Molecular Hybridization Approach Research Articles

Novel hole transport materials of pyrogallol-sulfonamide hybrid: synthesis, optical, electrochemical properties and molecular modelling for perovskite solar cells

Sulfonamide derivatives as semiconductor materials for organic optoelectronic devices, including photovoltaic (PV), have received considerable interest. In the present work, the synthesis of novel pyrogallol-sulfonamide derivatives based on a molecular hybridization approach yielded N-((4-((2,3,4-trihydroxyphenyl)diazenyl)phenyl)sulfonyl)acetamide (N-DPSA). The techniques of spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and mass spectrum were utilized to identify the structural composition of the synthesized N-DPSA. The new N-DPSA was investigated by Hall-effect measurement to prove the positive charge carrier (hole mobility) with mobility and conductivity of 2.39 × 103 cm2/Vs and 1.76 × 10–1 1/Ω cm, respectively. Consequently, N-DPSA could be proposed as a strong candidate as a p-type semiconductor (hole transport layer (HTL)). The optical energy gap was computed at 2.03 eV, indicating the direct optical transition nature of N-DPSA. The elaborated molecular semiconductor's thermal features, molecular modelling, and electronic energy levels were also investigated. The new N-DPSA at various concentrations provided easy synthesis, cheap cost, high performance, and a straightforward design approach for a possible HTL in effective perovskite solar cells (PSCs). A PCE of 7.3% is shown for the N-DPSA-based PSC at its optimal concentration.

Novel Dibenzoazepine-Substituted Triazole Hybrids as Cholinesterase and Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors and Anticancer Agents: Synthesis, Characterization, Biological Evaluation, and In Silico Studies.

The new dibenzoazepine-substituted triazole hybrids (12-20) were designed by molecular hybridization approach and synthesized utilizing the Cu(I)-catalyzed click reaction. The hybrid structures (12-20) were obtained in high yields (74-98%) with a simple two-step synthesis strategy and fully characterized. These compounds were assessed for their influence on various metabolic enzymes including human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes (hCA I and hCA II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The Ki values for the compounds concerning hCA I, hCA II, AChE, and BChE enzymes were in the ranges 29.94-121.69, 17.72-89.42, 14.09-44.68, and 1.15-48.82 nM, respectively. Compound 13 was 49.70-fold more active than tacrine (standard drug) for BChE and 5.49-fold for AChE. Compound 14 was 4.16-fold more active than acetazolamide (standard drug) for hCA I and 5.79-fold for hCA II. The cytotoxic effects of the synthesized click products were investigated on human triple-negative breast cancer cell lines. The IC50 values of the most effective compounds were calculated between 12.51 ± 1.92 and 18.07 ± 2.14 μM in MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells. Molecular docking and ADME predictions were performed. Then, in vitro effective compounds were analyzed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and MM/GBSA calculation. Consequently, click products showed good cytotoxicity and inhibition potential on colony formation in cancer cells.

Ursolic Acid Conjugates: A New Frontier in Anticancer Drug Development.

New Ursolic Acid (UA) conjugates were synthesized using optimized synthetic protocols through the molecular hybridization approach at C-3 and C-28. This resulted in the targeted molecules being produced in good yields. Some of the synthesized conjugates showed significantly relevant bioactivity against mammalian cells and in animal models of cancers. Selected UA conjugates were tested against bladder and breast cancer cell lines. The conjugates showed moderate to significantly enhanced antiproliferative activities against Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC; MDA-MB 231), which is an aggressive tumor making up about 10-15 % of all breast cancers and bladder (T24 and 5637) cancer cell lines. These properties were superior to the parent UA. Among all the synthesized compounds, 18 c and 18 d have exhibited promising antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties against all tested cancer cell lines. However, 18 d has proved to be exceptionally selective for cancer cell lines, showing more cytotoxicity towards them than normal epithelial cells (MCF-12A). Compound 18 d has demonstrated cytotoxicity against tumor cells, including those intrinsically resistant to chemotherapy drugs such as 2-difluoro-deoxy cytidine (Gemcitabine). The activity of the UA conjugates on tumor cells was mediated by multiple cytotoxic mechanisms, including drug-induced cytotoxic autophagy and programmed cell death, indicating a novel possibility of combination therapy.

