Introduction

The term “cancer” comprises a large group of diseases that can affect almost any part of the body and is characterized by rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow beyond their usual boundaries (Amvrosieva et al. 2006; Al Rashood et al. 2006; Eckhardt 2002; Medina et al. 1998). Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, as it accounted for 7.6 million deaths in 2008 and is projected to continue rising with an estimated 11 million deaths in 2030 (Asai et al. 2012). Many cancer patients have received chemotherapeutic agents during the course of their disease, a treatment based on cell destruction by growth interruption. Antimitotic agents constitute an important class of the current anticancer chemotherapeutic agents that act by preventing polymerization or depolymerization of microtubules (motor of mitotic stage of cell cycle) by binding to its tubulin subunits (Desai and Mitchison 1997; Gadde and Heald 2004; Prota et al. 2013). The vital role of tubulin in the cell division cycle together with the fact that aberrant cell division is the feature of cancer has made tubulin and microtubules prime targets for cancer therapy. Tubulin contains three main sites for attacks, namely vinca alkaloids binding sites, taxane binding sites, and the colchicine binding site (Chang et al. 2004; Pfisterer et al. 2010). A number of compounds react in the same manner like colchicine as combretastatine A-4, indanocine, T138067, and isoquinoline sulfamate. Some of these agents are now under study in clinical trials (Dowlati et al. 2002; Cortes and Baselga 2007; Thomas 2009; Thomas and Abbruzzese 2005).

Owing to their high affinity to the colchicine binding site, the natural product, combretastatin A-4, is regarded as one of the most promising antineoplastic and cancer vascular-targeting agents which are under investigation. Combretastatin A-4 (Fig. 1), as potent inhibitors of tubulin assembly and due to its success in phase II clinical trials (Hsieh et al. 2005; Lu et al. 2012), has made it an attractive lead molecule for the development of anticancer agents, and promote synthesis of novel derivatives (Hori et al. 2010; Mitrus et al. 2009; Cushman et al. 1991).

Fig. 1
figure 1

Chemical structures of Combretastatine A-4 and Sulfanilamide-imines derivatives

Full size image

In the present study, we designed 15 compounds with sulfanilamide-imine functionalities (Fig. 1) based on structural similarity with combretastatin A-4, and we hypothesized that sulfanilamide-imines series may fit and interact at the colchicine active site and may become a promising new tubulin-binding drug candidate for treating various malignancies.

Experimental protocols

Molecular modeling tools

Two different molecular modeling tools have been used to predict the interaction of the synthesized compounds at the colchicine active site, namely Discovery Studio Visualizer and AutoDock 4.2. The protein structure (tubulin) used in the current study was downloaded from the protein data bank (PDB) (Nogales et al. 1998) as bi units co-crystallized with combretastatine A-4. The molecular modeling study was performed in several steps using the above mentioned software; these include protein preparation, ligand preparation, and definition of active site, docking, and analysis of the docking results. PDBQT file format, which is an extended PDB format, is used in this part of our work.

Preparation of the protein

The protein structure was prepared using Discovery Studio Visualizer and AutoDock 4.2, where the water molecules removed from the surface of the protein and the non-polar hydrogen atoms were removed as well. The protein in AutoDock 4.2 is treated as a rigid molecule.

Preparation of the ligand

The ligand structure is initially drawn with ACD/ChemSketch chemical structure drawing software and then transferred to Discovery Studio Visualizer to obtain standard 3D structures. The ligand chemical structure optimization was performed using the AutoDock 4.2, Gasteiger charges optimization and determination of all rotatable bonds of the ligand was performed.

Definition of active site

The protein, using AutoGrid procedure of AutoDock 4.2, is fixed in a three-dimensional grid and a probe atom is located at each grid point. The active site determined with the grid box and it must be large enough to accommodate all the possible docked compounds. AutoGrid affinity grids are calculated for each type of atom in the ligand, typically carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen.

