Quinizarin (1,4-Dihydroxyanthraquinone), a part of the anticancer agents such as Doxorubicin, Daunorubicin, and Adriamycin, interacts with DNA by intercalating mode (Kd=86.1 μM). Quinizarin is used as a fungicide and pesticide chemical and has shown the ability to inhibit tumor cell growth[1][2].
1,4-Dihydroxyanthraquinone (1,4-DHAQ, a fluorophore) doped cellulose (CL) (denoted as 1,4-DHAQ@CL) microporous nanofiber film has been achieved via simple electrospinning and subsequent deacetylating, and used for highly sensitive and selective fluorescence detection of Cu(2+) in aqueous solution[1].
[1]. VerebovÁ V, et al. Anthraquinones quinizarin and danthron unwind negatively supercoiled DNA and lengthen linear DNA. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2014;444(1):50-55. [2]. Dominic Cheuk, et al. Investigation into solid and solution properties of quinizarin. [3]. Wang M, et al. Electrospun 1,4-DHAQ-doped cellulose nanofiber films for reusable fluorescence detection of trace Cu2+ and further for Cr3+. Environ Sci Technol. 2012;46(1):367-373.