WASP: weighted average of sequential projections for ptychographic phase retrieval.

We introduce the weighted average of sequential projections, or WASP, an algorithm for ptychography. Using both simulations and real-world experiments, we test this new approach and compare performance against several alternative algorithms. These tests indicate that WASP effectively combines the benefits of its competitors, with a rapid initial convergence rate, robustness to noise and poor initial conditions, a small memory footprint, easy tuning, and the ability to reach a global minimum when provided with noiseless data. We also show how WASP can be parallelised to split operation across several different computation nodes.

DNA-based nanosized functional ruthenium(II) complex as potential phosphorescent probe to track tumor cells.

Identifying tumor cells can be challenging due to cancer's complex and heterogeneous nature. Here, an efficacious phosphorescent probe that can precisely highlight tumor cells has been created. By combining the ruthenium(II) complex with oligonucleotides, we have developed a nanosized functional ruthenium(II) complex (Ru@DNA) with dimensions ranging from 300 to 500 nm. Our research demonstrates that Ru@DNA can readily traverse biomembranes via ATP-dependent endocytosis without carriers. Notably, the nanosized ruthenium(II) complex exhibits rapid and selective accumulation within tumor cells, possibly attributed to the nanoparticles' enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. Ru@DNA can also effectively discern and label the transplanted cancer cells in the zebrafish model. Moreover, Ru@DNA is efficiently absorbed into the intestine and further distributed in the pancreas. Our findings underscore the potential of Ru@DNA as a DNA-based nanodevice derived from a functional ruthenium(II) complex. This innovative nanodevice holds promise as an efficient phosphorescent probe for both in vitro and in vivo imaging of living tumor cells.

Preparation, Characterization, and Antioxidant Activities of Extracts from Amygdalus persica L. Flowers.

A novel water-soluble Amygdalus persica L. flowers polysaccharide (APL) was successfully isolated and purified from Amygdalus persica L. flowers by hot water extraction. Its chemical components and structure were analyzed by IR, GC-MS, and HPLC. APL consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, mannose and glucose in a molar ratio of 0.17:0.034:1.0:0.17 with an average molecular weight of approximately 208.53 kDa and 15.19 kDa. The antioxidant activity of APL was evaluated through radical scavenging assays using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), Hydroxyl radical scavenging, Superoxide radical scavenging, and the reducing power activity was also determined in vitro. Besides, in vivo antioxidant experiment, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were treated with different concentrations of APL and then exposed to LPS to induce oxidative stress. Treatment with APL at 50 or 100 µg/mL significantly reduced LPS-induced oxidative stress in the zebrafish, demonstrating the strong antioxidant activity of APL. Moreover, the effect of APL on zebrafish depigmentation was tested by analyzing the tyrosinase activity and melanin content of zebrafish embryos. APL showed a potential reduction in the total melanin content and tyrosinase activity after treatment. This work provided important information for developing a potential natural antioxidant in the field of cosmetics and food.

Ruthenium(II) Complexes Coupled by Erianin via a Flexible Carbon Chain as a Potential Stabilizer of c-myc G-Quadruplex DNA.

Herein, two novel ruthenium(II) complexes coupled by erianin via a flexible carbon chain, [Ru(phen)2(L1-(CH2)4-erianin)](ClO4)2 (L1 = 2-(2-(tri-fluoromethyphenyl))-imidazo [4,5f][1-10]phenanthroline (1) and [Ru(phen)2(L2-(CH2)4-eria)](ClO4)2 (L2 = 2-(4-(tri-fluoromethyphenyl))-imidazo [4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline (2), have been synthesized and investigated as a potential G-quadruplex(G4) DNA stabilizer. Both complexes, especially 2, can bind to c-myc G4 DNA with high affinity by electronic spectra, and the binding constant calculated for 1 and 2 is about 15.1 and 2.05 × 107 M-1, respectively. This was further confirmed by the increase in fluorescence intensity for both complexes. Moreover, the positive band at 265 nm in the CD spectra of c-myc G4 DNA decreased treated with 2, indicating that 2 may bind to c-myc G4 DNA through extern groove binding mode. Furthermore, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay indicated that the melting point of c-myc G4 DNA treated with 1 and 2 increased 15.5 and 16.5 °C, respectively. Finally, molecular docking showed that 1 can bind to c-myc G4 DNA in the extern groove formed by base pairs G7-G9 and G22-A24, and 2 inserts into the small groove of c-myc G4 DNA formed by base pairs T19-A24. In summary, these ruthenium(II) complexes, especially 2, can be developed as potential c-myc G4 DNA stabilizers and will be exploited as potential anticancer agents in the future.