Docking

This part was performed using AutoDock 4.2, where all rotatable bonds of the ligand were randomized at the beginning of the docking and treated as completely flexible during the docking runs. Bond lengths, angles, and torsions associated with non-rotatable bonds in the ligand were held. For each independent Lamarckian genetic algorithm run, a maximum number of 100,000 operations were performed. The docking energy (Table 1) for the possible interaction between the targeted microtubules with the compounds under investigation was calculated and presented by AutoDock 4.2. Low value of the docking energy indicated the possible high drug/target interaction, while the high docking energy reflects the possible weak activity against the targeted microtubules. The Discovery Studio Visualizer is used for viewing and analyzing the possible type on interaction as it can easily detect the hydrogen bonds, lipophilic, and dipolar interactions.

Table 1 In vitro antitumor activity of the designed sulfanilamide Schiff base derivatives and binding free energies of docking studies, (−−) = no effect
Full size table

Chemical synthesis of the Schiff’s bases

Materials and solvents

All chemical materials and solvents used in the chemical synthesis of Schiff bases were of highest purity and used without further purification, purchased from Sigma/Aldrich chemical company (UK) or Fluka analytical company, UK.

Instruments

Synthesis of compounds was performed in a microwave-closed system (milestone start E 2,450 MHz, Italy). Thin layer chromatographic (TLC) analysis was performed on pre-coated aluminum plates (silica gel 60778, Fluka analytical, UK). TLC spots were visualized with both short (254 nm) and long (366 nm) UV light. Melting points were measured in open capillary tubes on an Electrothermal SMP30 melting point apparatus (Stuart, UK). The IR spectra of samples were recorded in region 4,000–400 cm−1 by Varian FT-IR spectrophotometer 660 (Varian, Australia), UV-visible spectra were recorded by Cary 5000 UV\VIS\NIR spectrophotometer (Varian, Australia), using 1-cm quartz cuvettes. 1H-NMR spectra (400 MHz) recorded in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) by employing tetramethylsilane as an internal standard on Bruker Avance 400 MHz NMR Spectrometer (Bruker, France).

General procedure for synthesis of Schiff bases (1a-15a) by microwave synthesis

Equimolar amounts (0.01 M) of sulfanilamide and substituted aldehydes were triturated to form uniform mixture using clean and dry Teflon vessels (Kundu et al. 2009; Venugopala and Jayashree 2008). In case of solid aldehydes, minimum amounts of ethanol (10–15 ml) were used to dissolve the reaction mixture. This mixture was subjected to microwave irradiation at 350–400 W power for about 0.5–1 min with maximum heating of 60 °C. The optimum reaction time was determined depending on the reaction competition using TLC and the appropriate solvent system. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool and the crude solid product was collected through vacuum filtration and washed several times with ethanol, and finally recrystallized from absolute ethanol. The achieved crystals were dried and their melting points were determined. The chemical purity where investigated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Waters, UK) using chloroform/methanol (80:20) or acetonitrile/methanol (90:10) as mobile phases and Luna C18 (2) as a column (length 25 cm, inner diameter 4.6 mm, particle size 5 μm), while the chemical structure for all the synthesized compounds was elucidated using several spectroscopic techniques including IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and UV spectra the following abbreviations for the NMR are used: singlet (s), doublet (d), triplet (t), quartet (q), multiplet (m).

4-(Benzylidene-amino)-benzenesulfonamide (1)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,292 (N–H str), 1,619 (HC=N), 3,002 (C–H aromatic), 1,574 (C=C aromatic), 1,150 (S=O asym), 1,331 (S=O sym). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 8.65 (s, 1H, HC=N), 8–7.40 (m, 9H, Ar–H). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 162.77 (1C, *C=N), 154.35 (1C, C=*C–N), 153.56 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 141.14 (1C, Ar), 132.65 (1C, Ar), 128.96 (2C, Ar), 128.90 (2C, Ar), 126.92 (2C, Ar) 121.24 (2C, Ar). λ max (nm): 298. MP = 191–192 °C (literature = 190 °C) (Baluja et al. 2006), % yield = 83 %.

