Triazoloquinazoline derived classical DNA intercalators: Design, synthesis, in silico ADME profile, docking, and antiproliferative evaluations.

Thirteen novel [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]quinazoline derivatives as DNA intercalators were synthesized and their anticancer activities evaluated against HepG2 and HCT-116 cells. A docking study was carried out to explore how the new derivatives bind to active sites of DNA. The docking data were highly interrelated with that of biological testing. The HCT-116 cell line was the most sensitive one to the effect of the new derivatives. Compound 7c exhibited the highest anticancer activities against both the HepG2 and HCT116 cancer cell lines. Despite this compound displaying less activity than doxorubicin, it could be useful as a template for future manipulation, optimization, and investigation to produce other analogs with potential activity. The most active derivatives, 7c , 7b , and 7a were evaluated as DNA binders. Compound 7c displayed the highest binding affinity. Furthermore, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profile was calculated for the four most active compounds in comparison to doxorubicin as reference drug. Our derivatives 7a , 7b , and 7c displayed a very good calculated ADMET profile in comparison to doxorubicin.

Design, synthesis, in silico ADMET, docking, and antiproliferative evaluations of [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]quinazolines as classical DNA intercalators.

Eleven novel [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]quinazolines were designed, synthesized, and evaluated against HepG2 and HCT-116 cells. The molecular design was performed to investigate the binding mode of the proposed compounds with the DNA active site. The data obtained from biological testing highly correlated with that obtained from molecular modeling. HCT-116 was found to be the most sensitive cell line to the influence of the new derivatives. In particular, compounds 6f and 6e were found to be the most potent derivatives over all the tested compounds against the two HepG2 and HCT116 cancer cell lines, with IC50 = 23.44 ± 2.9, 12.63 ± 1.2, and 25.80 ± 2.1, and 14.32 ± 1.5 µM, respectively. Although compounds 6f and 6e displayed less activity than doxorubicin (IC50 = 7.94 ± 0.6 and 8.07 ± 0.8 µM, respectively), both could be useful as a template for future design, optimization, and investigation to produce more potent anticancer analogs. The most active derivatives 6a , 6c , 6e , and 6f were evaluated for their DNA-binding activities. Compound 6f displayed the highest binding affinity. This compound potently intercalates DNA at a decreased IC50 value (54.08 µM). Compounds 6a , 6c , and 6e exhibited good DNA-binding affinities, with IC50 values of 79.35, 84.08, and 59.35 µM, respectively. Furthermore, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) profiles were calculated for the four most active compounds in comparison to doxorubicin as a reference drug. Our derivatives 6a , 6c , 6e , and 6f displayed very good in-silico-predicted ADMET profiles. Doxorubicin violates three of Lipinski's rules, our derivatives 6a , 6c , 6e , and 6f do not violate any rule.

Antiproliferative evaluations of triazoloquinazolines as classical DNA intercalators: Design, synthesis, ADMET profile, and molecular docking.

Novel triazoloquinazolines were designed and synthesized and evaluated as anticancer agents against HepG2 and HCT-116 cells. The biological testing data corresponded well to those of the molecular docking studies. The HCT-116 cell line was most affected due to the actions of our derivatives. Derivative 7a was the most potent one against both HepG2 and HCT116 cells, with IC50 = 7.98 and 5.57 µM, respectively. This compound showed anticancer activity that was nearly equipotent to that of doxorubicin against HepG2 cells, but higher than that of doxorubicin against HCT116 cells (IC50 = 7.94 and 8.07 µM, respectively). Compounds 8, 7b , and 6f showed excellent anticancer activities against both the HCT116 and HepG2 cell lines. The highly active compounds 6f , 7a , 7b , and 8 were evaluated for their DNA-binding activities. Compounds 7a and 8 showed the highest binding activities. These derivatives potently intercalate in DNA, at IC50 values of 42.90 and 48.13 µM, respectively. Derivatives 6f and 7b showed good DNA-binding activities, with IC50 values of 54.24 and 50.56 µM, respectively. Furthermore, in silico calculated ADMET profiles were established for our four highly active derivatives, in comparison to doxorubicin. Our derivatives 6f , 7a , 7b , and 8 showed a very good ADMET profile. Compounds 6f , 7a , 7b , and 8 follow Lipinski's rules, while doxorubicin violates three of these rules.

