Indane-1,3-dione and 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) scaffolds are of significant interest in medicinal chemistry. Herein, we report the synthesis characterization of a new lipid-like indane-1,3-dione–1,4-DHP betaine, 2-(3′,5′-bis((dodecyloxy)carbonyl)-2′,6′-dimethyl-1′,4′-dihydro-[3,4′-bipyridin]-1-ium-1-yl)-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-ide (3). Compound 3 was synthesized from 2,2-dicyanomethylideneindan-1,3-dione (1) oxide and a didodecyl-substituted 1,4-DHP derivative 2 and characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and HRMS. The obtained results demonstrate a promising strategy for the design of delivery agents, exploiting the lipid-like properties of the synthesized betaine.

Amphiphilic cationic lipids based on the 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) scaffold represent a versatile platform for the development of self-assembling delivery systems. In this work, a series of ten new amphiphilic 1,4-DHP derivatives bearing branched ester substituents at the 3,5-positions and quaternized cationic groups at the 2,6-positions were designed and synthesized. The effect of branched ester chain length and branching on nanoparticle formation was investigated. The self-assembling properties of the synthesized amphiphiles were evaluated by dynamic light scattering using an ethanol injection method. All compounds formed positively charged nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameters ranging from 52 to 439 nm and polydispersity index from 0.194 to 0.452. Amphiphiles 14b–17b with 2-hexyldecyl substituents formed smaller particles, with an average diameter below 100 nm. Several derivatives exhibited good stability over a 14-day storage period at room temperature. To clarify structure–property relationships, lipophilicity (AlogP), polar surface area (PSA), and pKa values were calculated using Schrödinger computational tools. The compounds displayed high lipophilicity AlogP 8.98–19.32, while PSA values remained within a narrow range. The calculated pKa values ranged from 7.20 to 10.99. The results demonstrate that both the length and architecture of branched ester chains significantly influence nanoparticle size, homogeneity, and stability, highlighting branched-chain 1,4-DHP amphiphiles as promising synthetic lipid candidates for further development of delivery systems after evaluation of biological properties.

Liposomes and other nanoparticles have been widely studied as innovative nanomaterials because of their unique properties. Pyridinium salts, on the basis of 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) core, have gained significant attention due to their self-assembling properties and DNA delivery activity. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize original N-benzyl substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines and evaluate the influence on structure modifications on compound physicochemical and self-assembling properties. Studies of monolayers composed of 1,4-DHP amphiphiles revealed that the mean molecular areas values were dependent on the compound structure. Therefore, the introduction of N-benzyl substituent to the 1,4-DHP ring enlarged the mean molecular area by almost half. All nanoparticle samples obtained by ethanol injection method possessed positive surface charge and average diameter of 395–2570 nm. The structure of the cationic head-group affects the size of the formed nanoparticles. The diameter of lipoplexes formed by 1,4-DHP amphiphiles and mRNA at nitrogen/phosphate (N/P) charge ratios of 1, 2, and 5 were in the range of 139–2959 nm and were related to the structure of compound and N/P charge ratio. The preliminary results indicated that more prospective combination are the lipoplexes formed by pyridinium moieties containing N-unsubstituted 1,4-DHP amphiphile 1 and pyridinium or substituted pyridinium moieties containing N-benzyl 1,4-DHP amphiphiles 5a–c at N/P charge ratio of 5, which would be good candidates for potential application in gene therapy.

A set of styrylpyridinium (SP) compounds was synthesised in order to study their spectroscopic and cell labelling properties. The compounds comprised different electron donating parts (julolidine, p-dimethylaminophenyl, p-methoxyphenyl, 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl), conjugated linkers (vinyl, divinyl), and an electron-withdrawing N-alkylpyridinium part. Geminal or bis-compounds incorporating two styrylpyridinium (bis-SP) moieties at the 1,3-trimethylene unit were synthesised. Compounds comprising a divinyl linker and powerful electron-donating julolidine donor parts possessed intensive fluorescence in the near-infrared region (maximum at ~760 nm). The compounds had rather high cytotoxicity towards the cancerous cell lines HT-1080 and MH-22A; at the same time, basal cytotoxicity towards the NIH3T3 fibroblast cell line ranged from toxic to harmful. SP compound 6e had IC50 values of 1.0 ± 0.03 µg/mL to the cell line HT-1080 and 0.4 µg/mL to MH-22A; however, the basal toxicity LD50 was 477 mg/kg (harmful). The compounds showed large Stokes’ shifts, including 195 nm for 6a,b, 240 nm for 6e, and 325 and 352 nm for 6d and 6c, respectively. The highest photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) values were observed for 6a,b, which were 15.1 and 12.2%, respectively. The PLQY values for the SP derivatives 6d,e (those with a julolidinyl moiety) were 0.5 and 0.7%, respectively. Cell staining with compound 6e revealed a strong fluorescent signal localised in the cell cytoplasm, whereas the cell nuclei were not stained. SP compound 6e possessed self-assembling properties and formed liposomes with an average diameter of 118 nm. The obtained novel data on near-infrared fluorescent probes could be useful for the development of biocompatible dyes for biomedical applications.

A synthesis of a cationic moiety and fluorescent moieties containing amphiphilic 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) derivatives was performed starting with the Hantzsch-type cyclization of dodecyl acetoacetate, phenylaldehyde and ammonium acetate. Bromination of the 2,6-dimethyl groups of a parent 1,4-DHP compound, followed by nucleophilic substitution of bromine with 4-(anthracen-9-yl)pyridine, produced the desired 1,1′-{[3,5-bis((dodecyloxycarbonyl)-4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-2,6-diyl]bis(methylene)}bis[4-(anthracen-9-yl)pyridin-1-ium] dibromide. The obtained target compound was fully characterized by the IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS data. Studies of the self-assembling properties and characterization of the nanoparticles obtained by the ethanol injection method were performed using dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. DLS measurement data showed that 1,1′-{[3,5-bis((dodecyloxycarbonyl)-4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-2,6-diyl]bis(methylene)}bis[4-(anthracen-9-yl)pyridin-1-ium] dibromide produced liposomes that had average diameters of 200 nm when the samples were freshly prepared, and 140 nm after 7 days or 1 month storage. The PDI values of the samples were approximately 0.50 and their zeta-potential values were approximately 41 mV when the samples were freshly prepared, and 33 mV after storage. The obtained nanoparticles were stored at room temperature for one month and remained stable during that period. The mean molecular area of the cationic 1,4-DHP-anthracene hybrid 4 was 118 Å2, while the mean molecular area of the cationic 1,4-DHP 5 without anthracene substituents was only 83 Å2. The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) value for the EtOH solution of the 1,4-DHP derivative 4 was 10.8%, but for the 1,4-DHP derivative 5 it was only 1.8%. These types of compounds could be used as synthetic lipids in the further development of prospective theranostic delivery systems.

A synthesis of 3-(3,5-difluoro-3,5-bis((alkoxy)carbonyl)-2,6-dioxoheptan-4-yl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodides with ethyl or nonyl ester groups at positions 3 and 5 was performed. Treatment of the corresponding 2’,6’-dimethyl-1’,4’-dihydro-[3,4’-bipyridine]-3’,5’-dicarboxylates with Selectfluor® followed by quaternization of pyridine moiety in the obtained dialkyl 2,4-diacetyl-2,4-difluoro-3-(pyridin-3-yl)pentanedioates with methyl iodide gave the desired 3-(3,5-difluoro-3,5-bis((alkoxy)carbonyl)-2,6-dioxoheptan-4-yl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodides. This type of compound would be useful as synthetic lipids for further development of the delivery systems. The obtained target compounds were fully characterized by 1H NMR, 19F NMR, 13C NMR, HRMS, IR and UV data. The estimation of self-assembling properties and characterization of the nanoparticles obtained by ethanol solution injection in an aqueous media were performed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. DLS measurement data showed that 3-(3,5-difluoro-3,5-bis((nonyloxy)carbonyl)-2,6-dioxoheptan-4-yl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodide created liposomes with the average diameter of 300–400 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) value around 0.30–0.40, while 3-(3,5-difluoro-3,5-bis((ethyloxy)carbonyl)-2,6-dioxoheptan-4-yl)-1-methylpyridin-1-ium iodide formed a heterogeneous sample with PDI value 1, which was not prospective for delivery system development.