4-(3-Phenyl-propylideneamino)-benzene sulfonamide (2)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,176(C–H aromatic), 1,621 (HC=N), 1,575 (C=C aromatic), 3,306 (N–H str), 1,150 (S=O asym), 1,330 (S=O sym). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 9.70 (d, 1H, HC=N), 8.45–7.51 (m, 9H, Ar–H), 7.10 (d, 1H, Ar–HC=C), 6.60 (d, 1H, Ar–C=CH). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 164.02 (1C, *C=N), 154.30 (1C, C=*C–N), 145.62 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 140.92 (1C, Ar), 135.12 (1C, Ar–*C=C), 129.83 (2C, Ar), 128.91 (2C, Ar), 127.95 (2C, Ar), 127.69 (1C, Ar), 126.84 (2C, Ar), 121.02 (1C, Ar–C=*C). λ max (nm) = 231, 295. MP = 203 °C, % yield = 90 %.

4-[(2-Hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-benzenesulfonamide (3)

FT-IR (cm−1): 1,614 (HC=N), 3,239 (N–H str), 1,151 (S=O asym), 1,307 (S=O sym), 3,335 (O–H str), 1,570 (phenolic OH). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 12.7 (s, 2H, NH2), 9.67 (s, 1H, HC=N), 7.90–7.40 (m, 8H, Ar–H). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 164.97 (1C, *C=N), 160.21(1C, *C–OH), 151.19 (1C, C=*C–N), 141.93 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 133.89 (1C, Ar), 132.51 (1C, Ar), 127.04 (2C, Ar), 121.79 (2C, Ar), 119.33 (1C, Ar), 119.27 (1C, Ar), 116.68 (1C, Ar). λ max (nm): 350. MP = 212 °C (literature = 212 °C) (Bharat et al. 2007), % yield = 88 %.

4-[(2,3-Dihydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-benzenesulfonamide (4)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,248 (N–H str), 1,617 (HC=N), 1,572 (C=C aromatic), 1,148 (S=O asym), 1,328 (S=O sym), 1,209 (C–O phenolic), 1,273 (OH). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 8.55 (s, 1H, HC=N), 7.95–7.1 (m, 7H, Ar–H). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 165.4 (1C, *C=N), 150.54 (1C, C=*C–N), 149.1 (1C, *C–OH), 145.5 (1C, *C–OH), 141.53 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 127 (2C, Ar), 121.52 (2C, Ar), 119.30 (2C, Ar), 118.90 (2C, Ar). MP = 243 °C, % yield = 78 %.

4-{[(2-Hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]amino}benzenesulfonamide (5)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,246 (N–H str), 1,618 (HC=N), 1,156 (S=O asym), 1,275 (S=O sym). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 12 (s, 1H, OH), 8.95 (s, 1H, HC=N), 7.92–6.92 (m, 7H, Ar–H), 3.42 (s, 3H, OCH3). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 164.26 (1C, *C=N), 154.29 (1C, C=*C–N), 151.92 (1C, *C–OCH3), 151.56 (1C, *C–OH), 141.82 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 127.06 (2C, Ar), 121.71 (2C, Ar), 121.25 (1C, Ar), 119.21 (1C, Ar), 117.64 (1C, Ar), 114.54 (1C, Ar), 55.49 (1C, OCH3). λ max (nm): 286, 373. MP = 180 °C, % yield = 78 %.

4-[(2-Hydroxy-naphthalen-1-ylmethylene)-amino]-benzenesulfonamide (6)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,023 (C–H aromatic), 3,165 (N–H str), 1,621 (HC=N), 1,587 (C=C aromatic), 1,310 (S=O sym), 1,292 (OH). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 15.5 (s, 2H, NH2), 10.82 (s, 1H, HC=N), 9.70–7.00 (m, 10H, Ar–H). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 156.38 (1C, *C=N), 146.62 (1C, C=*C–N), 141.34 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 137.70 (1C, *C–OH), 133.07 (1C, Ar), 129.07 (1C, Ar), 128.28 (2C, Ar), 127.39 (1C, Ar), 127.16 (1C, Ar), 126.74 (1C, Ar), 123.79 (1C, Ar), 122.17 (1C, Ar), 120.71 (1C, Ar), 120.50 (1C, Ar), 112.37 (1C, Ar), 108.74 (1C, Ar). λ max (nm): 302, 383, 441, 464. MP = 274 °C, % yield = 85 %.