A promising class of antiprotozoal agents, design and synthesis of novel Pyrimidine–Cinnamoyl hybrids

Malaria, caused by parasitic protozoans of the Plasmodium genus, continues to be one of the greatest global health crises, especially in Africa. The emergence of antimalarial drug resistance continues to be a health problem necessitating an urgent need for alternative and cost-effective antimalarials. Using a molecular hybridization approach, we report the design and synthesis of an efficacious novel class of antiprotozoal agents; (E)-1-(4-(4,6-diphenylpyrimidin-2-yl)piperazin-1-yl)-3-phenyl prop-2-en-1-one derivatives (8a-r). The in vitro inhibitory activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated against the NF54 chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum. From the antiprotozoal screening, three compounds displayed propitious activity with IC50 values (0.18–0.21 μM), using quinine and chloroquine as standard antimalarials. Compounds 8o and 8l emerged as the most potent candidates with IC50 values of 0.18 ± 0.02 μM and 0.21 ± 0.001 μM with an associated good safety index of 18.59 and 16.75 to human kidney epithelial (HEK293) cells, respectively. The synthesized analogues present a new chemical architecture structurally unrelated to the current regime of antimalarial drugs, representing a valid strategy to combat resistance in P. falciparum species to current commercial drugs. We further investigated the binding affinities of the compounds against recombinant forms of two P. falciparum heat shock protein 70 homologues; PfHsp70-1 and PfHsp70-z, both of which are essential and promising druggable candidates. Compound 8l exhibited the highest binding affinity for PfHsp70-1 and PfHsp70-z. Furthermore, molecular docking revealed that compounds 8k, 8l, 8m, and 8o exhibited better fitness to PfHsp70-1, with compounds 8l and 8o showing the highest binding affinity of −10.5 kcal/mol and −10.1 kcal/mol, respectively. Therefore, it can be speculated that PfHsp70–1 may be a possible target of some of the inhibitors tested in this study. The presence of electron-donating groups on the phenyl ring of 4,6-pyrimidine moiety and cinnamoyl group demonstrated a positive correlation between the observed computational data and the biological activity. Taken together, this paper demonstrates the importance of using the molecular hybridization approach in the development of newer cinnamoyl clubbed with 4,6-diphenyl pyrimidine hybrids as potential antiprotozoal agents.

New Quinazolinone‐Thiouracil Derivatives: Design, Synthesis, Anticancer Evaluation, and In Silico Analysis

AbstractQuinazolinone and thiouracil derivatives are key scaffolds in anticancer development. This study used a molecular hybridization approach to synthesize new quinazolinone‐thiouracil derivatives and evaluated their anticancer activity against three human cancer cell lines, namely breast, lung, and glioblastoma, using SRB assay. Structural elucidation was performed using IR spectroscopy, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Most compounds show moderate to significant cytotoxic effects, with compound 5d displaying the highest potency (IC50 values of 5.28, 4.02, and 2.88 µM, respectively). Compound 5d also demonstrated comparable potency to positive controls cisplatin and temozolomide in lung and glioblastoma cancer cell lines and was nearly as effective as mitochondrial division inhibitor‐1 (mdivi‐1). Furthermore, molecular docking analyses revealed strong binding interactions of the synthesized compounds with dynamin‐related protein‐1 (drp1). Protein–ligand stability studies and all‐atom simulation confirmed the stable binding of compound 5d with drp1. In conclusion, this study identified compound 5d as a potent drp1 inhibitor and promising anticancer drug candidate, deserving further investigation.

Insight into the therapeutic potential of pyrazole-thiazole hybrids: A comprehensive review.

