Synthesis and biological evaluation of new mono naphthalimide platinum(IV) derivatives as antitumor agents with dual DNA damage mechanism

Naphthalimide has emerged as an interesting DNA intercalator and possessed attracting antitumor properties. In this context, naphthalimide group was linked to platinum(IV) core to construct a series of new mono naphthalimide platinum(IV) derivatives. The title compounds exert effective antitumor activities to the tested tumor cells lines in vitro, especially the one with propionyl chain displays comparable or even better bioactivities than platinum(II) reference drugs cisplatin and oxaliplatin. Moreover, the mono naphthalimide platinum(IV) derivative displays comparable tumor growth inhibitory competence against CT26 xenograft tumors in BALB/c mice in vivo without severe toxic effects in contrast to oxaliplatin. A dual DNA damage mechanism was proven for the title complex. Both naphthalimide ligand and the liberated platinum(II) moiety could generate DNA lesions to tumor cells synergistically and active the apoptotic pathway by up-regulating the expression of caspase 9 and caspase 3. Meanwhile, the conversion of platinum(II) drug into tetravalent form by incorporating naphthalimide moiety increases the uptake of platinum in whole cells and DNA remarkably. All these facts might be the factors for the title platinum(IV) complexes to overcome platinum(II) drug resistance. Additionally, the mono naphthalimide platinum(IV) complex could interact with human serum albumin by hydrogen bond and van der Waals force which would further influence their storage, transport and bioactivities.