis assay showed that all the selected compounds were able to induce early apoptosis and compound 6e was able to induce additional cellular necrosis. Cell cycle assay showed all selected compounds were able to induce cell cycle arrest at sub-molecular phase of G0-G1 with compound 6e induced cell cycle arrest at G2M in HCT-116 cells. Accordingly, the apoptotic effect of the selected compounds was extensively investigated on genetic level and Casp-3, Casp-9 and Bax gene were up-regulated with down-regulation of Bcl-2 gene suggesting the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. In-vivo evaluation of the antitumor activity of compound 4b in solid tumor bearing mice showed promising therapeutic effect with manifestation of dose and time dependent toxic effects at higher doses. For better evaluation of the degree of localization of 4b, its 131I-congener (131I-4b) was injected intravenously in Ehrlich solid tumor bearing mice that showed good localization at tumor site with rapid distribution and clearance from the blood. In-silico study suggested NADPH oxidases (NOXs) as potential molecular target. The compounds introduced in the current study work provided a cutting-edge phenothiazine hybrid scaffold with promising anti-proliferation action that may suggest their anti-cancer activity.

Novel substituted 1,8-naphthyridines: Design, synthesis, radiolabeling, and evaluation of apoptosis and topoisomerase II inhibition.

A series of seventeen 1,8-naphthyridine derivatives (5a-5q) conjugated at N1 to various substituted phenyl rings were designed and synthesized as potential topoisomerase II (Topo II) inhibitors. The antiproliferative activity of the target compounds against three cancer cell lines showed that compounds 5g and 5p had the highest antiproliferative activity. In addition, 5p and 5g displayed a high selectivity index (SI) for cancer cells when tested on WI38 normal cells, whereby compound 5p showed the highest SI. Furthermore, 5g and 5p induced cell cycle arrest at the S and G1/S phases, respectively, triggering apoptosis in HepG-2 cells. The in vitro Topo II inhibitory effect (plasmid-based) of both compounds revealed that 5p had better inhibition of Topo II. In addition, 5p displayed potent topoisomerase IIß inhibitory effect when compared to known topoisomerase inhibitors (doxorubicin and topotecan). Molecular docking proposed a unique binding pattern of 5p in the etoposide binding pocket of topoisomerase IIß, endorsing its potential role as a Topo II poison. Accordingly, 5p was chosen for radioiodination to study the degree of tumor localization following administration in solid tumor-bearing mice. The radioiodinated 5p showed a selective localization at the tumor site, which further confirmed the value of 5p as a lead 1,8-naphthyridine anticancer agent.

Tailoring of Selenium-Plated Novasomes for Fine-Tuning Pharmacokinetic and Tumor Uptake of Quercetin: In Vitro Optimization and In Vivo Radiobiodistribution Assessment in Ehrlich Tumor-Bearing Mice.

Quercetin (QRC) is a bioflavonoid with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, yet QRC poor bioavailability has hampered its clinical implementation. The aim of the current work was to harness novasomes (NOVs), free fatty acid enriched vesicles, as a novel nano-cargo for felicitous QRC delivery with subsequent functionalization with selenium (SeNOVs), to extend the systemic bio-fate of NOVs and potentiate QRC anticancer efficacy through the synergy with selenium. QRC-NOVs were primed embedding oleic acid, Brij 35, and cholesterol adopting thin-film hydration technique according to Box-Behnken design. Employing Design-Expert® software, the impact of formulation variables on NOVs physicochemical characteristics besides the optimum formulation election were explored. Based on the optimal NOVs formulation, QRC-SeNOVs were assembled via electrostatic complexation/in situ reduction method. The MTT cytotoxicity assay of the uncoated, and coated nanovectors versus crude QRC was investigated in human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. The in vivo pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studies after intravenous administrations of technetium-99m (99mTc)-labeled QRC-NOVs, QRC-SeNOVs, and QRC-solution were scrutinized in Ehrlich tumor-bearing mice. QRC-NOVs and QRC-SeNOVs disclosed entrapment efficiency of 67.21 and 70.85%, vesicle size of 107.29 and 129.16 nm, ζ potential of -34.71 and -43.25 mV, and accumulatively released 43.26 and 31.30% QRC within 24 h, respectively. Additionally, QRC-SeNOVs manifested a far lower IC50 of 5.56 µg/mL on RD cells than that of QRC-NOVs (17.63 µg/mL) and crude QRC (38.71 µg/mL). Moreover, the biodistribution study elicited higher preferential uptake of 99mTc-QRC-SeNOVs within the tumorous tissues by 1.73- and 5.67-fold as compared to 99mTc-QRC-NOVs and 99mTc-QRC-solution, respectively. Furthermore, the relative uptake efficiency of 99mTc-QRC-SeNOVs was 5.78, the concentration efficiency was 4.74 and the drug-targeting efficiency was 3.21. Hence, the engineered QRC-SeNOVs could confer an auspicious hybrid nanoparadigm for QRC delivery with fine-tuned pharmacokinetics, and synergized antitumor traits.

Extraction, purification and radioiodination of Khellin as cancer theranostic agent.

Khellin was successfully extracted from Ammi visnaga fruits with a recovery percent of 96.15%. Next radio-iodination of Khellin was successfully achieved with a high yield. The biodistribution study of [131I]iodo-khellin in tumour bearing mice revealed that khellin preferentially localization at tumour tissue. Target prediction study for [131I]iodo-khellin revealed that PI3K and VEGFR are potential targets for iodo-khellin with good affinity. The results of this study potentiate [131I]iodo-khellin as a good theranostic agent for tumour imaging and therapy.

