ABSTRACT
Herein, we describe the design, synthesis, and in vitro biological evaluation of HO-1 inducers endowed with cytotoxic effects mediated by ferroptosis activation. Using the natural HO-1 inducer caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) as a chemical scaffold, new derivatives were synthesized by performing modifications in the cathecol moiety and in the phenethyl ester aromatic ring. Biological assays aimed at evaluating an imbalanced activity of ferroptosis key players identified that 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl cinnamate (compound 24) possesses improved anticancer activity toward the MDA-MB 231 triple negative breast cancer cell line when compared to CAPE. Increased ROS and LOOH levels, reduced GSH levels, imbalanced mitochondrial activity, and restored cell viability after ferrostatin-1 treatment suggested a ferroptotic mechanism of action, which did not involve GPX4 inhibition. Compound 24 represents an intriguing hit compound useful for the identification of novel ferroptosis inducers.
ABSTRACT
Renewed interest towards natural substances has been pushed by the widespread diffusion of antibiotic resistance. Curcumin I is the most active and effective constituent of curcuminoids extracted from Curcuma longa and, among other beneficial effects, attracted attention for its antimicrobial potential. Since the poor pharmacokinetic profile hinders its efficient utilization, in the present paper, we report encapsulation of curcumin I in poly(styrene-co-maleic acid) (SMA-CUR) providing a nanomicellar system with improved aqueous solubility and bioavailability. SMA-CUR was characterized by means of size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, atomic force microscopy (AFM), drug release studies, spectroscopic properties and stability. SMA-CUR nanoformulation displayed exciting antimicrobial properties compared to free curcumin I towards Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical isolates.