Biological Evaluation Research Articles

Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling simulations of new phthalazine-1,4-dione derivatives as anti-Alzheimer's agents.

The development of targeted phthalazine-1,4-dione acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors for treating Alzheimer's disease involved the synthesis of 32 compounds via a multistage process. Various analytical techniques confirmed the compounds' identities. Thirteen compounds were found to inhibit AChE by more than 50% without affecting butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Among these, three compounds, 8m, 8n, and 8p, exhibited extraordinary activity similar to donepezil, a reference AChE inhibitor. During enzyme kinetic studies, compound 8n, displaying the highest AChE inhibitory activity, underwent evaluation at three concentrations (2 × IC50, IC50, and IC50/2). Lineweaver-Burk plots indicated mixed inhibition activity for compound 8n against AChE, suggesting a combination of competitive and noncompetitive characteristics. Additionally, effective derivatives 8m, 8n, and 8p exhibited high blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in in vitro parallel artificial membrane permeability assay tests. Molecular docking studies revealed that these compounds bind to the enzyme's active site residues in a position similar to donepezil. Molecular dynamic simulations confirmed the stability of the protein-ligand system, and the chemical reactivity characteristics of the compounds were investigated using density functional theory. The compounds' wide energy gaps suggest stability and therapeutic potential. This research represents a significant step toward finding a potential cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, further research and testing are required to determine the compounds' safety and efficacy. The unique structure of phthalazine derivatives makes them suitable for various biological activities, and these compounds show promise for developing effective drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease. Overall, the development of these targeted compounds is a crucial advancement in the search for an effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of O4′-benzyl-hispidol derivatives and analogs as dual monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors and anti-neuroinflammatory agents

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of two series of O4′-benzyl-hispidol derivatives and the analogous corresponding O3′-benzyl derivatives aiming to develop selective monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors endowed with anti-neuroinflammatory activity is reported herein. The first O4′-benzyl-hispidol derivatives series afforded several more potentially active and MAO-B inhibitors than the O3′-benzyl derivatives series. The most potential compound 2e of O4′-benzyl derivatives elicited sub-micromolar MAO-B IC50 of 0.38 µM with a selectivity index >264 whereas most potential compound 3b of O3′-benzyl derivatives showed only 0.95 MAO-B IC50 and a selectivity index >105. Advancement of the most active compounds showing sub-micromolar activities to further cellular evaluations of viability and induced production of pro-neuroinflammatory mediators confirmed compound 2e as a potential lead compound inhibiting the production of the neuroinflammatory mediator nitric oxide significantly by microglial BV2 cells at 3 µM concentration without significant cytotoxicity up to 30 µM. In silico molecular docking study predicted plausible binding modes with MAO enzymes and provided insights at the molecular level. Overall, this report presents compound 2e as a potential lead compound to develop potential multifunctional compounds.

2D/3D-QSAR Model Development Based on a Quinoline Pharmacophoric Core for the Inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum: An In Silico Approach with Experimental Validation

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp. parasites, with widespread drug resistance to most antimalarial drugs. We report the development of two 3D-QSAR models based on comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA), comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSIA), and a 2D-QSAR model, using a database of 349 compounds with activity against the P. falciparum 3D7 strain. The models were validated internally and externally, complying with all metrics (q2 > 0.5, r2test > 0.6, r2m > 0.5, etc.). The final models have shown the following statistical values: r2test CoMFA = 0.878, r2test CoMSIA = 0.876, and r2test 2D-QSAR = 0.845. The models were experimentally tested through the synthesis and biological evaluation of ten quinoline derivatives against P. falciparum 3D7. The CoMSIA and 2D-QSAR models outperformed CoMFA in terms of better predictive capacity (MAE = 0.7006, 0.4849, and 1.2803, respectively). The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of three selected quinoline derivatives were similar to chloroquine. Finally, the compounds showed low cytotoxicity (IC50 > 100 µM) on human HepG2 cells. These results suggest that the QSAR models accurately predict the toxicological profile, correlating well with experimental in vivo data.

Discovery of Potent and Selective c-Met Degraders for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment.

