The present contribution reports a detailed characterization of the binding interaction of a potential anticancer, anti-HIV drug 1-phenylisatin (1-PI) with a model transport protein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) using fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The thermodynamic parameters e.g., ΔH, ΔS and ΔG for the binding phenomenon have been evaluated on the basis of the van't Hoff equation to reveal that the binding process is principally driven by ionic interactions mediated by charge transfer interaction. This line of argument has been substantiated by frontier molecular orbital analysis of 1-PI. However, the drug-induced quenching of the intrinsic tryptophanyl fluorescence of the protein is found not to abide by a linear Stern-Volmer regression (displaying an upward curvature) when an extensive time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic characterization of the quenching process has been undertaken to unveil the actuating quenching mechanism. Based on the constancy of the fluorescence lifetime of the protein as a function of drug concentration the observed quenching is inferred to proceed through a static mechanism between the quenching partners. Constant wavelength synchronous fluorescence, excitation-emission matrix fluorescence and circular dichroic (CD) spectroscopic techniques have been exploited to unravel the tertiary and secondary conformational changes in the protein (BSA) induced by drug (1-PI)-binding. The probable binding location of the drug molecule within the protein cavity (hydrophilic subdomain I) has been explored by AutoDock-based blind docking simulation and the inference is further substantiated by site-competitive replacement experiments with specific site-markers. Light is also cast on the drug-protein binding kinetics using the stopped-flow fluorescence technique which reveals an association rate constant of k(a) (± 5%) = 1.471 × 10(-3) s(-1) for the interaction of 1-PI with BSA.

The present work demonstrates the photophysical characterization of the interaction of a promising cancer cell photosensitizer, harmane (HM), with biomimetic micellar nanocavities having varying surface charge characteristics. The polarity-sensitive prototropic transformation of HM is remarkably modified upon interaction with the macromolecular assemblies of micellar systems and is manifested through significant modulations on the absorption and emission profiles of HM. The ground- and excited-states prototropic equilibria of HM are found to be differentially modulated in various micellar assemblies. Out of various possibilities to assess the drug (HM)-micelle interaction mechanism, the postulate of varying extent of drug penetration into micellar units depending on the compactness of their headgroup arrangements is found to suitably rationalize and correlate different experimental findings, including the differences in binding constant (K) and free energy change (ΔG) of the interaction process. The micropolarity measurement has been exploited to evaluate the probable binding location of the drug which reveals that the cationic drug molecule does not penetrate deep into the micellar core region and the results are further substantiated from fluorescence quenching experiments. The work also pays proper attention to delineate the modulation in dynamical behaviors of the drug following interaction with the micellar systems. Wavelength-sensitive fluorescence parameters reveal the slower rate of solvent-relaxation around the excited probe within the micelle-encapsulated microheterogeneous environments. The enhancement of fluorescence anisotropy and rotational relaxation time of the drug in micellar environments from that in pure aqueous buffer suggests entrapment of the drug in motionally constrained regions introduced by the micelles.

The present work demonstrates a detailed characterization of the interaction of a bio-active drug molecule 3,5-dichlorosalicyclic acid (3,5DCSA) with a model transport protein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). The drug molecule is a potential candidate exhibiting Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) reaction and the modulation of ESIPT photophysics within the bio-environment of the protein has been exploited spectroscopically to monitor the drug-protein binding interaction. Apart from evaluating the binding constant (K (±10%) = 394 M(-1)) the probable location of the neutral drug molecule within the protein cavity (hydrophobic subdomain IIA) is explored by AutoDock-based blind docking simulation. The rotational relaxation dynamics of the drug within the protein has been interpreted on the lexicon of the two-step and wobbling-in-cone model. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy delineates the effect of drug binding on the protein secondary structure in terms of decrease of α-helical content of BSA with increasing drug concentration. Also the esterase activity of the drug:protein conjugate system is found to be reduced in comparison to the native protein.

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