Several pyrazole-thiazole hybrids featuring two potentially bioactive pharmacophores with or without linker have been synthesized using the molecular hybridization approach as target structures by medicinal chemists to modulate multiple drug targets simultaneously. The presented review aims to provide an overview of the diversified and wide array of pharmacological activities of these hybrids bestowing anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitubercular, antiviral, antiparasitic, and miscellaneous activities. The structure-activity relationships and potential mechanism of action are also reviewed to shed light on the development of more effective and biotargeted candidates. This review focuses on the latest research advances in the biological profile of pyrazole-thiazole hybrids reported from 2015 to the present, providing medicinal researchers with a comprehensive platform to rationally design and develop more promising pyrazole-thiazole hybrids.

New Benzylidene‐Triazole Tethered Coumarin Molecular Hybrids: Synthesis, SAR, Molecular Modelling Simulations Targeting Tubulin α/β Dimer and its Antimicrobial Evaluation

AbstractA series of new 7‐{3‐[3‐(Benzylidene‐amino)‐[1,2,4]triazole‐1‐yl]‐propoxy}‐4‐methyl‐chromen‐2‐one molecular hybrids 7(a–k) were synthesized using molecular hybridization approach. The synthesized new benzylidene‐triazole tethered coumarin molecular hybrids were characterized by spectroscopic studies and elemental analysis. The coumarin molecular hybrids have been explored for their antifungal efficacy in terms of tubulin inhibitors using molecular modelling studies against tubulin alphabeta hetero dimer protein. The results clearly demonstrated strong binding affinity of coumarin molecular hybrids with indole substituted and 2,4‐dihydroxy substituted as antagonists with respective binding scores of −10.5 and −10.7 kcal/mol towards tubulin alphabeta hetero dimer protein which was higher in comparison to standards griseofulvin (−8.2 kcal/mol) and fluconazole (−8.1 kcal/mol). In addition, broth dilution method was used to conduct in‐vitro antifungal studies against three fungal strains namely Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus. The results obtained clearly illustrate the antifungal activity of indole and 2,4‐dihydroxy substituted compounds which are consistent with docking simulations. Out of all the synthesized molecular hybrids, indole and 2,4‐dihydroxy substituted compounds depict outstanding antifungal activity with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of 31.25 μg/ml and 62.5 μg/ml towards C.albicans and with MIC value of 31.25 for both these molecules towards A.niger in each case which is quite higher than griseofulvin and fluconazole respectively. Present work clearly demonstrates the potential efficacy of synthesized indole and 2,4‐dihydroxy substituted coumarin molecular hybrids to be considered as lead compounds for the development of new agents against resistant strains for the treatment of fungal infection.

Benzimidazole-Oxadiazole Hybrids-Development in Medicinal Chemistry: An Overview.

To increase the success rate of drug discovery, one practical strategy is to begin molecular hybridisation. The presence of two or more pharmacophores in a single unit leads to a pharmacological potency greater than the sum of each individual moiety's potency. Heterocyclic compounds are very widely distributed in nature and are essential for life activities. Benzimidazole and oxadiazole are privileged structures in medicinal chemistry and are widely used in drug discovery and development due to their vast biological properties. The drug-like properties (like pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics) of the individual scaffolds can be improved by benzimidazole-oxadiazole chimeric molecules via a molecular hybridisation approach. Benzimidazole and oxadiazole cores can either be fused or incorporated using either functional groups/bonds. Over the last few decades, drug discovery scientists have predicted that these moieties could be interconnected to yield a novel or modified hybrid compound. Benzimidazole and oxadiazole hybrids were identified as the most potent anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antihypertensive and antitubercular agents. In this context, the present review describes the biological properties of benzimidazole-oxadiazole (1,3,4 and 1,2,4) hybrids, their possible structure-activity relationship and the mechanism of action studies presented. This review article is intended to stimulate fresh ideas in the search for rational designs of more active and less toxic benzimidazole-oxadiazole hybrid prospective therapeutic candidates, as well as more effective diagnostic agents and pathologic probes.

Design, synthesis, and anti-mycobacterial evaluation of 1,8-naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile analogues.

