Novel 4-quinoline-thiosemicarbazone derivatives: Synthesis, antiproliferative activity, in vitro and in silico biomacromolecule interaction studies and topoisomerase inhibition

Abstract

Twelve 2-(quinolin-4-ylmethylene) hydrazinecarbothioamide derivatives were synthetized and their biological properties were investigated, among which, the ability to interact with DNA and BSA through UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence, Circular Dichroism, molecular docking and relative viscosity, antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 and T-47D mammary tumor cells and RAW-264.7 macrophages and inhibitory capacity of the enzyme topoisomerase IIα. In the binding study with DNA and BSA, all the compounds displayed affinity for interaction with both biomolecules, especially JF-92 (p-ethyl-substituted), with binding constant of 1.62 × 10⁶ and 1.43 × 10⁵, respectively, and DNA binding mode by intercalation. The IC₅₀ values were obtained between 0.81 and 1.48 μM and topoisomerase inhibition results in 10 μM. Thus, we conclude that the reduction of the acridine to quinoline ring did not disrupt the antitumor action and that substitution patterns are important for biomolecule interaction affinity as they demonstrate the potential of these compounds for anticancer therapy.