Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
Chem Biol Drug Des. 2021 Feb;97(2):325-340. doi: 10.1111/cbdd.13785. Epub 2020 Sep 17.
Spiropyrans have been extensively investigated because of their thermo- and photochromic characteristics, but their biotherapeutic properties have not been explored much. We report anti-proliferative properties of a novel 3,3'-azadimethylene dinaphthospiropyran 11. Dibenzospiropyrans and dinaphthospiropyrans were synthesized by a simple and expedient method using acid-catalyzed aldol condensation of salicylaldehyde and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, respectively, with cyclic ketones. Together with structural elucidation by 2D NMR and X-ray crystallography studies, we provide a putative mechanism for their formation. Compound 11 showed solvatochromism and exhibited altered spectral characteristics depending on the pH. In acidic conditions, 11 remains in open form, whereas upon alkalinization it reverts back to closed form. Based on the in vitro anti-proliferative activity in H441, HCT-116, MiaPaCa-2, and Panc-1 cancer cell lines, 11 was submitted to further investigation. It reduced HCT116 colonosphere formation and demonstrated induction of caspase cascade, suggesting apoptosis. In vitro proliferation assays also suggested that HCl and trifluoroacetate salts of 11 are more effective. Treatment of mice carrying HCT-116 xenografts with 11 (5 µg/day, intraperitoneal for 3 weeks) suppressed tumor growth by 62%. Overall, the results reveal a new series of structurally complex, but relatively easy to synthesize molecules of which compound 11 represents a lead for anticancer development.
螺吡喃因其热致变色和光致变色特性而得到广泛研究,但它们的生物治疗特性尚未得到充分探索。我们报道了一种新型 3,3'-亚甲基二萘并螺吡喃 11 的抗增殖特性。二苯并螺吡喃和二萘并螺吡喃分别通过水杨醛和 2-羟基-1-萘甲醛与环状酮的酸催化羟醛缩合反应,以简单而方便的方法合成。结合二维 NMR 和 X 射线晶体学研究的结构阐明,我们提供了它们形成的可能机制。化合物 11 表现出溶剂变色性,并根据 pH 值显示出光谱特征的变化。在酸性条件下,11 保持开环形式,而在碱化时则恢复为闭环形式。基于在 H441、HCT-116、MiaPaCa-2 和 Panc-1 癌细胞系中的体外抗增殖活性,对 11 进行了进一步研究。它减少了 HCT116 类器官的形成,并显示出 caspase 级联的诱导,表明细胞凋亡。体外增殖实验还表明,11 的 HCl 和三氟乙酸盐更有效。用 11(5μg/天,腹腔内注射,持续 3 周)治疗携带 HCT-116 异种移植瘤的小鼠,可使肿瘤生长抑制 62%。总的来说,这些结果揭示了一系列新型结构复杂但相对容易合成的分子,其中化合物 11 代表了抗癌药物开发的先导化合物。