Targeting c-Met is a clinical trend for the precise treatment of HCC, but the potential issue of acquired drug resistance cannot be ignored. Targeted protein degradation technology has demonstrated promising prospects in disease treatment and overcoming drug resistance due to its special mechanism of action. In this study, we designed and synthesized two series of novel c-Met degraders and conducted a systematic biological evaluation of the optimal compound H11. H11 exhibited good c-Met degradation activity and anti-HCC activity. Importantly, H11 also demonstrated more potent inhibitory activity against Ba/F3-TPR-MET-D1228N and Ba/F3-TPR-MET-Y1230H cell lines than did tepotinib. In summary, H11 displayed potent anti-HCC activity as a degrader and may overcome resistance to type Ib inhibitors, making it a new therapeutic strategy for HCC with MET alterations.

Biological Efficacy Evaluation of Lab Synthesized MgGA Bio-MOF as an Antioxidant Agent and Drug Vehicle

Biological Efficacy Evaluation of Lab Synthesized MgGA Bio-MOF as an Antioxidant Agent and Drug Vehicle

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Mitochondria-Targeting Fluorescent Phenothiazine Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents

AbstractIn this research, we synthesized a novel mitochondrial-targeted antitumor lead compound named phenolthiazide-4C-Pvi (PCP) by modifying a phenothiazine with 3-(2-pyridin-4-ylvinyl)-1H-indole (Pvi) as a mitochondrial-targeted fluorescent cargo. Our preliminary findings indicated that PCP exhibits remarkable cell imaging and mitochondrial localization ability, and can induce apoptosis by influencing the membrane potential and reactive oxygen species levels in mitochondria. Compared with phenothiazines, PCP has an excellent ability to target the mitochondria of cancer cells, and its selectivity and toxicity to tumor cells are stronger than those toward normal cells. These results demonstrated that PCP possesses strong antitumor effects with excellent selectivity, making it a promising candidate as a mitochondrial-targeted antitumor drug.

Design, Synthesis, and the Biological Evaluation of Some New Fused Thiazolotriazine Derivatives

Thiazolotriazine is an essential medicinal chemistry molecule due to its biological properties, particularly antifungalactivity. Antifungal drug resistance is rising worldwide, necessitating the development of innovative, safer, and more effectiveantifungals. This study intended to uncover safer and more effective thiazolotriazine antifungals. ProTox II software was employedto forecast the toxicity of the designed thiazolotriazines. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using the Swiss-ADMEdatabase. The Molecular Operating Environment software (2019.0102 version) was employed for the docking studies utilizing 14-α-demethylase protein (PDB ID: 3LD6). Compounds 4c, 4d, and 4e were prepared and evaluated for in vitro antifungal activity.The computational studies revealed compounds 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 6b, 6c and 6d as carcinogenic; 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e demonstratedbetter pharmacokinetic behaviour; and docking results of 4c, 4d, and 4e were superior than fluconazole (FLU). The moleculardocking studies establish 4c, 4d, and 4e as SDM inhibitors, suggesting a mechanism similar to FLU and ketoconazole (KET). Theantifungal activity evaluation revealed 4d (MIC = 6.25 μg/ml) as a more potent antifungal agent than KET (MIC = 12.5 μg/ml) andFLU (MIC = 12.5 μg/ml). Compounds 4c and 4e showed equal antifungal activity to KET (MIC = 12.5 μg/ml) and FLU (MIC = 12.5μg/ml). Compounds 4c, 4d, and 4e displayed encouraging antifungal activity with a favorable safety profile. Assessing the broadspectrum of 4c, 4d, and 4e against various pathogenic fungi, including resistant forms, is recommended.

Modular Synthesis and Antimicrobial Investigation of Mycoleptodiscin A and Simplified Indolosesquiterpenoids.

The structure-activity relationship of the unusual indolosesquiterpenoid mycoleptodiscin A is unknown due to natural scarcity and inefficient synthesis. A modular approach leveraging Larock indole synthesis has been established to access mycoleptodiscin A and a divergent collection of drimenyl indoles. It features the utilization of an inexpensive (+)-sclareolide, modularity, purification-economy, and scalability, which facilitates the first biological evaluation of mycoleptodiscin A and related precursors.

