G-quadruplexes (G4) are unconventional DNA structures that occur in guanine-rich sequences and play a significant role in the regulation of gene expression. Due to their presence in promoter regions of oncogenes, they represent potential molecular targets for the development of new antitumor agents. Curcumin is a natural polyphenol that can bind to different G4 topologies, while its analogues enable the investigation of the influence of structural modifications on the affinity, binding mode, and stabilization of these structures. The thesis is based on a review and comparative analysis of studies investigating the interactions of curcumin and its analogues with G4. The results show that curcumin mostly binds through external binding modes, with G4 topology and the chemical structure of the ligand significantly influencing affinity and stabilization. Among the compounds studied, the Sb-NBC analogue showed a more pronounced stabilizing effect and greater selectivity towards some tumour-associated G4 than curcumin. The findings indicate that appropriate structural modifications of analogues can improve their properties and enable the development of better analogues. Curcumin derivatives thus represent a promising starting point for the development of new targeted antitumor agents; however, challenges regarding their selectivity and bioavailability, as well as the confirmation of their efficacy and safety in more complex biological models, remain.
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