Herein, a series of new 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole dyes was prepared via Knoevenagel condensation reaction between 1,1,2-trimethyl-1H-benzo[e]indole and benzaldehydes, and characterized using various spectroscopic methods. The obtained compounds showed cytotoxic properties in G361 melanoma cell line upon irradiation with 414 nm blue light at submicromolar doses. The mechanism of action of the most potent compound 15 was further investigated. The treatment induced substantial generation of reactive oxygen species, leading to DNA damage followed by cell death depending on the concentration of the photosensitizer compound and the irradiation intensity.

• MeSH
• Antineoplastic Agents * pharmacology   chemical synthesis   chemistry   MeSH
• Coloring Agents pharmacology   chemistry   chemical synthesis   MeSH
• Photosensitizing Agents pharmacology   chemical synthesis   chemistry   MeSH
• Indoles * chemistry   pharmacology   chemical synthesis   MeSH
• Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Molecular Structure MeSH
• Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
• DNA Damage drug effects   MeSH
• Cell Proliferation drug effects   MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism   MeSH
• Light MeSH
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
• Structure-Activity Relationship MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH