Ya. R. Shalai¹*, A. V. Salamovska¹, M. V. Ilkiv¹, B. O. Manko¹,
Yu. V. Ostapiuk², N. E. Mitina³, O. S. Zaichenko³, A. M. Babsky¹

¹Biology Faculty, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine;
²Chemistry Faculty, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Ukraine;
³Department of Organic Chemistry, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine;
*e-mail: Yaryna.Shalay@lnu.edu.ua

Received: 01 August 2025; Revised: 17 September 2025;
Accepted: 28 November 2025; Available on-line:  2025

The development of new anticancer drugs aimed at the inhibition of mitochondria functioning in tumor cells is a promising approach to cancer treatment. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of benzofuran derivative N-(5-benzyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-3,5-dimethyl-1-benzofuran-2-carboxamide (BF1) and its complex with polymer nanoparticles based on polyethylene glycol (PEG-PN) on mitochondrial membrane potential in cells of NK/Ly lymphoma grafted in ascite form in mice. Relative values of mitochondrial potential at different exposure times were recorded using the fluorescent dye tetramethylrhodamine. Fluorescence microscopy showed a significant decrease in mitochondrial potential after 30 and 60 min of cells incubation with the BF1-PEG-PN complex but not with unconjugated BF1. After 120 min of incubation, a decrease in the studied parameter was observed under the action of both BF1 alone and its complex with PEG-PN. The data obtained showed that a possible mechanism of cytotoxic action of the BF1 complex with PEG-PN involves early mitochondria depolarization in lymphoma cells.