Beta-Sitosterol Modulates the Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells via the PPARG/AMPK/mTOR Pathway.

INTRODUCTION: The increased migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is an essential pathological factor in the early development of atherosclerosis. Beta-sitosterol (BS), a natural phytosterol abundant in plant seeds, exhibits various bioactivities, including cardioprotective effects. However, its effects on VSMC migration and underlying mechanisms remain to be explored. METHOD AND RESULT: BS inhibited the proliferation and migration of angiotensin II-induced A7r5 cells and reduced intracellular oxidative stress. Targets related to VSMC migration and the targets of BS were screened, cross-referenced, and analyzed by network pharmacology combined with molecular docking technology. The identified targets were verified at the protein and gene levels using Western blotting and quantitative PCR, respectively. BS was observed to activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARG) and adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and negatively regulate mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) expression. Furthermore, a PPARG inhibitor reversed the BS-induced activation of AMPK and mTOR. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that regulation of the PPARG/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway could potentially contribute to the inhibitory effects of BS on angiotensin II-induced VSMC migration.

Novel Chiral Ru(II) Complexes as Potential c-myc G-quadruplex DNA Stabilizers Inducing DNA Damage to Suppress Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Progression.

Currently, effective drugs for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are lacking in clinics. c-myc is one of the core members during TNBC tumorigenesis, and G-rich sequences in the promoter region can form a G-quadruplex conformation, indicating that the c-myc inhibitor is a possible strategy to fight cancer. Herein, a series of chiral ruthenium(II) complexes ([Ru(bpy)2(DPPZ-R)](ClO4)2, Λ/Δ-1: R = -H, Λ/Δ-2: R = -Br, Λ/Δ-3: R = -C≡C(C6H4)NH2) were researched based on their interaction with c-myc G-quadruplex DNA. Λ-3 and Δ-3 show high affinity and stability to decrease their replication. Additional studies showed that Λ-3 and Δ-3 exhibit higher inhibition against different tumor cells than other molecules. Δ-3 decreases the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells with an IC50 of 25.51 µM, which is comparable with that of cisplatin, with an IC50 of 25.9 µM. Moreover, Δ-3 exhibits acceptable cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 cells in a zebrafish xenograft breast cancer model. Further studies suggested that Δ-3 decreases the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells predominantly through DNA-damage-mediated apoptosis, which may be because Δ-3 can induce DNA damage. In summary, the results indicate that Ru(II) complexes containing alkinyl groups can be developed as c-myc G-quadruplex DNA binders to block TNBC progression.

Arene Ru(II) Complexes Acted as Potential KRAS G-Quadruplex DNA Stabilizer Induced DNA Damage Mediated Apoptosis to Inhibit Breast Cancer Progress.

A series of arene Ru(II) complexes, [(η6-MeC6H5)Ru(L)Cl]Cl, (L=o-ClPIP, 1; m-ClPIP, 2 and p-ClPIP, 3) (o-ClPIP=2-(2-chlorophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline; m-ClPIP=2-(3-chlorophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline; p-ClPIP=2-(4-chlorophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) was synthesized and investigated as a potential apoptosis inducer in chemotherapy. Spectroscopy and molecular docking simulations show that 1 exhibits moderated binding affinity to KRAS G-quadruplex DNA by groove mode. Further, in vitro studies reveal that 1 displays inhibitory activity against MCF-7 growth with IC50 = 3.7 ± 0.2 µM. Flow cytometric analysis, comet assay, and immunofluorescence confirm that 1 can induce the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells and G0/G1 phase arrest through DNA damage. In summary, the prepared arene Ru(II) complexes can be developed as a promising candidate for targeting G-quadruplex structure to induce the apoptosis of breast cancer cells via binding and stabilizing KRAS G-quadruplex conformation on oncogene promoter.

