Insight into Photophysical Properties And Mechanism of Action of a Potential Multitargeted Anticancer Azapodophyllotoxin that Induces Cytotoxicity in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells and its Biocompatible Mode of Delivery

Abstract

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous breast cancer subtype characterized by absence of hormone receptors and absence of HER2 expression. It represents worse clinical outcome due to its aggressiveness and absence of therapeutic targets. Due to limited available treatment alternatives, there is an urgent need for the discovery of novel chemotherapeutics. Understanding the need of the hour, a small molecular framework with improved multi-targeted anticancer activities that may possess imaging capabilities will assist in development of an efficient anticancer theranostics. An attempt has been made to introduce novel azapodophyllotoxin derivative as multi-targeted potential anticancer therapeutics for TNBC cells. The intrinsic fluorescence of the luminophore will be useful for the real time monitoring of tumors. Hence, the detailed photophysical properties has been investigated to understand the nature of molecule in physiological environment. The therapeutic efficiency of HTDQ has been explored by evaluating the cytotoxicity and mechanism of cell death in TNBC cells. Moreover, the possibility of delivering HTDQ to target biomolecules has also been explored by examining different biocompatible drug delivery pathways. Therefore, a combination of improved biological activities and the intriguing photophysical properties of potential anticancer azapodophyllotoxin HTDQ will contribute in exploring possible imaging capabilities of this therapeutic luminophore and aid in establishing new promising theranostic agents that will leave impression for futuristic oncological research. newline