Fluorescence quenching of V(iii) ions by a 4-benzylaniline-derived Schiff base-functionalized organosilane: unveiling antiproliferative potential through in vitro analysis and molecular docking

Abstract

The present study is concerned with the synthesis of a Schiff base-functionalized organosilane via a click reaction and its subsequent characterization via ¹H and ¹³C NMR, mass spectrometry and FT-IR spectroscopy. The synthesized compound demonstrated highly selective and sensitive sensing behavior towards V(III), as shown through UV-visible spectroscopy and fluorescence analysis. The LOD values obtained from absorption and emission spectroscopy are 87.7 × 10⁻⁹ M and 46.4 × 10⁻⁹ M, respectively. The binding mode between (5) and V(III) was verified by ¹H NMR, mass spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy (FT). Compound (5) exhibited remarkable antiproliferative properties against HeLa cells, which was proved through in vitro and molecular docking analysis. Molecular docking results reveal the presence of an effective binding interaction between (5) and a tyrosine kinase protein. The findings demonstrate that the Schiff base-functionalized organosilane is a promising candidate in metal ion sensing and antiproliferative applications, providing a foundation for further exploration of multifunctional sensing and therapeutic functions.