Arene Ru(II) Complexes with Difluorinated Ligands Act as Potential Inducers of S-Phase Arrest via the Stabilization of c-myc G-Quadruplex DNA.

Here, a series of half-sandwich arene Ru(II) complexes with difluorinated ligands [Ru(η6-arene)(L)Cl] (L1 = 2-(2,3-difluorophenyl)imidazole[4,5f][1,10]-phenanthroline; L2 = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)imidazole[4,5f][1,10]-phenanthroline; arene = benzene, toluene, and p-cymene) were synthesized and characterized. Molecular docking analysis showed that these complexes bind to c-myc G-quadruplex DNA through either groove binding or π-π stacking, and the relative difluorinated site in the main ligand plays a role in regulating the binding mode. The binding behavior of these complexes with c-myc G-quadruplex DNA was evaluated using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence intercalator displacement assay, fluorescence resonance energy transfer melting assay, and polymerase chain reaction. The comprehensive analysis indicated that complex 1 exhibited a better affinity and stability in relation to c-myc G-quadruplex DNA with a DC50 of 6.6 µM and ΔTm values of 13.09 °C, than other molecules. Further activity evaluation results displayed that this class of complexes can also inhibit the growth of various tumor cells, especially complexes 3 and 6, which exhibited a better inhibitory effect against human U87 glioblastoma cells (51.61 and 23.75 µM) than other complexes, even superior to cisplatin (32.59 µM). Owing to a befitting lipophilicity associated with the high intake of drugs by tumor cells, complexes 3 and 6 had favorable lipid-water partition coefficients of -0.6615 and -0.8077, respectively. Moreover, it was found that complex 6 suppressed the proliferation of U87 cells mainly through an induced obvious S phase arrest and slight apoptosis, which may have resulted from the stabilization of c-myc G-quadruplex DNA to block the transcription and expression of c-myc. In brief, these types of arene Ru(II) complexes with difluorinated ligands can be developed as potential inducers of S-phase arrest and apoptosis through the binding and stabilization of c-myc G-quadruplex DNA, and could be used in clinical applications in the future.

Synthesis of N-2(5H)-furanonyl sulfonyl hydrazone derivatives and their biological evaluation in vitro and in vivo activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

A series of (E)-N-2(5H)-furanonyl sulfonyl hydrazone derivatives have been rationally designed and efficiently synthesized by one-pot reaction with good yields for the first time. This green approach with wide substrate range and good selectivity can be achieved at room temperature in a short time in the presence of metal-free catalyst. The cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines of all newly obtained compounds have been evaluated by MTT assay. Among them, compound 5 k exhibits high cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with an IC50 value of 14.35 µM. The cytotoxic mechanism may involve G2/M phase arrest pathway, which is probably caused by activating DNA damage. Comet test and immunofluorescence results show that compound 5 k can induce DNA damage in time- and dose-dependent manner. Importantly, 5 k also can effectively inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and angiogenesis in the zebrafish xenograft model. It is potential to further develop N-2(5H)-furanonyl sulfonyl hydrazone derivatives as potent drugs for breast cancer treatment with higher cytotoxic activity by modifying the structure of the compound.

Selective stabilization of multiple promoter G-quadruplex DNA by using 2-phenyl-1H-imidazole-based tanshinone IIA derivatives and their potential suppressing function in the metastatic breast cancer.

