Enoxacin–fatty acid conjugates: Synthesis and assessment of antibacterial and anticancer potentials

Abstract

Enoxacin (ENX), a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, was modified with various fatty acids to explore dual anticancer and antimicrobial activity. Several conjugates—especially those with polyunsaturated fatty acids like linoleic and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—showed potent cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ < 10 μM) against prostate (PC3) and colon (SW620) cancer cells, while sparing normal cells. Mechanistic studies revealed apoptosis induction, ROS generation, and cell cycle arrest, with the DHA conjugate achieving up to 99 % cancer cell death. Notably, some derivatives also reduced inflammatory IL-6 secretion and retained antibacterial potency, suggesting these ENX-fatty acid hybrids as promising multifunctional therapeutic candidates.