Design, Synthesis, and the Biological Evaluation of Some New Fused Thiazolotriazine Derivatives

Thiazolotriazine is an essential medicinal chemistry molecule due to its biological properties, particularly antifungalactivity. Antifungal drug resistance is rising worldwide, necessitating the development of innovative, safer, and more effectiveantifungals. This study intended to uncover safer and more effective thiazolotriazine antifungals. ProTox II software was employedto forecast the toxicity of the designed thiazolotriazines. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using the Swiss-ADMEdatabase. The Molecular Operating Environment software (2019.0102 version) was employed for the docking studies utilizing 14-α-demethylase protein (PDB ID: 3LD6). Compounds 4c, 4d, and 4e were prepared and evaluated for in vitro antifungal activity.The computational studies revealed compounds 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 6b, 6c and 6d as carcinogenic; 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d and 4e demonstratedbetter pharmacokinetic behaviour; and docking results of 4c, 4d, and 4e were superior than fluconazole (FLU). The moleculardocking studies establish 4c, 4d, and 4e as SDM inhibitors, suggesting a mechanism similar to FLU and ketoconazole (KET). Theantifungal activity evaluation revealed 4d (MIC = 6.25 μg/ml) as a more potent antifungal agent than KET (MIC = 12.5 μg/ml) andFLU (MIC = 12.5 μg/ml). Compounds 4c and 4e showed equal antifungal activity to KET (MIC = 12.5 μg/ml) and FLU (MIC = 12.5μg/ml). Compounds 4c, 4d, and 4e displayed encouraging antifungal activity with a favorable safety profile. Assessing the broadspectrum of 4c, 4d, and 4e against various pathogenic fungi, including resistant forms, is recommended.

Identification of Innovative Folate Inhibitors Leveraging the Amino Dihydrotriazine Motif from Cycloguanil for Their Potential as Anti-Trypanosoma brucei Agents.

Folate enzymes, namely, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and pteridine reductase (PTR1) are acknowledged targets for the development of antiparasitic agents against Trypanosomiasis and Leishmaniasis. Based on the amino dihydrotriazine motif of the drug Cycloguanil (Cyc), a known inhibitor of both folate enzymes, we have identified two novel series of inhibitors, the 2-amino triazino benzimidazoles (1) and 2-guanidino benzimidazoles (2), as their open ring analogues. Enzymatic screening was carried out against PTR1, DHFR, and thymidylate synthase (TS). The crystal structures of TbDHFR and TbPTR1 in complex with selected compounds experienced in both cases a substrate-like binding mode and allowed the rationalization of the main chemical features supporting the inhibitor ability to target folate enzymes. Biological evaluation of both series was performed against T. brucei and L. infantum and the toxicity against THP-1 human macrophages. Notably, the 5,6-dimethyl-2-guanidinobenzimidazole 2g resulted to be the most potent (Ki = 9 nM) and highly selective TbDHFR inhibitor, 6000-fold over TbPTR1 and 394-fold over hDHFR. The 5,6-dimethyl tricyclic analogue 1g, despite showing a lower potency and selectivity profile than 2g, shared a comparable antiparasitic activity against T. brucei in the low micromolar domain. The dichloro-substituted 2-guanidino benzimidazoles 2c and 2d revealed their potent and broad-spectrum antitrypanosomatid activity affecting the growth of T. brucei and L. infantum parasites. Therefore, both chemotypes could represent promising templates that could be valorized for further drug development.

Hybrid benzothiazole derived fused triazole/thiazole derivatives as versatile anti-Alzheimer agents: Synthesis, characterization, biological evaluation and molecular docking studies