The G-quadruplex (G4) DNA, which has been developed as a potential anticancer target in drug screening and design, plays a crucial role in the oncogene transcription and translation. Tanshinone IIA derivatives with a planar heterocycle structure may function as G4 stabilizers. We present an innovative case of imidazole-based tanshinone IIA derivatives (1-8) especially compound 4 that improve the selectivity and the binding affinity with G4 DNA and enhance the target tumor inhibition. Cellular and in vivo experiments indicate that the tanshinone IIA derivative 4 inhibits the growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis of triple-negative breast cancer cells possibly through the stabilization of multiple G4 DNAs (e.g., c-myc, K-ras, and VEGF) to induce DNA damage. Further investigation of the intermolecular interaction and the molecular docking indicates that tanshinone IIA derivatives have better selective binding capability to various G4 DNAs than to double-stranded DNA. These findings provide guidance in modifying the molecular structures of tanshinone IIA derivatives and reveal their potential to function as specific G4 stabilizers.

Synthesis, docking studies and antitumor activity of phenanthroimidazole derivatives as promising c-myc G-quadruplex DNA stabilizers.

Phenanthroimidazole derivatives containing phenanthroline and imidazole heterocyclic aromatic rings are effective agents to inhibit tumor cell growth. Herein, halogen element-modified imidazo[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline derivatives 1-6 (1, 4-fluorophenyl; 2, 4-chlorophenyl; 3, 4-bromobenyl; 4, 2,3-dichlorophenyl; 5, 3,4-dichlorophenyl; and 6, 2,4-dichlorophenyl) were synthesized, and their antitumor activities were investigated. All of the compounds, especially 4, exhibited an excellent inhibitory effect against nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-1 cells. This effect was better than that of doxorubicin. Compound 4 also markedly blocked the proliferation of the CNE-1 cells in a zebrafish xenograft model. The antitumor mechanisms might be attributed to apoptosis induction, which triggered ROS-mediated DNA damage and generated mitochondrial dysfunction by stabilizing c-myc G-quadruplex DNA structure. Results indicated that phenanthroimidazole derivatives could act as promising anticancer agents.

Cardioprotective effects of timosaponin B-II isolated from Anemarrhena rhizome in a zebrafish model.

Timosaponin B-II (TB-II; (25S)-26-(ß-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-3ß-[(2-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-ß-D-galactopyranosyl) oxy]-5ß-furostan-22-ol is extracted from Anemarrhena. Its anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and anti-asthma properties have been widely explored. However, its effect on the heart has not been reported. In this study, we used zebrafish as a research model to determine the effects of TB-II on the heart and its toxic and anti-inflammatory effects. To explore the cause of cardioprotective effects of TB-II, we used transgenic zebrafish with macrophages and neutrophils labeled with fluorescent protein. We found for the first time that TB-II had a protective effect on the zebrafish heart. It did not affect the survival and hatching rates of zebrafish embryos, indicating its low toxicity. Results showed that TB-II may have cardioprotective effects, which might be related to its anti-inflammatory effects.

Tanshinoneâ ¡A phenanthroimidazole derivative polarizes macrophage to improve metabolic homeostasis.

Macrophages infiltrated in adipose tissue play a key role in obesity. Some traditional pharmaceutical compounds may shift the polarization of recruited macrophages to improve metabolic homeostasis. TanshinoneⅡA (TAN2A) is a major active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, a traditional anti-inflammatory cardiovascular medicine. In our study, we firstly constructed a phenanthroimidazole derivative of TAN2A named TAN20 by chemical synthesis, then identified its structure by chromatography and hydrogen spectroscopy, and finally examined its effects on immunometabolic responses. We found that TAN20 significantly induced the alternatively-activated (M2) rather than the classically-activated macrophages (M1), mainly through releasing the type II cytokines. Such effects were more pronounced than that from TAN2A. Compared to TAN2A, TAN20 substantially reduced body weight, decreased serum free fatty acid and HOMA-IR, and increased insulin sensitivity in obesity-induced diabetic mice. These effects of TAN20 were further validated on diabetic cynomolgus monkeys, which are closer to human physiological conditions. Taken together, our findings explicitly showed that TAN20 significantly polarized the macrophage and improved metabolic homeostasis in obesity-induced diabetic models, suggesting that TAN20 may be a potential drug against diabetes and obesity.

