A series of 4-carboranyl-3-nitro-1,8-naphthalimide derivatives, mitonafide and pinafide analogs, were synthesised via amidation and reductive amination reactions, and their calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA)-binding properties were investigated using circular dichroism, UV-vis spectroscopy, and thermal denaturation.  Furthermore, these conjugates caused lysosomal membrane permeabilization in HepG2 cells but not in MRC-5 cells.
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