4-[(4-Chloro-benzylidene)-amino]-benzene sulfonamide (7)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,289 (N–H str), 3,001 (C–H aromatic), 1,620 (HC=N), 1,581 (C=C aromatic), 1,150 (S=O asym), 1,331 (S=O sym). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 8.67 (s, 1H, HC=N), 8.02–7.40 (m, 8H, Ar–H). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 161.62 (1C, *C=N), 154 (1C, C=*C–N), 141.33 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 136.57 (1C, *C–Cl), 134.42 (1C, Ar), 130.57 (2C, Ar), 129.06 (2C, Ar), 126.92 (2C, Ar), 121.30 (2C, Ar). MP = 181–182 °C (literature = 184 °C) (Santosh et al. 2010), % yield = 80 %.

4-[(3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-benzenesulfonamide (8)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,271 (N–H str), 1,598 (HC=N), 1,518 (C=C aromatic), 1,145 (S=O asym), 1,330 (S=O sym), 1,286 (C–O phenolic), 1,192 (OH). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 9.76 (s, 2H, SO2NH2), 8.46 (s, 1H, HC=N), 7.85–6.6 (m, 7H, Ar–H), 5.83 (q, 2H, OCH2*CH3), 1.96 (t, 3H, OCH2CH3*). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 162.13 (1C, *C=N), 154.83 (1C, C=*C–N), 151.88 (1C, *C–OH), 150.91 (1C, C*–OCH2CH3), 145.15 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 140.05 (1C, Ar), 129.93 (2C, Ar), 127.39 (1C, Ar), 124.55 (2C, Ar), 121.14 (1C, Ar), 115.42 (1C, Ar), 63.70 (1C, O*CH2CH3), 16.46 (1C, OCH2*CH3). λ max (in nanometer): 205, 371. MP = 185 °C, % yield = 90 %.

4-[(4-Dimethylamino-benzylidene)-amino]-benzenesulfonamide (9)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,278 (N–H str), 1,569(HC=N), 1,518(C=C aromatic), 1,143(S=O asym), 1,329 (S=O sym). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 9.67(s, 2H, NH2), 8.43 (s, 1H, N=CH), 8.83–6.60 (m, 8H, Ar–H), 6.10 (s, 6H, N(CH3)2). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 162.70 (1C, *C=N), 158.20 (1C, C=*C–N), 146.80 (1C, *C–N(CH3)2), 137.00 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 129.80 (2C, Ar), 127.80 (2C, Ar), 123.00 (1C, Ar), 120.70 (2C, Ar), 113.20 (2C, Ar), 43.60 (2C, N(CH3)2). MP = 204–205 °C (literature = 202 °C) (Santosh et al. 2010), % yield = 75 %.

4-[(4-Methoxy-benzylidene)-amino]-benzenesulfonamide (10)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,272 (N–H str), 2,913 (C–H aromatic), 1,606 (HC=N), 1,569 (C=C aromatic), 1,147 (S=O asym), 1,315 (S=O sym), 1,265 (C–O phenolic). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 8.60 (s, 1H, HC=N), 7.90–7.00 (m, 8H, Ar–H), 3.80 (s, 3H, OCH3). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 162.28 (1C, *C=N), 161.85 (1C, *C–OCH3), 154.67 (1C, C=*C–N), 140.72 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 130.85 (1C, Ar), 128.49 (2C, Ar), 126.89 (2C, Ar), 121.18 (2C, Ar), 114.33 (2C, Ar), 55.44 (OCH3). λ max (nm): 275. MP = 205 °C (literature = 206 °C) (Baluja et al. 2006), % yield = 83 %.

