Steven H. Privér

Pharmacophore hybridization is a well-established strategy for developing novel anticancer agents with improved biological profiles. In this study, a new series of (E)-4-(4-acrylamidophenoxy)-N-methylpicolinamide derivatives has been rationally designed by hybridizing key structural features of sorafenib with cinnamide pharmacophores and subsequently synthesized. The antiproliferative activities of the synthesized compounds were evaluated against a panel of human cancer cell lines, including A549 (lung), DU-145 (prostate), SKOV3 (ovarian), and HepG2 (liver), along with non-cancerous Hek293T cells. In comparison with the standard drug sorafenib, most of the (E)-4-(4-acrylamidophenoxy)-N-methylpicolinamides demonstrated significant antiproliferative activity, with specificity toward the HepG2 (liver cancer) cell line, and no effect on the noncancerous cells (Hek293T). Among them, compound 5f, the derivative containing a trifluoromethyl-substituted cinnamoyl moiety was identified as the lead candidate, exhibiting an IC₅₀ of 5.3 µM towards HepG2 (liver) cancer cells, comparable to the reference drug sorafenib. Enzyme inhibition studies showed that compound 5f inhibited both b-Raf and VEGFR-2 with IC₅₀ values of 1.45 and 0.37 µM, respectively. Furthermore, compound 5f suppressed angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, as evidenced by the tube formation assay using HUVECs and in transgenic zebrafish Tg(fli1a:EGFP) models, respectively. Mechanistic studies indicated that compound 5f induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells through mitochondrial membrane depolarization and increased ROS generation. Molecular docking studies supported experimental findings and showed that 5f can interact with catalytically active residues via hydrogen-bonding interactions. Overall, these results highlight the potential of compound 5f as a promising dual target therapeutic lead with dual direct anticancer and antiangiogenic properties.

Fluoride ion plays a pivotal role in a range of biological and chemical applications however excessive exposure can cause severe kidney and gastric problems. A simple and selective molecular sensor, 4,5-di(thien-2-yl)-2-(4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)-phenyl)-1H-imidazole, DTITPE, has been synthesized for the detection of fluoride ions, with detection limits of 1.37 × 10⁻⁷ M and 2.67 × 10⁻¹³ M, determined by UV-vis. and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The variation in the optical properties of the molecular sensor in the presence of fluoride ions was explained by an intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) process between the bis(thienyl) and tetraphenylethylene (TPE) moieties upon the formation of a N-H---F⁻ hydrogen bond of the imidazole proton. The sensing mechanism exhibited by DTITPE for fluoride ions was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Test strips coated with the molecular sensor can detect fluoride ions in THF, undergoing a color change from white to yellow, which can be observed with the naked eye, showcasing their potential real-world application.