Ciprofloxacin (CP) has a confirmed cytotoxic action on some cancerous cells, but in high, non-pharmacological concentrations. Considering features of natural fatty acids, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability and their increased cellular uptake by cancer cells, it seems that combining them with a drug could improve its bioavailability, and thus cytotoxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was coupling of CP with saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, and evaluation of their cytotoxicity, apoptosis-inducing effects and inhibition of IL-6 release in human primary (SW480) and metastatic (SW620) colon cancer, metastatic prostate cancer (PC3) and normal (HaCaT) cell lines. The PC3 cell line was the most sensitive to the presence of the obtained conjugates. The value of IC50 for oleic acid conjugate (4) was 7.7 μM, and it was 12 times lower than for CP alone (101.4 μM). The studied derivatives induced late apoptosis in all cancer cell lines, but not in normal cells. The most potent apoptosis inducer was conjugate 4, that resulted in the highest percentage of PC3 cells in late apoptosis (81.5% ± 3.9), followed by elaidic acid amide 5 (75% ± 4.8). The strongest pro-apoptic effects on SW480 cells were demonstrated by conjugates of DHA (8) and sorbic (2) acids, whereas in SW620 cell lines, compounds 2 and 5 appeared to be the most effective. To establish the mechanism of cytotoxic action of derivatives 2, 4, 5, the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured. The compounds with the highest cytotoxic potential significantly decreased the release of IL-6 by cancer cells. Additionally, all conjugates were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Short chain amides - crotonic (1) and sorbic (2) - were the most active against Staphyloccoci. The second-mentioned amide has shown both strong antistaphylococcal and antitumor properties.
Keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Apoptosis; Ciprofloxacin; Cytotoxicity; Fatty acids conjugates; Interleukin-6.
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