Twenty-eight compounds, viz., 1,8-naphthyridine-3-carbonitrile (ANC and ANA) derivatives, were designed and synthesized through a molecular hybridization approach. The structures of these compounds were analyzed and confirmed using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, LCMS, and elemental analyses. The synthesized compounds were evaluated by in vitro testing for their effectiveness against tuberculosis using the MABA assay, targeting the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined, showing that the tested compounds' MIC values ranged from 6.25 to ≤50 μg mL-1. Among the derivatives studied, ANA-12 demonstrated prominent anti-tuberculosis activity with a MIC of 6.25 μg mL-1. Compounds ANC-2, ANA-1, ANA 6-8, and ANA-10 displayed moderate to good anti-tuberculosis activity with MIC values of 12.5 μg mL-1. Compounds with MIC ≤ 12.5 μg mL-1 were screened against human embryonic kidney cells to assess their potential cytotoxicity. Interestingly, these compounds showed less toxicity towards normal cells, with a selectivity index value ≥ 11. To further evaluate the binding pattern in the active site of enoyl-ACP reductase (InhA) from Mtb (PDB-4TZK), a molecular docking analysis of compound ANA-12 was performed using the glide module of Schrodinger software. The stability, confirmation, and intermolecular interactions of the cocrystal ligand and the highly active compound ANA-12 on the chosen target protein were investigated through molecular dynamics simulations lasting 100 ns. In silico predictions were utilized to assess the ADMET properties of the final compounds. A suitable single crystal was developed and analyzed for compound ANA-5 to gain a deeper understanding of the compounds' structures.

Exploring the Antiproliferative Potential of Morpholine‐Functionalized Aurones: Design, Synthesis, SAR, DFT, Hirshfeld Surface, 3D Energy Frameworks and Molecular Docking Analysis

AbstractIn quest of generating a diverse array of potential cytotoxic candidates through molecular hybridization approach, herein we have designed a library of forty‐one morpholine‐functionalized aurones 7(a–ao), each with a distinct substitution pattern. These aurones were obtained by reacting 6‐hydroxyaurones, with 4‐(2‐chloroethyl)morpholine hydrochloride, characterized by various spectroscopic techniques including single crystal XRD (7b) and in‐vitro screened for their antiproliferative potential against human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells. Most of the synthesized compounds have exhibited excellent cytotoxic results. Twenty analogs were found to have cytotoxic potential better than the reference drug Leucovorin and analog 7j emerged as the most potent with IC50=5.98 μM nearly one fifth to the standard drug Leucovorin (IC50=30.8 μM). This library, consisting of twenty three novel and eighteen reported morpholine‐functionalized aurones, bearing diverse substitution pattern, further helped in making a concrete structure‐activity relationship for antiproliferative potential. Additionally, in‐silico molecular docking, Hirshfeld surface analysis and two dimensional fingerprint plots were also studied to understand the molecular interactions and various structural aspects. Further computational investigations of these compounds were conducted using the DFT/B3LYP method, for the determination of HOMO and LUMO energy values as well as the calculation of chemical softness, hardness, electronegativity and electrophilic index etc.

Harnessing molecular hybridization approach to discover novel quinoline EGFR-TK inhibitors for cancer treatment.

Aim: Using molecular hybridization approach, novel 18 quinoline derivatives (6a-11) were designed and synthesized as EGFR-TK inhibitors. Materials & methods: The antiproliferative activity was assessed against breast (MCF-7), leukemia (HL-60) and lung (A549) cancer cell lines. Moreover, the most active quinoline derivatives (6d and 8b) were further investigated for their potential as EGFR-TK inhibitors. In addition, cell cycle analysis and apoptosis induction activity were conducted. Results: A considerable cytotoxic activity was attained with IC50 values spanning from 0.06 to 1.12μM. Besides, the quinoline derivatives 6d and 8b displayed potent inhibitory activity against EFGR with IC50 values of 0.18 and 0.08μM, respectively. Conclusion: Accordingly, the afforded quinoline derivatives can be used as promising lead anticancer candidates for future optimization.