Phenanthroimidazole derivatives act as potentinducer of autophagy by activating DNA damage pathway.

A series of imidazo[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline derivatives (1-6) have been synthesized in this study, and their inhibitory activity was evaluated by MTT assay. Results showed that all of these compounds demonstrate a promising inhibitory activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines. The 6, the most effective compound with IC50 of approximately 2.3 ±â€¯0.1 µM, was against the growth and could induce autophagy of HepG2 cells. This condition was confirmed by abundant autophagic vacuoles appearing in cells and evident ultrastructural changes observed under transmission electron microscopy. The autophage induced by 6 has also been demonstrated by up-regulating LC3-II and Beclin1. The apoptosis and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest through DSB damage have also been confirmed after the HepG2 cells were treated by 6. These multiple effects, especially induction apoptosis and autophagy, indicate the potential of 6 for development as a novel anticancer drug.

Anti-inflammatory and proresolution activities of bergapten isolated from the roots of Ficus hirta in an in vivo zebrafish model.

Bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen), a coumarin-derivate compound isolated from Ficus hirta roots, was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory and proresolution activities in a tail-cutting-induced zebrafish larvae model. Bergapten was evaluated using a caudal fin-wounded transgenic zebrafish line "Tg(corola: eGFP)" to visualize the effects of the recruitment and clearance of neutrophils and macrophages at the injury site. We found that bergapten significantly suppressed the recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages toward the injury site, as well as promoted the clearance of neutrophils and macrophages from the wound site. We also investigated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) level of bergapten in a tail-cutting-induced inflammation zebrafish model. The Results revealed that bergapten effectively inhibited the tail-cutting-induced production of ROS and NO in zebrafish larvae. This study reported for the first time the potential anti-inflammatory and proresolution activities of bergapten in an in vivo zebrafish model, suggesting that bergapten may be a potential candidate for inflammation therapy.

Tissue regeneration promotion effects of phenanthroimidazole derivatives through pro-inflammatory pathway activation.

A chemotherapeutic drug exerts favorable antitumor activity and simultaneously exhibits expectable inhibition on wound healing process. Phenanthroimidazole derivatives possess potent anticancer activity. However, only a few studies focused on the discovery of its potential effects on promoting tissue regeneration. In this study, four novel phenanthroimidazole derivatives were synthesized and characterized, and they exhibited evident inhibition on different tumor cells; compound 3 is the most active one. Moreover, 3 can promote wound healing of zebrafish in a dose-dependent manner. Further study demonstrated that 3 promoted the recruitment of inflammatory cells, formation of angiogenesis, and generation of reactive oxygen species and also influenced the motor behavior of zebrafish. Results indicated that 3 can accelerate the occurrence of pro-inflammation, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, and innervation, which play key roles in the facilitation of wound healing. Therefore, 3 can act as a bifunctional drug in inhibiting tumor and promoting tissue regeneration.

Evaluation of Tanshinone IIA Developmental Toxicity in Zebrafish Embryos.

Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is derived from the dried roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a traditional Chinese medicine. Although Salvia miltiorrhiza has been applied for many years, the toxicity of the mono-constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza, tanshinone IIA, is still understudied. This study evaluated the cardiotoxicity and developmental malformations of Tan-IIA by using zebrafish normal embryos and dechorionated embryos. After treatment with Tan-IIA in different concentrations for four-day periods, obvious pericardial edema, spinal curvature, and even missing tails were observed in zebrafish embryos. The LC50 values in the dechorionated embryo group at 72 h post-fertilization (hpf) and 96 hpf were 18.5 µM and 12.8 µM, respectively, and the teratogenicity was manifested at a concentration of about 1 µM. The main endpoints of teratogenicity were scoliosis, malformation of tail, and pericardium edema. Our findings displayed the potential cardiotoxicity and severe impact on the abnormal development of Tan-IIA in zebrafish embryo at high concentrations, which may help avoid the risk of its clinical application.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline Derivatives as Apoptosis Inducers in Chemotherapy by Stabilizing Bcl-2 G-quadruplex DNA.