Alzheimer's disease, as per reports, 50 million people worldwide suffer from dementia and an increase of 152 million is expected by 2050. This study reports a novel synthetic approach to designing and synthesizing a series of benzothiazole-based fused 1,3,4-triazole/1,3,4-thiadiazole hybrid derivatives (1-19), which show promising potential as therapeutic agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. These derivatives were structurally confirmed through spectroscopic analytical techniques, including 13C-NMR, 1H-NMR and HREI-MS. All the analogs were subjected to biological inhibitory evaluation against AChE and BuChE, in which analog 2 ((IC50 = 3.30 ± 0.20 and 3.70 ± 0.40 µM), 7 (2.70 ± 0.10 and 3.240 ± 0.10 µM), 12 (4.80 ± 0.30 and 5.40 ± 0.20 µM), 15 (2.10 ± 0.20 and 3.10 ± 0.50 µM) and 19 (4.40 ± 0.20 and 5.10 ± 0.10 µM)) exhibited spellbinding potency in contrast to standard Donepezil (IC50 = 4.60 ± 0.10 µM for AChE and 5.20 ± 0.71 µM for BuChE). The surpassing potential of the analogs is elaborated in SAR analysis, based on number, position and nature of the substituents. In this regard, analog 15 having two flouro groups, was found as the top ranking candidate, inhibiting the enzymes through hydrogen bonding. Additionally, molecular docking study was also performed to investigate the binding modes and interactions between the ligands and the target protein. Furthermore, the drug-likeness of the compounds was evaluated through in silico ADME analysis, which assessed their pharmacokinetic properties and potential to become a successful drug candidate.

Novel coumarin-piperazine-2(5H)-furanone hybrids as potential anti-lung cancer agents: Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking studies

Novel coumarin-piperazine-2(5H)-furanone hybrids 5a–l were efficiently synthesized by introducing a furanone scaffold into coumarin using piperazine as a linker. The cytotoxicity of all hybrids 5a–l were evaluated by MTT assay on human lung cancer A549 cells and normal human lung fibroblast WI-38 cells with cytarabine (CAR) as a positive control. Hybrid 5 l (IC50 = 11.28 μM) was the most toxic to A549 cells, 18-fold more toxic than the reference CAR (IC50 = 202.57 μM). Moreover, hybrid 5 l (IC50 = 411.93 μM) was less toxic to WI-38 cells, with a much higher selectivity (5 l, SI ≈ 37, WI-38/A549) than CAR (SI ≈ 2). Structure–activity relationship analysis showed that both the cytotoxicity against A549 cells and selectivity (WI-38/A549) were greatly improved when the bornyl group was incorporated in the hybrids (5c, 5f, 5i and 5 l). Further, hybrid 5 l was more toxic and selective against four types of human lung cancer cells (A549, Calu-1, PC-9 and H460; IC50 = 5.72–45.46 μM; SI ≈ 9–72) than three other types of human cancer cells (SK-BR-3, 786-O and SK-OV-3, IC50 = 39.07–130.82 μM; SI ≈ 0–2), showing remarkable specificity. In particular, hybrid 5 l (IC50 = 5.72 μM) showed the highest cytotoxicity against H460 cells with the highest selectivity of up to 72 (WI-38/H460). Flow cytometric analysis showed that hybrid 5 l induced apoptosis in H460 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Molecular docking studies revealed a high binding affinity of hybrid 5 l with CDK2 protein. Hybrid 5 l is expected to be a leading candidate for anti-lung cancer agents.

Quinazoline-Glycine Manganese(II) Nano-Complex for Arsenic Sensing via QCM: Synthesis, Characterization, DFT Studies, Biological Evaluation and Environmental Application

Quinazoline-Glycine Manganese(II) Nano-Complex for Arsenic Sensing via QCM: Synthesis, Characterization, DFT Studies, Biological Evaluation and Environmental Application

2-(Piperidin-3-yl)phthalimides reduce classical markers of cellular inflammation in LPS-challenged RAW 264.7 cells and also demonstrate potentially relevant sigma and serotonin receptor affinity in membrane preparations

