Molecular organization of the antifungal and anticancer drug 2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenylo)-5,6-dichlorobenzothiazole (dHBBT) in solution and in lipid membranes studied by means of electronic absorption spectroscopy

2-(2,4-Dihydroxyphenylo)-5,6-dichlorobenzthiazole (dHBBT) is a new drug from the group of chemical compounds characterized by documented antifungal, antibacterial, cytostatic as well as antitumour activity. Despite general knowledge regarding pharmacological importance of dHBBT its interaction to biomembranes has not been investigated. In this work, we present the electronic absorption spectroscopic study on molecular organization of dHBBT in organic solvents and on its localization and molecular organization within model lipid membranes formed with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). The spectroscopic measurements are interpreted within the framework of the exciton splitting theory. It is concluded that complex absorption spectrum of dHBBT both in the organic solvents and incorporated to DPPC represents superposition of two spectral forms: representing monomers and hypsochromically shifted spectrum representing molecular dimers. Analysis of the temperature dependencies of the absorption spectra of dHBBT incorporated to DPPC liposomes suggests localization of the drug in the polar head-group region of the membrane or in the region of the polar–nonpolar interface. Linear dichroism measurements of dHBBT incorporated to DPPC multibilayers reveal roughly vertical orientation of the drug molecules with respect to the plane of the membrane. A model is presented of molecular organization of dHBBT in lipid membranes. Potential effects of dHBBT on membrane physical properties is briefly discussed.