Synthesis, in vitro cytotoxicity, molecular docking and ADME study of some indolin-2-one linked 1,2,3-triazole derivatives

Abstract

In pursuit of an anticancer lead, a library of 1,2,3-triazole derivatives (7a-x) was prepared, characterized and screened for in vitro cytotoxicity in different cell lines. Most of the compounds proved to be cytotoxic with IC₅₀ values in the low micromolar range. Further studies showed that the most active compound 7c induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in Jurkat cells by activating both the intrinsic and the extrinsic apoptotic pathways and perturbs cell-cycle progression. Moreover, 7c did not show any genotoxic activity. Molecular docking simulations were performed against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Docking experiments showed that, compounds 7c, 7o and 7 v bind within active sites of epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR (Pdb ID: 6P8Q) by strong hydrogen bonds with residue MET793, Pi-Sulfur with residue MET790 and Pi-Alkyl type interactions with residues LEU788, ALA743. The SwissADME webserver investigation suggested that most of the synthesized compounds follow the rules of drug-likeness.

Keywords: 1,2,3-Triazole; Apoptosis; Cell cycle; Cytotoxicity; EGFR; Indolin-2-one; Molecular docking.