In this data file the characterisation of nanoformulations obtained from calix[4]arene/1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) compositions in the various component ratio in an aqueous medium was performed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique. The hydrodynamic diameters of nanoparticle main population, polydispersity index and stability of nanoformulation were determined. In this article provided data are directly related to the previously published research articles – “Gene delivery agents possessing antiradical activity: Self-assembling cationic amphiphilic 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives” [1], and “Studies of the physicochemical and structural properties of self-assembling cationic pyridine derivatives as gene delivery agents” [2] where was described synthesis, transfection activity of 1,1′-((3,5-bis((dodecyloxy)carbonyl)-4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(methylene))bis(pyridin-1-ium) dibromide presented in this data file; and with articles “Cationic amphiphilic calixarenes to compact DNA into small nanoparticles for gene delivery” [3] and “Self-aggregation in aqueous solution of amphiphilic cationic calix[4]arenes. Potential use as vectors and nanocarriers” [4] where was described synthesis and ability to condense DNA for also mentioned calix[4]arenes – 5,11,17,23-tetra-(3-methylimidazolium)-methylene-25,26,27,28-etradodecyloxycalix[4]arene tetrachloride, 5,11,17,23-tetra(N,N-dimethyl-N-hydroxyethylammonium)-methylene-25,26,27,28-tetradodecyloxycalix[4]arene tetrachloride and 5,11,17,23-tetra(N,N-dimethyl-N-hydroxyethylammonium)-methylene-25,26,27,28-tetrahexadecyloxycalix[4]arene tetrachloride. Information provided in this data file can be used in medicinal chemistry for development of novel synthetic lipid nanoformulations.

Three groups of synthetic lipids are chosen for studies: (1) 1,4-dihydropyridines (1,4-DHPs) containing two cationic moieties and their analogues; (2) 3,4-dihydro-2(1 H )-pyridones containing a cationic moiety; and (3) acyclic, open-chain analogues, i.e., 2-amino-3-alkoxycarbonylalkylammonium derivatives. 1,4-DHPs possessing dodecyl alkyl chains in the ester groups in positions 3 and 5 and cationic nitrogen-containing groups in positions 2 and 6 have high cytotoxicity in cancer cells HT-1080 (human lung fibrosarcoma) and MH-22A (mouse hepatoma), but low cytotoxicity in the noncancerous NIH3T3 cells (mouse embryonic fibroblast). On the contrary, similar compounds having short (methyl, ethyl, or propoxyethyl) chains in the ester groups in positions 3 and 5 lack cytotoxicity in the cancer cells HT-1080 and MH-22A even at high doses. Inclusion of fluorine atoms in the alkyl chains in positions 3 and 5 of the DHP cycle decreases the cytotoxicity of the mentioned compounds. Structurally related dihydropyridones with a polar head group are substantially more toxic to normal and cancerous cells than the DHP analogues. Open-chain analogues of DHP lipids comprise the same conjugated aminovinylcarbonyl moiety and possess anticancer activity, but they also have high basal cytotoxicity. Electrochemical oxidation data demonstrate that oxidation potentials of selected compounds are in the range of 1.6–1.7 V for cationic 1,4-DHP, 2.0–2.4 V for cationic 3,4-dihydropyridones, and 1.2–1.5 V for 2-amino-3-alkoxycarbonylalkylammonium derivatives. Furthermore, the tested cationic 1,4-DHP amphiphiles possess antiradical activity. Molecular topological polar surface area values for the tested compounds were defined in accordance with the main fragments of compound structures. The determined log P values were highest for dodecyl ester groups in positions 3 and 5 of the 1,4-DHP and lowest for short alkyl chain-containing amphiphiles.