A novel arylpiperazine derivative (LQFM181) protects against neurotoxicity induced by 3- nitropropionic acid in in vitro and in vivo models

In the pursuit of novel antioxidant therapies for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, three new arylpiperazine derivatives (LQFM181, LQFM276, and LQFM277) were synthesized through a molecular hybridization approach involving piribedil and butylated hydroxytoluene lead compounds. To evaluate the antioxidant and neuroprotective activities of the arylpiperazine derivatives, we employed an integrated approach using both in vitro (SH-SY5Y cells) and in vivo (neurotoxicity induced by 3-nitropropionic acid in Swiss mice) models. In the in vitro tests, LQFM181 showed the most promising antioxidant activity at the neuronal membrane and cytoplasmic levels, and significant neuroprotective activity against the neurotoxicity induced by 3-nitropropionic acid. Hence, this compound was further subjected to in vivo evaluation, which demonstrated remarkable antioxidant capacity such as reduction of MDA and carbonyl protein levels, increased activities of succinate dehydrogenase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Interestingly, using the same in vivo model, LQFM181 also reduced locomotor behavior and memory dysfunction through its ability to decrease cholinesterase activity. Consequently, LQFM181 emerges as a promising candidate for further investigation into its neuroprotective potential, positioning it as a new therapeutic agent for neuroprotection.

Unveiling of Indanone‐Benzimidazole Hybrids as Anti‐Alzheimer's Agents: Computational and Experimental Studies

AbstractThe growing concern of Alzheimer's disease underscores the urgent requirement for the development of novel therapeutic agents. In this study, a series of 15 hybrid molecules containing Indanone‐Benzimidazole heterocycles were designed utilizing the molecular hybridization approach. The synthesized molecules were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and their anti‐Alzheimer's behaviour were examined. Biological assessment demonstrated that compounds 14 and 15 exhibited significant reduction of “human” amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide aggregation, expressing on transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strain CL4176. These compounds were further evaluated for their AChE inhibitory effects in transgenic C. elegans strain CL2006 and found significant. Molecular docking investigations have elucidated the commendable affinity exhibited by the studied ligands towards the Aβ pentamer (PDB: 2BEG) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (PDB: 4EY7). Subsequent to these docking studies, molecular dynamics simulations were conducted, affirming the stability of both ligands in association with the Aβ pentamer and ACh. Additionally, Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed by using B3LYP energy level with the basis set 6–311 G (d, p) basis set to correlate with experimental results. Taken together, all these findings evidenced the experimental results and this study sheds light on the anti‐Alzheimer's potential of Indanone‐Benzimidazole hybrids.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking study of pyrimidine linked thiazolidinedione derivatives as potential antimicrobial and antitubercular agents

The design and development of novel antimicrobial agents are highly desired to combat the emergence of medication resistance against microorganisms that cause infections. A series of new pyrimidine-linked thiazolidinedione derivatives (5a-j) were synthesized, characterized, and their antimicrobial properties assessed in the current investigation. Here, novel pyrimidine-linked thiazolidinedione compounds were designed using the molecular hybridization approach. Elemental and spectral techniques were used to determine the structures of the synthesized hybrids. The majority of compounds showed encouraging antibacterial properties. Among the active compounds, 5g, 5i, and 5j showed 1.85, 1.15, and 1.38 times the activity of streptomycin against S. aureus, respectively, with MIC values of 6.4, 10.3, and 8.6 µM. With MIC values of 10.8, 21.9, and 15.4 µM, respectively, the compounds 5g, 5i, and 5j showed 2.14, 1.05, and 1.50 times the activity of linezolid against the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain. Furthermore, when compared to the reference medications, compounds 5g, 5i, and 5j demonstrated broad-range antimicrobial efficacy against all tested strains of bacteria and fungus. Out of all the compounds that were investigated, compounds 5g, 5i, and 5j showed noteworthy anti-tubercular activity. 5g is the most effective, 1.59 times more effective than reference drug isoniazid. To anticipate the binding manner, the synthesized potent compounds were subjected to molecular docking into the active binding site of MRSA and the mycobacterial membrane protein large 3 (MmpL3) protein. The compounds 5g, 5i, and 5j may eventually serve as lead compounds in the search for antimicrobial and anti-TB therapeutic agents.

