Schiff bases of cellulose: Synthesis, characterization, and anticancer potency against hepatocellular carcinoma

The development of innovative anticancer agents with minimal side effects is crucial. Polymeric Schiff bases have unique features that make them a promising option for therapeutic uses. They are well known for their biological properties, especially anticancer activity. Therefore, the current report describes the synthesis of Schiff bases derived from microcrystalline cellulose. Cellulose Schiff bases were synthesized through three steps. First, cellulose was periodate oxidized to produce dialdehyde cellulose (DAC). Afterwards, DAC was grafted with hyper-branched polyethylenimine (hPEI) to obtain aminated cellulose. Schiff bases were obtained by reacting hPEI-cellulose with various aldehydes. The final products were characterized by spectroscopic and thermal methods. The cellulose Schiff bases were evaluated for their anticancer activities, and it was observed that they were able to inhibit the growth of different types of cells. Importantly, one of the cellulose derivatives (SB4), which contains trimethoxy benzaldehyde moieties, was capable of inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells (Hep G2). Interestingly, SB4 could act as a pro-oxidant by inducing reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress with notable decline in the antioxidant system within Hep G2 cells. The results displayed that cellulose-based Schiff bases may offer a new strategy for liver cancer therapy.