This data file describes the synthetic protocol for preparation of the original 2,6-di(bromomethyl)-3,5-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)-4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridines. In total, 6 unpublished compounds were obtained and characterised. The 2,6-di(bromomethyl)-1,4-dihydropyridines are mainly used as intermediates for synthesis of various lipid-like compounds based on 1,4-dihydropyridine cycle. All the structures of 2,6-di(bromomethyl)-1,4-dihydropyridines were confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR, including 1H NMR and 13C NMR) data. The data provided herein are directly related to the previously published research article – “Novel cationic amphiphilic 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives for DNA delivery” [1] where three derivatives (2,6-di(bromomethyl)-4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridines 2a-c) from six presented in this data file were used as starting materials in synthesis of amphiphilic 1,4-dihydropyridines without any purification and characterisation. Synthesis of other three 2,6-di(bromomethyl)-3,5-bis(alkoxycarbonyl)-4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridines 2d-f and their characterisation are reported herein at the first time. Information provided in this data file can be used in organic synthesis by other chemists to develop synthetic strategies for the construction of various cationic 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives and related heterocycles.

In this data file the synthetic procedures for preparation of the original 4-pyridinium-1,4-dihydropyridines (4-Py-1,4-DHP) and their parent compounds – dialkyl 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-pyridyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylates were described. In total, 5 unpublished compounds were obtained and characterised. All the structures of original compounds were confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR, including 1H NMR and 13C NMR) and low resolution mass spectra (MS) data. Additionally, the cytotoxic properties of four 4-Py-1,4-DHPs were evaluated on 3 cell lines – normal NIH3T3 (mouse embryonic fibroblast), cancerous HT-1080 (human lung fibrosarcoma) and MH-22A (mouse hepatoma) and self-assembling properties were studied and characterisation of formed nanoparticles were performed using dynamic light scattering technique. In this article provided data are directly related to the previously published research articles – “Novel cationic amphiphilic 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives for DNA delivery” [1] where compound 5 was tested as gene delivery agent without full physico-chemical characterisation and “Synthesis and studies of calcium channel blocking and antioxidant activities of novel 4-pyridinium and/or N-propargyl substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives” [2] where synthesis and physico-chemical characterisation as well as calcium channel blocking and antioxidant activities were described for compound 6. Synthesis of other compounds – parent 1,4-DHPs 1 and 2, and 4-Py-1,4-DHPs 3–5, their characterisation, estimation of cytotoxicity and self-assembling properties for all 4-Py-1,4-DHPs 3–6 are reported herein for the first time. Information provided in this data file can be used in medicinal chemistry by other scientists to estimate structure-activity relationships for the analysis and construction of various cationic 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives and related heterocycles.