Discovery of thiazolidinedione-based pancreatic lipase inhibitors as anti-obesity agents: synthesis, in silico studies and pharmacological investigations

A series of new 2,5-disubstituted arylidene derivatives of thiazolidinedione (16a-e, 17a-d, 18a-c) designed using molecular hybridization approach were synthesized, structurally characterized, and explored for their anti-obesity potential via inhibition of Pancreatic Lipase (PL). Compound 18a presented the most potent PL inhibitory activity with IC50 = 2.71 ± 0.31 µM, as compared to the standard drug, Orlistat (IC50 = 0.99 µM). Kinetic study revealed reversible competitive mode of enzyme inhibition by compound 18a with an inhibitory constant value of 1.19 µM. The most promising compound 18a revealed satisfactory binding mode within the active site of the target protein (human PL, PDB ID: 1LPB). Also, MM/PBSA binding free energy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis were performed for the most promising compound 18a, which showed potent inhibition according to the results of in vitro studies. Furthermore, a stable conformation of the 1LPB-ligand suggested the stability of this compound in the dynamic environment. The ADME and toxicity analysis of the compounds were examined using web-based online platforms. Results of in vivo studies confirmed the anti-obesity efficacy of compound 18a, wherein oral treatment with compound 18a (30 mg/kg) resulted in a significant reduction in the body weight, BMI, Lee index, feed intake (in Kcal), body fat depots and serum triglycerides. Compound 18a significantly decreased the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) to 128.6 ± 0.59 mg/dl and serum total triglycerides (TG) to 95.73 ± 0.67 mg/dl as compared to the HFD control group. The present study identified disubstituted TZD derivatives as a new promising class of anti-obesity agents. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Discovery of 1,2,3-triazole incorporated indole-piperazines as potent antitubercular agents: Design, Synthesis, In vitro biological evaluation, molecular docking and ADME studies

In this report, a library consisting of three sets of indole-piperazine derivatives was designed through the molecular hybridization approach. In total, fifty new hybrid compounds (T1-T50) were synthesized and screened for antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain (ATCC-27294). Five (T36, T43, T44, T48 and T49) among fifty compounds exhibited significant inhibitory potency with the MIC of 1.6 µg/mL, which is twofold more potent than the standard first-line TB drug Pyrazinamide and equipotent with Isoniazid. N-1,2,3-triazolyl indole-piperazine derivatives displayed improved inhibition activity as compared to the simple and N-benzyl indole-piperazine derivatives. In addition, the observed activity profile of indole-piperazines was similar to standard anti-TB drugs (isoniazid and pyrazinamide) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, demonstrating the compounds’ selectivity towards the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. All the active anti-TB compounds are proved to be non-toxic (with IC50 > 300 μg/mL) as verified through the toxicity evaluation against VERO cell lines. Additionally, molecular docking studies against two target enzymes (Inh A and CYP121) were performed to validate the activity profile of indole-piperazine derivatives. Further, in silico-ADME prediction and pharmacokinetic parameters indicated that these compounds have good oral bioavailability.

Green design and synthesis of some novel thiazolidinone appended benzothiazole-triazole hybrids as antimicrobial agents.

The global increase in bacterial resistance poses a significant threat, jeopardizing the effectiveness of antibiotics. Therefore, the development of new and efficient antimicrobial agents is pre-dominant. Taking this into consideration, in the present study, we designed and reported the facile synthesis of two novel series benzothiazole-triazole and thiazolidinone-appended benzothiazole-triazole hybrids using a molecular hybridization approach in a one-pot process. The synthesized compounds were tested for microbial growth inhibition against bacterial and fungal strains. Among all the synthetics, compounds derived from methoxyphenyl and heteroaromatic ring substitutions exhibited promising inhibitory activity. The current investigation has emphasized that benzothiazole-triazole hybrids incorporating thiazolidinone can be a promising and potent category of molecules with potential biological activities. This sustainable and eco-friendly protocol involves the metal-free, catalyst-free synthesis of bioactive scaffolds, which merges broad tolerance for functional groups with a short reaction time, resulting in good to excellent yields.