4-[(3-Methoxy-benzylidene)-amino]-benzene sulfonamide (11)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,329 (N–H str), 3,175 (C–H aromatic), 1,618 (HC=N), 1,579 (C=C aromatic), 1,296 (C–O phenolic), 1,150 (S=O asym), 1,329 (S=O sym). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 8.62 (s, 1H, HC=N), 7.85–7.15 (m, 8H, Ar–H), 3.84 (s, 3H, OCH3). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 162.67 (1C, *C=N), 159.53 (1C, *C–OCH3), 154.25 (1C, C=*C–N), 141.18 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 137 (1C, Ar), 130.02 (2C, Ar), 126.91 (1C, Ar), 121.96 (2C, Ar), 121.24 (1C, Ar), 118.30 (1C, Ar), 112.67 (1C, Ar), 55.23 (1C, OCH3). λ max (nm): 278, 320. MP = 161 °C, % yield = 77 %.

4-[(4-Nitro-benzylidene)-amino]-benzenesulfonamide (12)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,265 (N–H str), 3,105 (C–H aromatic), 1,591 (C=C aromatic), 1,628 (HC=N), 1,598 (NO2), 1,145 (S=O asym), 1,341 (S=O sym), 1,277 (OH). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 12.70 (s, 2H, NH2), 8.39 (s, 1H, HC=N), 7.50–8.22 (m, 8H, Ar–H). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 162.7 (1C, *C=N), 156.4 (1C, C=*C–N), 150.7 (1C, *C–NO2), 137.8 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 137.3 (1C, Ar), 129.9 (2C, Ar), 126.8 (2C, Ar), 123.7 (2C, Ar), 122.3 (2C, Ar). λ max (nm): 271. MP = 193 °C, % yield = 92 %.

4-{[(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)methylidene]amino}benzenesulfonamide(13)

FT-IR (cm−1): 3,289 (N–H str), 3,029 (C–H aromatic), 1,620 (HC=N), 1,579 (C=C aromatic), 1,258 (C–O phenolic), 1,334 (S=O sym), 1,153 (S=O asym), 1,378 (NO2). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 8.90 (s, 1H, HC=N), 8.25–7.25 (m, 7H, Ar–H), 4.05 (s, 3H, OCH3). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 159.41 (1C, *C=N), 156.02 (1C, *C–OCH3), 153.86 (1C, C=*C–N), 150.33 (1C, *C–NO2), 141.73 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 141.03 (1C, Ar), 128.98 (1C, Ar), 128.16 (2C, Ar), 127.30 (1C, Ar), 126.93 (1C, Ar), 121.32 (2C, Ar), 115.59 (1C, Ar), 107.15 (1C, Ar), 56.61 (1C, OCH3). MP = 224 °C, % yield = 92 %.

4-[(Furan-2-ylmethylene)-amino]-benzene sulfonamide (14)

FT-IR (cm−1): 2,978 (C–H aromatic), 3,284 (N–H str), 1,623 (HC=N), 1,578 (C=C aromatic), 1,147 (S=O asym), 1,325 (S=O sym). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 8.46 (s, 1H, HC=N), 8.10–6.75 (m, 7H, Ar–H). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 154.00 (1C, *C=N), 151.55 (1C, C=*C–N), 150.15 (1C, O–*C–C=N), 147.08 (1C, O–C*=C), 141.10 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 126.93 (2C, Ar), 121.24 (2C, Ar), 118.42 (1C, Ar), 112.74 (1C, Ar). λ max (nm): 302. MP = 191 °C, % yield = 70 %.

4-[(Thiophen-2-ylmethylene)-amino]-benzenesulfonamide (15)

FT-IR (cm−1): 1,605 (HC=N), 3,285 (N–H str), 1,149 (S=O asym), 1,321 (S=O sym). 1H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 8.82 (d, 1H, HC=N), 7.90–6.60 (m, 7H, Ar–H). 13C-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6): δ [ppm] 155.79 (1C, *C=N), 153.54 (1C, C=*C–N), 141.85 (1C, S–*C–C=N), 141.03 (1C, C=*C–SO2NH2), 134.62 (1C, S–C*=C), 132.04 (1C, Ar), 128.35 (2C, Ar), 127.30 (1C, Ar), 126.85 (1C, Ar), 121.27 (2C, Ar). MP = 208 °C, % yield = 89 %.

