A novel nitrogen mustard functionalized tripodal AIE compound act as prodrug for fluorescent imaging and anticancer

• Published in: Journal of luminescence Vol. 227; p. 117546
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zheng-Hua, Zhang, You-Ming, Li, Ying-Jie, Zhang, Yun-Fei, Qi, Li-Hua, Yang, Qing-Yu, Wei, Tai-Bao, Yao, Hong, Lin, Qi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2020
• Subjects: Aggregation induced emission (AIE); Anticancer; cell fluorescence imaging; Nitrogen mustards; Prodrug; Aggregation induced emission (AIE); Nitrogen mustards; Prodrug; Anticancer; cell fluorescence imaging
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2020.117546

The detection and treatment of cancer is a very important and challenging subject. Herein, the conception of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is introduced into the design of anticancer drugs. A novel nitrogen mustard functionalized tripodal AIE anticancer prodrug (TM) was designed and synthesized. Interestingly, the TM had strong fluorescent in DMSO/H2O (water fraction 50%) binary solution. The fluorescence experiments showed that TM could enter the nucleus and cytoplasm of HepG2 cells. The TM could be used for both fluorescent imaging and killing cancer cells. The in vitro cytotoxicity of TM was about 3.2 fold than that of the free nitrogen mustard against HepG2 cells. This related to the unique design improved the effective content of nitrogen mustard drugs. The design that introduced AIE into anticancer drugs provides a effective approach to the detection and treatment of cancer. [Display omitted] •A novel nitrogen mustard functionalized tripodal AIE anticancer prodrug is constructed.•It can self-assemble into fibrous and bulk morphology under different pH conditions.•The antitumor effect to HepG2 cells of TM is about 3.2-fold than that of the free NM in vitro.•It can be used directly to track the location in the cell via the AIE property.