Herein, we report the synthesis of new 4-amino-2-(piperidin-3-yl)isoindoline-1,3-diones and their biological evaluation in a series of in vitro experiments. The synthetic production of these materials was initiated upon the condensation of appropriate nitrophthalic acid derivatives with various 3-aminopiperidines; subsequent reduction provided the final products in moderate to good yields. Readily available chiral pool reagents facilitated entry into optically enriched samples, while the piperidine scaffold furnished a variety of amide and alkylated entries. In total, 16 candidates were produced, and their ensuing treatment in LPS-challenged RAW cells effected slight reductions in secreted TNF-α but provided more robust and dose-dependent declines in nitrite and IL-6 levels relative to basal amounts, all concurrent with maintenance of cellular viability across the concentration ranges screened. The secondary amine cohort including rac-6, (R)-7, and (S)-8 rendered the most pronounced dose-dependent reductions in nitrite and IL-6. When dosed at 30 μM, (R)-7 demonstrated the most compelling effects, with decreases of 32 % and 40 % for nitrite and IL-6, respectively. Notable reductions in the inflammatory markers were also observed for 19 which effected declines in TNF-α (14 %), nitrite (19 %), and IL-6 (11 %) when treated at 30 μM. Additionally, four representative compounds were further evaluated against numerous CNS receptors, channels, and transporters, with 6, 9, and 19 demonstrating varying degrees of nanomolar-to-low-micromolar binding to the σ-1 and σ-2 receptors and also to serotonin receptors 5HT2A, 5HT2B and 5HT3. In this regard, 6 displayed perhaps the most noteworthy affinities, with binding at σ-2 (Ki = 2.2uM), 5HT2B (Ki = 561 nM) and 5HT3 (Ki = 536 nM). Furthermore, no pronounced or dose-dependent Cereblon/DDB1 binding was observed for the screened representative compounds 6, 9, 18 and 19.

Novel imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines tethered with indolinone motif as VEGFR-2 inhibitors and apoptotic inducers: Design, synthesis and biological evaluations

The current study investigates the anticancer and VEGFR-2 inhibitory activities of 16 novel indolinone-grafted imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives (6a-h and 10a-h). The structures of these target compounds were confirmed using elemental and spectral analyses. All compounds were evaluated for their VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity in vitro, with eight compounds demonstrating promising results, exhibiting IC50 values in the sub-micromolar range (0.22 μM – 0.95 μM). Additionally, the anticancer potential of these compounds was assessed using an MTT assay against two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. Compounds 6a, 6f, 6 h, and 10f showed superior performance (IC50 = 9.79, 8.78, 8.35, and 10.88 µM, respectively) compared to the reference drug cisplatin (IC50 = 11.50 µM) against MDA-MB-231 cells. Based on their consistent VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity, compounds 6a, 6 h, and 10f were selected for further analysis. Molecular docking studies with VEGFR-2 (PDB ID: 4AGD) revealed binding behaviors similar to the co-crystallized ligand sunitinib. Among the reported target molecules, compound 10f exhibited the most desirable characteristics in terms of efficacy and safety and was further analyzed using density-functional theory (DFT) simulations to better understand its physical properties.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and mechanism of action of benzothiazole derivatives with aromatic hydrazone moiety, a new class of antileishmanial compounds.

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoa Leishmania spp., considered as a significant and urgent public health problem mainly in developing countries. In the absence of an effective vaccine, the treatment of infected people is one of the most commonly prophylactic measures used to control this disease. However, the therapeutic arsenal is reduced to a few drugs, with serious side effects and variability in efficacy. Attempting to this problem, in this work, a series of benzothiazole derivatives was synthetized and assayed against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of L. amazonensis, as well as the toxicity on macrophages. In addition, studies about the mechanism of action were also performed. Among the synthesized molecules, the substitution at position 4 of the aromatic ring appears to be critical for activity. The best compound exhibited IC50 values of 28.86 and 7.70 μM, against promastigotes and amastigotes of L. amazonensis, respectively, being more active than miltefosine, used as reference drug. The in silico analysis of physicochemical and pharmacokinetic (ADMET) properties of this compound suggested a good profile of oral bioavailability and safety. In conclusion, the strategy of using benzothiazole nucleous in the search for new antileishmanial agents was advantageous and preliminar data provide information about the mechanism of action as well as in silico parameters suggest a good profile for preclinical studies.

