Chemists develop dual-action compounds to fight cancer and infections
Cancer patients often face more than the disease itself. Their treatment is frequently complicated by infections and other health conditions, meaning they may need to take several different medications at once. As the number of prescribed drugs increases, so does the risk of interactions between them, which is why scientists are searching for solutions that could one day address multiple problems…
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) have developed new hybrid compounds that can simultaneously combat aggressive cancer cells and inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and fungi. These dual-action molecules have the potential to address multiple health issues with a single treatment, reducing the risk of drug interactions and increasing effectiveness.
The compounds were tested on cells from aggressive forms of cancer, such as lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and melanoma, and showed promising results in reducing cell viability. Additionally, three of the synthesized compounds exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi, with one compound surpassing the effectiveness of nystatin against fungi and showing antibacterial activity comparable to vancomycin.
The researchers emphasize that while these findings represent an important step forward, further investigation is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of the compounds in preclinical and clinical studies.
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