Antitumor Activity of Long-Chain N-Substituted 3-Methylimidazolium Ionic Liquids Against Neuroblastoma Cancer Cells

Over the past twenty years, ionic liquids (ILs) have attracted the attention of the chemical and biological communities due to their extraordinary physical and chemical properties. Currently, these compounds are widely used in various fields of science, technology, and medicine [1]. Studies have shown that ILs cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis in mammals, insects, and others [2]. It is important to note that the cytotoxic effect of ILs depends not only on their chemical structure but also on the type of cell-biotarget because cancer cells differ from normal ones in specific molecular biotargets and metabolic pathways [3]. Today, the cytotoxic effect of various ILs has been shown on a large panel of cancer cells [4]. However, the exact molecular mechanism of their cytotoxic action remains discussion.