Carboranes as Modulators of Biologically Active Compounds: Case Studies of DNA-Intercalating Agents, Penicillin G and Isoniazid.

Abstract

Carboranes are boron-rich polyhedral clusters with unique physicochemical properties, including high hydrophobicity, three-dimensional structure, and the ability to act as bioisosteres of aromatic groups. These features make them attractive building blocks in medicinal chemistry. This chapter summarizes recent advances in the design of carborane-containing derivatives of biologically active scaffolds, including 1,8-naphthalimides, acridines, penicillin G, and isoniazid.The incorporation of carborane clusters significantly influenced the biological activity of parent compounds by modulating DNA interactions, anticancer mechanisms, antibacterial activity, lipophilicity, and membrane permeability. In anticancer conjugates, carborane modification affected DNA binding, reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis induction, and cellular localization. In antibacterial agents, carborane incorporation improved the activity of selected penicillin G and isoniazid derivatives, including activity against resistant bacterial strains.These examples demonstrate that carboranes are versatile pharmacophores capable of enhancing the biological properties of established drug scaffolds and represent promising tools for the development of novel anticancer and antimicrobial agents.