Dual inhibitors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factors LecA and LasB.

Dual inhibitors of two key virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the lectin LecA and the protease LasB, open up an opportunity in the current antimicrobial-resistance crisis. A molecular hybridization approach enabled the discovery of potent, selective, and non-toxic thiol-based inhibitors, which simultaneously inhibit these two major extracellular virulence factors and therefore synergistically interfere with virulence. We further demonstrated that the dimerization of these monovalent dual inhibitors under physiological conditions affords divalent inhibitors of LecA with a 200-fold increase in binding affinity. The bifunctional LecA/LasB-blocker 12 showed superiority for the inhibition of virulence mediated by both targets over the individual inhibitors or combinations thereof in vitro. Our study sets the stage for a systematic exploration of dual inhibitors as pathoblockers for a more effective treatment of P. aeruginosa infections and the concept can certainly be extended to other targets and pathogens.

Design, synthesis, docking study, cytotoxicity evaluation, and PI3K inhibitory activity of Novel di-thiazoles, and bis(di-thiazoles)

A series of novel thiazole hybrids were designed and synthesized using a molecular hybridization approach to develop more potent Pi3k inhibitors for cancer treatment. As a result of the reaction of (phenylthiazol-5-yl)ethylidenehydrazine-1-carbothioamide with the corresponding bis-bromoacetyl derivatives, reasonable yields of novel bis-dithiazoles linked via aliphatic, aromatic, or heterocyclic cores were obtained. The structural details of the new compounds were confirmed using spectral data and elemental analysis. All of the proposed compounds were molecularly docked based on their structural similarity to the alpelisib pi3k inhibitor, and compounds 11e and 11d demonstrated very good binding modes that ranged between hydrogen and pi bonds. All compounds were tested for anticancer activity against HT29 colon cancer cells. The IC50 values for compounds 11d and 11e were 4.4 and 8.3 nM, respectively. In addition, PI3K enzyme inhibition activity was assessed, and the results ranged from very low IC50 for 11e and 11d, which revealed 2.33 and 2.55 nM, to moderate for 11b, 11c, 13b, and 15b, with IC50 of 7.58, 6.15, 7.9, and 9.11 nM, respectively, when compared to alpelisib, which revealed an IC50 of 4.96 nM. The inhibitory activity of the most potent compounds was qualitatively evaluated by Western Blotting, and pi3k gene expression was found to be inhibited to half of its maximum value.

Investigating the role of indole and quinazolinone-based hybrid analogues with ketoamide fragment and alkyl extension for potential PL inhibition

Pancreatic lipase (PL) is a key enzyme responsible for the digestion of dietary fat. Hence the inhibition of PL is an effective strategy for mitigating obesity. In this study, a novel series of 18 indolyl oxoacetamide–quinazolinone hybrid analogues (9a-h, 13aa-13fd) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for PL inhibition activity. An approach of molecular hybridization was utilized by considering the PL inhibitory potential of indole, α-ketoamide, and quinazolinone scaffolds. A Propyl linker was attached for better binding at the PL active site, leading to enhanced PL inhibitory potential. Among all the synthesized analogues, 13be exhibited the highest PL inhibitory activity (IC50 = 4.71 ± 0.851 μM) with a docking score of -147.06 kcal/mol. The activities of all the synthesized analogues were compared with the orlistat (IC50 = 0.86 ± 0.090 µM). The most potent analogue, 13be revealed the competitive mode of enzyme inhibition with the Ki value of 1.826 µM. The molecular docking and dynamics simulation analysis also revealed the strong binding of 13be at the active site of PL. Interestingly, the potent analogue 13be when tested on RAW 264.7 cell line using MTT assay, was found to be nontoxic at a concentration range of 1-20 µM. Therefore, the current work validates the effectiveness of the molecular hybridization approach for designing indolyl oxoacetamide–quinazolinone hybrids for inhibiting PL.