Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and In Silico Studies of Tetrazole Derivatives as Potential Cytotoxic Agents

Despite significant progress in cancer treatment, the need for new anticancer agents remains critical. Current research efforts are directed toward discovering novel compounds that exhibit potent cytotoxic activity while minimizing adverse effects. Thus, tetrazole derivatives have gained attention due to their potential biological activities, including anticancer effects. A series of tetrazole derivatives (6a-l) were synthesized via α-keto halogenation of 2,4-difluoroacetophenone, followed by cyclization, nucleophilic substitution, and subsequent coupling with various aryl carboxylic acids. The synthesized compounds were characterized using spectroscopic techniques, including 13C NMR, 1H NMR, FT-IR, and HRMS. Their cytotoxic potential was assessed through an MTT assay across four human cancer cell lines. Other cytotoxic evaluations included apoptosis induction, cell cycle analysis, and EGFR-TK inhibition assays. Additionally, molecular docking studies were conducted to explore binding interactions, and in silico ADME predictions were performed to assess pharmacokinetic properties. The results obtained by the MTT assay indicated that compound 6d demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against A549 (lung cancer) cell lines, with an IC50 value of 2.74 μM, compared to doxorubicin (IC50 = 3.87 μM). Furthermore, cell cycle analysis and apoptosis suggested that 6d arrested the cell cycle in the S phase and triggered apoptosis in A549 cells. Docking studies and EGFR-TK inhibition assay proposed that 6l had good binding affinity towards EGFR enzyme and acts as a potential inhibitor (IC50 0.099 μM). The ADME analysis demonstrated favourable molecular properties, including acceptable lipophilicity, strong absorption, and high oral bioavailability. The synthesized tetrazole derivatives exhibited notable anticancer potential, with compound 6d inducing S-phase arrest and apoptosis in lung cancer cells, and 6l demonstrating strong EGFR inhibition. These biological effects were further supported by docking studies and favorable ADME profiles, providing mechanistic insight into their activity. These findings indicate that the synthesized derivatives offer a promising approach for developing innovative and effective cancer therapies.