Efficient degradation of p-nitrophenol from water by enhancing dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma through ozone circulation: Optimization, kinetics and mechanism

Non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma has received great attention for degradation of persistent organic pollutants such as p-nitrophenol (PNP). However, the feasibility of the DBD implementation is not clear due to its high energy consumption and relatively low degradation efficiency. In this research, a novel strategy was suggested based on re-circulation of the generated O3 in the DBD system to enhance the PNP degradation efficiency and energy yield. The potential mechanism and possible pathway of PNP degradation were studied by EPR, ESR, DFT and GS-MS analytical tests. According to the results, the PNP degradation efficiency and energy yield increased from 57.4% to 94.4% and from 0.52 to 1.18 g kW−1h−1, respectively through ozone circulation into the DBD reactor. This was due to the more release of long-lived and short-lived reactive species (ROS) in the DBD-O3 system by the O3 circulation. The variations in pH (4–10), initial concentration (50–90 mg L−1), and the presence of co-existing substances in the water matrix had minimal impact on the DBD-O3 system, in comparison to the conventional system. The biological toxicity evaluation revealed that the hybrid DBD-O3 system transform PNP to less toxic intermediates. This study proposes a promising strategy to improve the utilization of DBD for the degradation of PNP.

The Discovery of GIT1/β-Pix Inhibitors: Virtual Screening and Biological Evaluation of New Small-molecule Compounds with Anti-invasion Effect in Gastrointestinal Neoplasms

The Discovery of GIT1/β-Pix Inhibitors: Virtual Screening and Biological Evaluation of New Small-molecule Compounds with Anti-invasion Effect in Gastrointestinal Neoplasms

Synthesis, DFT, and in silico biological evaluation of chalcone bearing pyrazoline ring against Helicobacter pylori receptors

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD), often caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, is a prevalent gastrointestinal condition characterized by the erosion of the gastric or duodenal mucosal lining. H. pylori adheres to gastric epithelial cells, secreting toxins and disrupting the stomach's defenses. H. pylori relies on various receptors to establish infection, making these molecules attractive therapeutic targets. This study aimed to develop novel anti-ulcer compounds by combining benzothiazole, pyrazoline, and chalcone pharmacophores. A series of chalcone derivatives 4a-c were synthesized via Claisen-Schmidt condensation and characterized using spectroscopic techniques such as FT-IR, NMR and elemental analysis. The DFT calculations, using B3LYP method with 6-311G basis set, revealed the p-tolyl derivative 4b exhibited the highest thermal stability while the p-bromophenyl derivative 4c showed the lowest stability but highest chemical reactivity. The HOMO-LUMO energy gaps as well as the dipole moments decreased in the order: 4b > 4a >4c, reflecting a similar reactivity trend. Molecular docking showed ligands 4a-c bound effectively to the H. pylori urease enzyme, with docking scores from −5.3862 to −5.7367 kcal/mol with superior affinity over lansoprazole. Key interactions involved hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic pi-hydrogen bonds with distances ranging 3.46–4.34 Å with active site residues ASN666, SER714 and ASN810. The combined anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and H. pylori anti-adhesion properties make these novel chalcones promising PUD therapeutic candidates.

Influence of bonding variance on electron affinity in graphene quantum dot-barium titanate nanocomposites for drug delivery system

Although chemotherapy remains a prevalent option in cancer treatment, its adverse effects on normal cells and suboptimal pharmacokinetics often limit its effectiveness. To address these challenges, this study successfully developed a new multifunctional drug delivery system comprising a covalent composite of graphene quantum dots and barium titanate nanoparticles. Notably, despite numerous reports on the surface modification of graphene quantum dots, studies focusing on cancer cell inhibition via different covalent bonds are scarce. To bridge this gap, this system was synthesized using eco-friendly esterification and amidation pathways. The anticancer drug doxorubicin was employed as a model drug, and hyaluronic acid was used to encapsulate the delivery system, enhancing its sustained release capabilities. Comprehensive material characterization confirmed the successful synthesis of the system. Its high drug loading capacity and acid-sensitive release can be attributed to the unique structure of the graphene quantum dots. Subsequent in vitro and in vivo biological evaluations not only demonstrated the system’s remarkable cancer inhibition efficacy but also accentuated the distinct impacts of the two bonding types. The underlying mechanism is believed to involve bonding affinity and electron transfer, findings that are corroborated by the experimental data. Additionally, results from animal models provide clear evidence for the potential application of this system (HA-DOX-GQD@BTNPs) in cancer therapeutics and imaging. In conclusion, this research elucidates the variances in drug carrier efficacy based on different covalent bond modifications for cancer treatment and introduces a novel drug delivery system that synergistically combines imaging and targeting capabilities.