Antiproliferative and iron chelating efficiency of the new bis-8-hydroxyquinoline benzylamine chelator S1 in hepatocyte cultures

► S1 was about 100 times more efficient than O-trensox to decrease cell proliferation. ► The antiproliferative effect of S1 appeared at concentrations as low as 0.1 μM. ► The stoichiometry of S1 for iron seemed to be in the range S1/Fe3+ = 1. ► S1 affinity for iron was higher than that of O-trensox. ► S1 may constitute a promising starting point to improve cancer treatment.