[1,2,4]Triazolo[4,3-c]quinazoline and bis([1,2,4]triazolo)[4,3-a:4',3'-c]quinazoline derived DNA intercalators: Design, synthesis, in silico ADMET profile, molecular docking and anti-proliferative evaluation studies.

In view of their DNA intercalation activities as anticancer agents, novel fifteen [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]quinazoline and bis([1,2,4]triazolo)[4,3-a:4',3'-c]quinazoline derivatives have been designed, synthesized and evaluated against HepG2 and HCT-116. The molecular design was performed to investigate the binding mode of the proposed compounds with DNA active site. The data obtained from biological testing highly correlated with that obtained from molecular modeling studies. HCT-116 was found to be more sensitive cell lines to the influence of the new derivatives. In particular, compounds 16, 18, 11 and 5 were found to be the most potent derivatives with IC50 = 3.61, 6.72, 7.16 and 5.18 µM respectively against HepG2 cell line. Also, compounds 16, 18, 11 and 5 displayed IC50 = 2.85, 3.82, 4.97 and 6.40 µM respectively against HCT-116 cell line. These derivatives displayed higher activities than doxorubicin, (IC50 = 7.94 and 8.07 µM respectively) against the two HepG2 and HCT-116 cell lines. The most active anti-proliferative derivatives 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 19 and 20 were further evaluated for their DNA-binding affinity which revealed the ability of these compounds to intercalate DNA. The tested compounds displayed very strong to moderate DNA-binding affinities. Compounds 16 and 18 potently intercalate DNA at IC50 values of 26.03 and 28.37 µM respectively which were lower than IC50 of Doxorubicin (IC50 = 31.27). This finding indicated that these derivatives exhibited higher DNA binding activities than Doxorubicin. Also, compounds 11 and 5 displayed very strong DNA binding at IC50 = 30.84 and 33.56 µM respectively, which were nearly equipotent to that of doxorubicin. Moreover, most of our derivatives exhibited good ADMET profile.

N-Substituted-4-phenylphthalazin-1-amine-derived VEGFR-2 inhibitors: Design, synthesis, molecular docking, and anticancer evaluation studies.

In accordance with the significant impetus of the discovery of potent vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) inhibitors, herein, we report the design, synthesis, and anticancer evaluation of 12 new N-substituted-4-phenylphthalazin-1-amine derivatives against HepG2, HCT-116, and MCF-7 cells as VEGFR-2 inhibitors. The results of the cytotoxicity investigation indicated that HCT-116 and MCF-7 were the most sensitive cell lines to the influence of the newly synthesized derivatives. In particular, compound 7a was found to be the most potent derivative among all the tested compounds against the three cancer cell lines, HepG2, HCT116, and MCF-7, with IC50 = 13.67 ± 1.2, 5.48 ± 0.4, and 7.34 ± 0.6 µM, respectively, which is nearly equipotent to that of sorafenib (IC50 = 9.18 ± 0.6, 5.47 ± 0.3, and 7.26 ± 0.3 µM, respectively). All synthesized derivatives, 4a,b-8a-c, were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against VEGFR-2. The tested compounds displayed high to low inhibitory activity, with IC50 values ranging from 0.14 ± 0.02 to 9.54 ± 0.85 µM. Among them, compound 7a was found to be the most potent derivative that inhibited VEGFR-2 at an IC50 value of 0.14 ± 0.02 µM, which is nearly 72% of that of the sorafenib IC50 value (0.10 ± 0.02 µM). Compounds 7b, 8c, 8b, and 8a exhibited very good activity with IC50 values of 0.18 ± 0.02, 0.21 ± 0.03, 0.24 ± 0.02, and 0.35 ± 0.04 µM, respectively. Molecular modeling studies were carried out for all compounds against the VEGFR-2 active site. The data obtained from biological testing highly correlated with that obtained from molecular modeling studies. However, these modifications led to new phthalazine derivatives with higher VEGFR-2 inhibitory activities than vatalanib and which are nearly equipotent to sorafenib.

Phthalazine-based VEGFR-2 inhibitors: Rationale, design, synthesis, in silico, ADMET profile, docking, and anticancer evaluations.