Biological activities testing

Antitumor activity

Cell lines and culturing

Human breast (MCF7, Cell Line human breast adenocarcinoma) and lung carcinoma (A549, Cell Line human lung carcinoma) were purchased from the European Collection of Cell Culture, UK. The cells were stored in a liquid nitrogen storage facility at the National Medical Research Centre (Zawia/Libya). The cells were grown in Dulbecco’s Minimum essential medium supplemented with 10 % fetal bovine serum containing antibiotics (streptomycin, penicillin–G, kanamycin, amphotericin B). All cell culture work was carried out in a sterile tissue culture laboratory under a laminar flow hood. The frozen vials of the cells were held at room temperature for 1 min before being placed in 37 °C incubator for a further minute until thawed. The outside of the ampoule was sprayed with 70 % ethanol before the cells were poured into a flask containing trypsin-EDTA.

Cell culturing

The cells were passaged every 4 to 7 days using trypsin-EDTA and fed three times a week. Cells were split once confluence was reached and 1 × 105 cells were placed into 25-ml tissue culture flasks. To split the cells, the medium was removed, the cells washed with Hank’s Buffered Salt Solution and gently harvested with 1-ml detachment trypsin neutralizing solution. Then cells were poured into a sterile falcon tube and centrifuged at 1,300 rpm for 5 min. The supernatant was removed and the pellet gently resuspended in an appropriate volume of medium. This mixture was then placed into fresh culture flasks at 1:2 split ratios. Cells (5 × 106 cells/ml) were plated in 1-ml cell suspension concentration in RPMI1640 supplement. The cells were allowed to attach to the bottom for 24 h and finally harvested. After 48 h, the cells were treated with aseptic samples which were sterilized by passing through 0.22-μm Millipore filter and cisplatin was used as positive control. Untreated cells were used as negative controls. Each plate was incubated for another 72 h at 37 °C in a humidified incubator with 5 % CO2. The duplicate plates were then used for screening the chemical synthesized antitumor agents.

Evaluation of cytotoxicity

All synthesized compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity on lung and breast carcinoma in our cell culture lab at the National Medical Research Center, Zawia, Libya. The compounds were dissolved in DMSO (1 ml) and tested on cells at a concentration of 200 μg/ml for 72 h. DMSO was used as negative control, after this period the cell culture was examined under phase contrast inverted microscope.

Statistical analysis

The experimental data were expressed as mean ± SEM. The significance of differences among the various treated groups and control group were analyzed by means of one–way ANOVA. The level of significance was set at p <0.05. IC50 (inhibitory concentration which caused 50 % inhibition) were estimated using linear regression method of the percent of cell viability against the concentration of the tested compounds using Microsoft Excel software program.

Results and discussion

Design of sulfanilamide-imine scaffold

A great variety of compounds have been reported in the literature (Desai and Mitchison, 1997; Gadde and Heald 2004) as inhibitors for polymerization or depolymerization of microtubules by binding to the colchicine binding site of tubulin β-subunit. Combretastatine A-4 (Fig. 2a) and isoquinoline sulfamate (Fig. 2b) are examples of the most interesting compounds under investigation as anti-microtubules which are currently in clinical trials. They were used to design structurally related sulfanilamide-imine derivatives (Fig. 2c) as possible antitubulin agents. The main structural features used in the current study (red in Fig. 2) are two phenyl rings separated by azomethene group rather than the alkene moiety in combretastatine A-4. In addition, sulfonamide functionality of isoquinoline sulfamate is used instead the methoxy group of combretastatine A-4. Fifteen sulfanilamide-imine derivatives have been designed and then synthesized by varying the R group(s) on the second benzene ring.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Chemical structures of Combretastatine A-4, Isoquinoline sulfamate and Sulfanilamide-imines derivatives