The design of nanoparticle delivery materials possessing biological activities is an attractive strategy for the development of various therapies. In this study, 11 cationic amphiphilic 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) derivatives differing in alkyl chain length and propargyl moiety/ties number and position were selected for the study of their self-assembling properties, evaluation of their cytotoxicity in vitro and toxicity on microorganisms, and the characterisation of their interaction with phospholipids. These lipid-like 1,4-DHPs have been earlier proposed as promising nanocarriers for DNA delivery. We have revealed that the mean diameter of freshly prepared nanoparticles varied from 58 to 513 nm, depending upon the 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP structure. Additionally, we have confirmed that only nanoparticles formed by 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 3 and 6, and by 4-(N-hexadecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 10 and 11 were stable after two weeks of storage. The nanoparticles of these compounds were found to be homogenous in size distribution, ranging from 124 to 221 nm. The polydispersity index (PDI) values of 1,4-DHPs samples 3, 6, 10, and 11 were in the range of 0.10 to 0.37. We also demonstrated that the nanoparticles formed by 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 3, 6, and 9, and 4-(N-hexadecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives 10 and 11 had zeta-potentials from +26.07 mV (compound 6) to +62.80 mV (compound 11), indicating a strongly positive surface charge and confirming the relative electrostatic stability of these nanoparticle solutions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of nanoaggregates formed by 1,4-DHPs 3 and 11 confirmed liposome-like structures with diameters around 70 to 170 nm. The critical aggregation concentration (CAC) value interval for 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP was from 7.6 µM (compound 11) to 43.3 µM (compound 6). The tested 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives were able to quench the fluorescence of the binary 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH)—1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) system, demonstrating hydrophobic interactions of 1,4-DHPs with phospholipids. Thus, 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivative 3 quenched the fluorescence of the DPH–DPPC system more efficiently than the other 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives. Likewise the compound 3, also 4-(N-dodecylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivative 9 interacted with the phospholipids. Moreover, we have established that increasing the length of the alkyl chain at the quaternised nitrogen of the 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP molecule or the introduction of propargyl moieties in the 1,4-DHP molecule significantly influences the cytotoxicity on HT-1080 (human fibrosarcoma) and MH-22A (mouse hepatocarcinoma) cell lines, as well as the estimated basal cytotoxicity. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the toxicity of the 4-(N-alkylpyridinium)-1,4-DHP derivatives on the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria species and eukaryotic microorganism depended on the presence of the alkyl chain length at the N-alkyl pyridinium moiety, as well as the number of propargyl groups. These lipid-like compounds may be proposed for the further development of drug formulations to be used in cancer treatment.

New amphiphilic 1,4-DHP derivative C12-Man-Q with remoted cationic moieties at positions 2 and 6 was synthesised to study DNA delivery activity. The results were compared with data obtained for cationic 1,4-DHP derivative D19, which is known to be the most efficient one among the previously tested 1,4-DHP amphiphiles. We analysed the effects of C12-Man-Q concentration, complexation media, and complex/cell contact time on the gene delivery effectiveness and cell viability. Transmission electron microscopy data confirms that lipoplexes formed by the compound C12-Man-Q were quite uniform, vesicular-like structures with sizes of about 50 nm, and lipoplexes produced by compound D19 were of irregular shapes, varied in size in the range of 25–80 nm. Additionally, confocal microscopy results revealed that both amphiphiles effectively delivered green fluorescent protein expression plasmid into BHK-21 cells and produced a fluorescent signal with satisfactory efficiency, although compound C12-Man-Q was more cytotoxic to the BHK-21 cells with an increase of concentration. It can be concluded that optimal conditions for C12-Man-Q lipoplexes delivery in BHK-21 cells were the serum free media without 0.15 M NaCl, at an N/P ratio of 0.9. Compound D19 showed higher transfection efficiency to transfect BHK-21 and Cos-7 cell lines, when transfecting active proliferating cells. Although D19 was not able to transfect all studied cell lines we propose that it could be cell type specific. The compound C12-Man-Q showed modest delivery activity in all used cell lines, and higher activity was obtained in the case of H2-35 and B16 cells. The transfection efficiency in cell lines MCF-7, HeLa, and Huh-7 appears to be comparable to the reference compound D19 and minimal in the HepG2 cell line.

Novel pyridinium salts based on 4-(3-pyridyl)-3,5-dipropargylcarbonyl-1,4-dihydropyridine were obtained by quaternization of pyridine moiety with different alkyl halides. The reducing capacity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated using the phosphomolybdenum complex method. The obtained results confirmed that all tested compounds possessed reducing capacity. Ca2+ channel antagonist and agonist activities of the compounds were additionaly assayed by changes in intracellular Ca2+ ion concentration in H9C2 and A7R5 cell lines. The obtained data confirmed that all synthesized 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives have smooth muscle selective antagonist activities, and in the case of 4-phenyl derivative the activity was 4.7 times higher than that of amlodipine.