Discovery of New Coumarin-Based Lead with Potential Anticancer, CDK4 Inhibition and Selective Radiotheranostic Effect: Synthesis, 2D & 3D QSAR, Molecular Dynamics, In Vitro Cytotoxicity, Radioiodination, and Biodistribution Studies.

Novel 6-bromo-coumarin-ethylidene-hydrazonyl-thiazolyl and 6-bromo-coumarin-thiazolyl-based derivatives were synthesized. A quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model with high predictive power r2 = 0.92, and RMSE = 0.44 predicted five compounds; 2b, 3b, 5a, 9a and 9i to have potential anticancer activities. Compound 2b achieved the best ΔG of -15.34 kcal/mol with an affinity of 40.05 pki. In a molecular dynamic study 2b showed an equilibrium at 0.8 Å after 3.5 ns, while flavopiridol did so at 0.5 Å after the same time (3.5 ns). 2b showed an IC50 of 0.0136 µM, 0.015 µM, and 0.054 µM against MCF-7, A-549, and CHO-K1 cell lines, respectively. The CDK4 enzyme assay revealed the significant CDK4 inhibitory activity of compound 2b with IC50 of 0.036 µM. The selectivity of the newly discovered lead compound 2b toward localization in tumor cells was confirmed by a radioiodination biological assay that was done via electrophilic substitution reaction utilizing the oxidative effect of chloramine-t. 131I-2b showed good in vitro stability up to 4 h. In solid tumor bearing mice, the values of tumor uptake reached a height of 5.97 ± 0.82%ID/g at 60 min p.i. 131I-2b can be considered as a selective radiotheranostic agent for solid tumors with promising anticancer activity.

"Tau Protein Targeting Via Radioiodinated Azure A For Brain Theranostics: Radiolabeling, Molecular Docking, in vitro And in vivo Biological Evaluation".

Azure-A is one of the phenothiazines (PTZs) derivatives which for decades have been used as antipsychotic drugs due to good lipophilic characteristics which enable them to pass through the blood brain barrier (BBB), besides the important property of enabeling investigation of the pathological forms of aggregated tau protein found in the neurons of the central nervous system. Radioiodination of Azure-A was carried out via an electrophilic substitution reaction using chloramine-T as oxidizing agent. The influence of various reaction parameters and conditions on radioiodination efficiency was investigated, and a high radiochemical yield of 92.07 ± 0.9 % was obtained. An in vitro cytotoxicity study of iodinated Azure-A on three cell lines (HCT-116, human colon carcinoma cell line; Hep-G2, liver carcinoma cell line and HFB-4, normal human melanocytes) was carried out, and the data revealed that ioiodinated Azure A has no to very low toxic effect. The in vivo biodistribution study of 131 I-Azure A showed a high brain uptake of 6.15 ± 0.09 % injected dose/g tissue organ at 30 minutes post-injection, and its retention in brain remained high up to 2 hours, whereas the clearance from the body appeared to proceed via the renal system. The experimental data were confirmed by the molecular docking studies to predict the effect of radioiodination on the binding affinity of the parent molecule (Azure A) to tau paired helical filaments (PHFs). Both ligands showed better binding to S2 and S3 pockets of (PHFs). Consequently, radioiodinated Azure A seems to be a good candidate as an imaging agent for taupathies such as Alzheimer's disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and corticobasal degeneration. Furthermore, it could be a very potent theranostics agent for brain tumors.

Radioiodination and biological distribution of a new s-triazine derivative for tumor uptake evaluation.

A newly synthesized s-triazine derivative 1,1',1″-(((1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl) tris (azanediyl)) tris (benzene-4,1-diyl))tris (ethan-1-one), (1), was synthesized as a part of an ongoing research for development of novel s-triazine-based radiopharmaceuticals. In-vitro cell viability assay against different human cancer cell lines showed very promising inhibitory activity of the synthesized compound. This finding encouraged the radioiodination of 1 to study the degree of its localization in tumor site for evaluating the possibility of its use as a tumor imaging agent. The biodistribution study showed good localization of the radioiodinated derivative 2 at tumor site following i.v. administration in solid tumor-bearing mice. Finally, in a trial to understand the mechanism of the anticancer effect exerted by 1, a target prediction study and a docking study were performed. The results of the first study showed that focal adhesion kinase is a possible target for compound 1 and the docking study confirmed successful binding of both compound 1 and its radioiodinated derivative 2 to the binding site of focal adhesion kinase. As a conclusion, the results of this study suggest that, compound 2 could be used as a potential agent for tumor imaging after preclinical trials.

Development, Potential Anticancer Activity and the Receptor Profile of Different Functionalized 1,3,5-Triazine Derivatives.

1,3,5-Triazine-based compounds form a privileged class of compounds in the medicinal chemistry field as they are versatile synthetic scaffolds possessing wide spectra of biological effects including potential anticancer activity. 1,3,5-Triazine compounds explored for anticancer activities have been reported to act by various mechanisms on several molecular targets in human cells such as methyltransferase (DNMT), heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). This review focuses on the synthetic strategies for current developments of 1,3,5-triazine-based anticancer agents and discuses the docking studies that confirm their unique binding modes in the targeted receptors active sites. This article also aims to highlight the future directions for the easy access to these frameworks of more potent and specific anticancer activity.