Full size image

Molecular modeling study

All the targeted compounds were docked to the single β-tubulin colchicine active site (Fig. 3a, e.g., compound 6 and colchicine) and the docking energy was calculated. At the same time, the possible interaction of the designed compounds with the colchicine active site of tubulin unit was studied. The docking results showed that most of the synthesized sulfanilamide-imines theoretically fit and interact with the colchicine active site in the same manner as combretastatine A-4 with extra binding to the active site via the sulfonamide moiety. Interestingly, the docking results showed that most of the high score compounds are planar and occupy the same part of the active site (Fig. 3b). These flexible molecules are of lower docking energy, which is in total agreement with the biological results achieved for the same compounds. The sulfonamide group in the tested compounds occupies the same part used by the same group of isoquinoline sulfamate. They further showed greater reactivity at the active site and a high ability to form four different hydrogen bonds with amino acids of the colchicine active site, namely histidine 94, histidine 119, threonine 199 and threonine 200 (Fig. 3a). The hydrophobic pocket of the active site, which accommodates the lipophilic moieties of the tested compounds, has large size. This can be concluded based on the comparison of naphthyl side chain of compound 6 and colchicine phenyl group, as they represented in different positions at the hydrophobic pocket. Additionally, increasing the lipophilicity of the substituents at this position leads to decreasing of docking energy and possibly increased the interaction with the targeted microtubules.

Fig. 3
figure 3

a Interaction of compound 6 (red) and colchicine (green) at the colchicine active site. b Planarity of compound 6 (red) and colchicine (green) at the colchicine active site

Full size image

Chemical synthesis

The sulfanilamide-imines (1–15) were synthesized by condensation of sulfanilamide with the starting aldehydes in equimolar amounts using microwave method for chemical synthesis (Scheme 1). The optimum microwave power (in Watt) and the corresponding reaction time were determined depending on the completion of the reaction which is monitored by TLC using the appropriate solvent system. Highly purified crystals of all compounds were obtained via successive recrystallization using absolute ethanol and their purity was determined by HPLC using either chloroform/methanol (80:20) or acetonitrile/methanol (90:10) as a mobile phase. The percentage of the achieved dried yield of the synthetic compounds was high (70–93 %) for most of the synthesized compounds.

Scheme 1
scheme 1

Chemical synthesis of sulfanilamide-imines (1–15)

Full size image

Chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were determined on the basis of their FT-IR, UV, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopic analysis. The synthesized compounds were in agreement with those found in the literature (Zevzikoviene et al. 2012; Kaya et al. 2012; Yang et al. 2010; Scozzafava et al. 2000; Popescu et al. 1999). The IR spectra of the synthesized compounds confirmed the presence of C=N stretching bands at 1,500–1,690 cm−1 and the absence of C=O at 1,700 cm−1 for the starting aldehyde. The bands due to symmetric stretching SO2 groups that are shifted to lower frequencies, while NH disappeared or was hidden under the broad band at 3,450–3,300 cm−1 of the Schiff’s base. 1H NMR spectra of the synthesized compounds were recorded in DMSO-d6, and the chemical shifts (δ), expressed in parts per million (ppm) downfield from tetramethylsilane. The signals for the methene protons of the azomethine group, −N=C (H) were observed between 9.6 and 10.82 ppm.