Herein, a series of imidazo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline derivatives RPIP (PIP = imidazo [4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline, R = NO2, 1; CF3, 2; Cl, 3; OH, 4) have been synthesized in yields of 82.3-94.7% at 100 °C under the irradiation of microwave. MTT assay has been utilized to evaluate the inhibitory activity (IC50) of these compounds against the growth of various tumor cells, and the results revealed that these compounds, especially 1, exhibited excellent inhibitory activity against the growth of A549 cells with IC50 of 15.03 µM. Moreover, it's also confirmed that 1 can penetrate into the membrane of tumor cells and distribute in mitochondria when observed under microscopy, resulting apoptosis of tumor cells. The further studies showed that 1 can bind to bcl-2 G-quadruplex DNA, which demonstrated by the increase of melting point of bcl-2 G4 DNA in the presence of 1, as well as electronic titration and emission spectra. In a word, this kind of compound may develop as a potential apoptosis inducer in cancer chemotherapy via binding and stabilizing to the bcl-2 G-quadruplex DNA.

Imaging Nuclei of MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells by Chiral Ruthenium(II) Complex Coordinated by 2-(4-Phenyacetylenephenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline.

A pair of chiral ruthenium(II) complexes, Λ- and Δ-[Ru(bpy)2(p-BEPIP)](ClO4)2 [Λ- and Δ-RM0627; bpy = 2,2-bipyridine; p-BEPIP = 2-(4-phenyacetylenephenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline], were prepared using the Sonogashira coupling reaction under microwave irradiation. The study shows that Λ-RM0627 emitted strong phosphorescence in the range 500-700 nm with a maximum at 594 nm when excited at 365 nm (the Stokes shift is about 227 nm), which was mainly located in the cell nucleus with red phosphorescence. Further studies using real-time phosphorescence observation confirmed that Λ-RM0627 can be taken up quickly by MDA-MB-231 cells and enriched in the nucleus. The in vitro and in vivo toxicities of Λ-RM0627 were also evaluated, and it was found that Λ-RM0627 slightly inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and HaCaT normal human epidermal cells and had little influence on the development of Zebrafish embryos at low concentration. In conclusion, the levoisomer of chiral ruthenium complexes can act as a potential phosphorescent probe that targets nuclei of living cells with low toxicity.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of phenanthroimidazole derivatives as stabilizer of c-myc G-quadruplex DNA.

c-myc G-quadruplex DNA, which plays a central role in tumor progression and resistance, has been extensively investigated as potential target of antitumor drugs. In this paper, a series of phenanthroimidazole derives have been synthesized under irradiation of microwave in yields of 51­80%. The antitumor activity of these compounds against various tumor cells has been evaluated, and the results show that these compounds exhibit great inhibition to MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and Hela cells, especially 5 inhibit the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells with IC50 about 3.6 lM. The further studies show that 5 can bind and stabilize c-myc G4 DNA in p­p stacking mode, which confirmed by the hypochromise in the electronic spectra of 5 with the increasing of c-myc G4 DNA. When dealt with 5, the strength of CD signal attributed to c-myc G4 DNA is decreased and the FRET melting point of c-myc G4 DNA is increased. Moreover, the molecule docking calculation was conducted to show that 5 suitably stack onto the 50 G-quartet surface, and parallels to the surfaces of the G5 and G-quartet consisting of G7, G11, G16, and G20. As a result, the replication of c-myc oligomers is blocked by 5. In a word, this type of phenanthroimidazole derives can act as potential inhibitor against breast cancer cells by binding and stabilizing c-myc G4 DNA through p­p stacking.