l,8-Naphthalimide based DNA intercalators and anticancer agents. A systematic review from 2007 to 2017

In this review, we describe a detailed investigation about the structural variations and relative activity of 1,8-naphthalimide based intercalators and anticancer agents. The 1,8-naphthalimides binds to the DNA via intercalation, and exert their antitumor activities through Topoisomerase I/II inhibition, photoinduced DNA damage or related mechanism. Here, our discussion focused on works published over the last ten years (2007–2017) related to therapeutic applications, in the order of cancer treatment followed by other properties of 1,8-naphthalimides. In preparing for this review, we considered that several seminal reviews have appeared over the last fifteen years and focused on closely related subjects, however, none of them is exhaustive.