In vitro antitumor evaluation

The antitumor activity of all compounds against breast and lung cell lines was determined using cell counting assay and cisplatin as a reference drug control. Each cell line was incubated with four concentrations of each compound. The response parameter (IC50) was calculated for each cell line (Table 1). The predicted binding free energy as shown in Table 1 is proportional to the in vitro cytotoxicity results. The antitumor drug discovery screen has been designed to distinguish between broad-spectrum antitumor compounds and tumor selective agents. The active analogs showed a characteristic potential model of selectivity as well as broad-spectrum antitumor activity. With regard to selectivity against individual cell lines, compounds 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13 had a positive impact against cell line human breast cancer MCF-7 with IC50 values range of 90–166 μM compared to Combretastatine A4 (IC50 2.0 μM) and colchicine (IC50 3.2 μM)(De Martino et al. 2004) (Table 1). Compounds with binding free energy bigger than −5.23 were ineffective against human breast cancer cells. The lung human cell line proved to be sensitive toward compounds 4, 8, and 13 with a IC50 concentration range of 120–140 μM compared to Combretastatine A4 (IC50 2.0 μM) and colchicine (IC50 3.2 μM)(De Martino et al. 2004) with binding free energy ranging from −5.87 to −6.23. Whereas, compounds 1, 10, 11, 14, and 15 proved to be ineffective against breast cancer cells while compounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 15 also proved to be ineffective against lung cancer cells. These results indicate that cytotoxicity is generally correlated with binding affinity for the colchicine site. However, some results were not fully explained in terms of binding affinity, suggesting that others factors, such as specific effects of the compound on the tubulin molecule, may play a role in the cytotoxic activities of these derivatives.

The activity of the tested compounds could be correlated to structure variations and modifications. By studying the variation in selectivity of the tested compounds over the two cell lines, 11 compounds showed significant inhibition of the breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and only 3 compounds affected lung cells. The agreement between the inhibition of breast and lung cancer cells could be correlated to a similar inhibitory mechanism related to the common structural features, while the variation in selectivity for breast compared to lung cells is probably caused by the differences in the substitution pattern in sulfanilamide Schiff base derivatives. These variations could be further correlated to the lipophilic substitution pattern on sulfanilamide Schiff base. The high activity of compounds 4, 8, and 13 in breast cancer over lung cancer cells may be attributed to the occurrence of OH, OCH3, and NO2 moieties which may be important for hydrogen bonding at the receptor site as described in the docking section.

When the chemical structure of the synthesized compounds was correlated with their anticancer activity, a number of structure activity relationships could be derived. Table 1 shows that no anticancer activity is achieved either against lung or breast carcinoma when the R substituent is unsubstituted phenyl group (compound 1). However, the introduction of an extra double bond between the R substituent and the azomethine moiety leads to strong anti-breast cancer activity of compound 2. Introduction of a hydrogen bond donor group, such as the hydroxyl group (−OH) in the ortho position of the phenyl group of the inactive compound 1, leads to strong activity against breast cancer cells as found for compound 3 (Table 1). Introduction of a methoxy group (−OCH3) at the same phenyl group leads to a small decrease of activity as in compound 5, while an additional hydroxyl group promotes anticancer activity against both breast and lung cancer cells, as found for compound 4. Increasing the lipophilicity of compound 3 by substitution of the phenyl with a naphthyl group leads to a small decrease in the activity as in compound 6. The para position of phenyl group is important for activity as the introduction of chloro-, hydroxyl-, dimethylamino- or nitro- substituents improves activity as in compounds 7, 8, 9, and 12, respectively. The methoxy group at the meta or para position showed no activity as in compounds 10 and 11. The presence of methoxy- or ethoxy- groups, however, appears to be important for the activity on both types of cancer cells as in compounds 8 and 13. This may be attributed to the effect of both groups on the pharmacokinetics compared to mono-substituted compounds. Finally, the isosteric substitution of the phenyl group of compound 1 with thiophenyl or furfuryl rings showed no activity as in compounds 14 and 15.

Conclusion

All the biological results complied with the molecular modeling studies to a considerable extent. Sulfanilamide-imine derivatives 4, 8, and 13 proved to be the most active compounds in this study on both breast carcinoma and lung carcinoma cells, whereas sulfanilamide-imine derivatives 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 12 were active only against breast carcinoma cell as compared to the standard drug cisplatin. The active compound analogs could be considered as useful templates for further development to obtain more potent antitumor agent(s).

Future work

The exact mechanism of colchicines on microtubule dynamics is unclear; however, it is known to first bind to a specific site on the β-tubulin subunit of the tubulin heterodimer. The tubulin-colchicine complexes then become incorporated into the microtubule ends, leading to changes in the rate and extent of growing and shortening of microtubules. Tubulin-binding assays will be used as a screening tool to identify our synthesized compounds is able to interact with tubulin at the colchicine binding domain.