In the designed compounds, a new linker was inserted in the form of fragments with verified VEGFR-2 inhibitory potential, including an α,ß-unsaturated ketonic fragment, pyrazole, and pyrimidine. Also, new distal hydrophobic moieties were attached to these linkers that are expected to increase the hydrophobic interaction with VEGFR-2 and, consequently, the affinity. These structural optimizations have led us to identify the novel dihydropyrazole derivative 6e as a promising hit molecule. All the new derivatives were evaluated to assess their anticancer activity against three human cancer cell lines, including HepG2, HCT-116, and MCF-7. The results of the in vitro anticancer evaluation study revealed the moderate to excellent cytotoxicity of 6c , 6e , 6g , and 7b , with IC50 values in the low micromolar range. The inhibitory activity of VEGFR-2 was investigated for 16 of the designed compounds. The enzyme assay results of the new compounds were compared with those of sorafenib as a reference VEGFR-2 inhibitor. The obtained results demonstrated that our derivatives are potent VEGFR-2 inhibitors. The most potent derivatives 6c , 6e , 6g , and 7b showed IC50 values in the range of 0.11-0.22 µM. Molecular docking and pharmacokinetic studies were also conducted to rationalize the VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity and to evaluate the ability of the most potent derivatives to be developed as good drug candidates.

Exploration of the VEGFR-2 inhibition activity of phthalazine derivatives: design, synthesis, cytotoxicity, ADMET, molecular docking and dynamic simulation.

Novel phthalazine derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated against Hep G2 and MCF-7 as VEGFR-2 inhibitors. In particular, compounds 2g and 4a were found to be the most potent derivatives among all the tested compounds against MCF-7 and Hep G2 cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 0.15 and 0.12 and 0.18 and 0.09 µM respectively. Moreover, compounds 3a, 3c, 5a and 5b displayed excellent anticancer activities against MCF-7 and Hep G2 cancer cell lines. The highly active derivatives 2g, 3a, 3c, 4a, 5a and 5b were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against VEGFR-2. The tested compounds displayed high to low inhibitory activities with IC50 values ranging from 0.148 to 0.892 µM. Among them, compounds 2g and 4a were found to be the most potent derivatives that inhibited VEGFR-2 with IC50 values of 0.148 and 0.196 µM respectively. Compounds 3a, 3c, 5a and 5b exhibited good activity with IC50 values of 0.375, 0.892, 0.548 and 0.331 µM respectively. Sorafenib was used as a reference drug in this study. Molecular modeling studies were carried out for all compounds against the VEGFR-2 active site. The data obtained from biological testing highly correlated with those obtained from molecular modeling studies. Moreover, MD simulation results indicated the stability of ligand-target interaction. Furthermore, our derivatives 2g and 4a showed a good in silico calculated ADMET profile.

Rationale, in silico docking, ADMET profile, design, synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluations of phthalazine derivatives as VEGFR-2 inhibitors and apoptosis inducers.

New phthalazine derivatives as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) inhibitors were synthesized joined to different spacers including pyrazole, α,ß-unsaturated ketonic fragment, pyrimidinone and/or pyrimidinthione. A docking study was carried out to explore the suggested binding orientations of the novel derivatives inside the active site of VEGFR-2. The obtained biological data were extremely interrelated to that of the docking study. In particular, compounds 4b and 3e showed the highest activities against Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) and Hepatocellular carcinoma G2 (HepG2) with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 0.06, 0.06 µM and 0.08, 0.19 µM respectively. Our derivatives 3a-e, 4a,b and 5a,b were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against normal VERO cells. Our compounds exhibited low toxicity concerning normal VERO cells with IC50 = 3.00-4.75 µM. In addition, our final derivatives 3a-e, 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b were investigated for their VEGFR-2 inhibitory activities. Derivative 4b exhibited the highest VEGFR-2 inhibitory activities at an IC50 value of 0.09 ± 0.02 µM. Derivatives 3e, 4a and 5b demonstrated good activities with IC50 values = 0.12 ± 0.02, 0.15 ± 0.03 and 0.13 ± 0.03 µM respectively. Furthermore, the activities of 4b were assessed against MCF-7 cancer cells for apoptosis induction, cell cycle distribution and growth inhibition. Compound 4b caused cell growth arrest in growth 2-mitosis (G2-M) phase; accumulation of cells at that phase became 6.92% after being 13.2 in control cells. Moreover, our derivatives 3e, 4b and 5b revealed a good in silico considered absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profile in comparison to sorafenib.