Anticancer behaviour of 2,2'-(pyridin-2-ylmethylene)bis(5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione)-based palladium(II) complex and its DNA, BSA binding propensity and DFT study

Folic acid-modified chitosan nanoparticles for targeted delivery of a binuclear Co(II) complex in cancer therapy

A salient challenge in cancer chemotherapy is the successful delivery of drugs to cancer cells. Therapeutic agents can be delivered to cancer cells in a targeted and efficient manner using nanoparticles (NPs). Herein, we present the molecular characterization of a novel binuclear Co(II) complex with octahedral geometry based on Schiff base from dehydroacetic acid and piperazine derivatives. DNA and BSA binding interactions were investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy and gel electrophoresis. In vitro cytotoxicity of Co(II) complex was assessed against microbes and human cells (Cancer: MDA-MB-231, MCF7, A375, HepG2; Non-cancerous: HSF, WI-38) using well diffusion and MTT assays. Chitosan decorated with folic acid (CS-FA) was fabricated to encapsulate Co(II) complex, which may serve as a nano-targeted drug delivery system, to dampen its adverse effects on non-cancerous cells. TEM and DLS analysis confirmed nano-sized and stable monodisperse nanosuspension of both (CS-FA) and (CS-FA-Co(II) complex) systems. CS-FA-Co(II) complex NPs exhibited an 8.3-fold increase in cytotoxicity against folate-receptor-positive MDA-MB-231 cells, while remaining safe for folate-receptor-negative HSF cells. They also induced cell cycle arrest, inhibited migration, and triggered apoptosis by modulating Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, and CDH1. These findings highlight CS-FA NPs as a promising targeted delivery system for Co(II) complex-based cancer therapeutic agents, offering improved efficacy.

Vibrational and DFT Studies and Anticancer Activity of Novel Pd(II) and Pt(II) Complexes with Chloro Derivatives of 7-Azaindole-3-Carbaldehyde

This study investigates the structural, vibrational, and biological properties of novel palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes with 5-chloro-7-azaindole-3-carbaldehyde (5ClL) and 4-chloro-7-azaindole-3-carbaldehyde (4ClL) ligands. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, combined with DFT (ωB97X-D) calculations, provided valuable information about metal-ligand interactions, the cis or trans conformation of the aldehyde group in the ligands, and the presence of trans isomers in the metal complexes obtained in the solid state. In vitro tests were used to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of the novel complexes against several cancer cell lines, including ovarian cancer (A2780), cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer (A2780cis), colon cancer (HT-29), and triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), as well as normal mouse fibroblasts (BALB/3T3). The platinum complex, trans-[PtCl2(5ClL)2], exhibited superior activity against A2780cis (IC50 = 4.96 ± 0.49 µM) and MDA-MB-231 (IC50 = 4.83 ± 0.38 µM) compared to cisplatin, while the palladium complexes (trans-[PdCl2(4ClL)2] and trans-[PdCl2(5ClL)2]) demonstrated enhanced selectivity with reduced toxicity to normal fibroblasts (IC50 = 11.29 ± 6.65 µM and 14.98 ± 5.59 µM, respectively).

Design, synthesis, characterization, and biological activities of novel Ag(I)-NHC complexes based on 1,3-dioxane ligand

Herein, a series of new Ag(I)-NHC complexes containing 1,3-dioxane group were synthesized by the direct reaction of Ag2O and benzimidazolium salts in light-free conditions. All Ag(I)-NHC complexes were spectrally characterized using 1H, 13C NMR, FT-IR, LC-MS, and elemental analysis. Additionally, the structures of compounds 1a and 1e were elucidated by the single X-ray diffraction techniques. Further, the synthesized Ag(I)-NHC complexes were evaluated for cytotoxicity study on the L-929 cells and the anticancer activity against the HCT 116 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Notably, 1a showed significant anticancer activity against HCT 116 with an IC50 of 6.37 ± 0.92 μg/mL compared to cisplatin (IC50 = 36.75 ± 1.76 μg/mL). 1c (IC50 = 3.21 ± 1.96 μg/mL) and 1e (IC50 = 3.72 ± 1.12 μg/mL) exhibited significant anticancer activity against MCF-7 cells and was similar to cisplatin (IC50 = 32.17 ± 2.85 μg/mL). Meanwhile, 1a and 1e displayed the highest selectivity index. Most importantly, the cell viability test showed that 1e induced neglectable cytotoxicity (IC50 = 36.38 ± 2.27 μg/mL) toward L-929 and was similar to cisplatin (IC50 = 36.11 ± 2.09 μg/mL). The anticancer activities of Ag(I)-NHC complexes vary depending on the substituent group of the silver complex and the cell line type. Moreover, the inhibitory mechanism of 1e was not dependent on caspase-associated apoptosis initiated by the lysosomal-mitochondrial pathway. Taken together, we conclude that this work provides a simple and rapid protocol for the synthesis of Ag(I)-NHC complexes and the featured Ag(I)-NHC complexes have an anticancer drug potential for biomedical applications.

Bioactive O^N^O^ Schiff base appended homoleptic titanium(iv) complexes: DFT, BSA/CT-DNA interactions, molecular docking and antitumor activity against HeLa and A549 cell lines

Five new homoleptic derivatives of titanium(iv) have been developed and characterized by physicochemical techniques. Metal complexes, TiH2L1 [(C38H26N6O4)Ti], TiH2L2 [(C38H24F2N6O4)Ti], TiH2L3 [(C38H24Cl2N6O4)Ti], TiH2L4 [(C38H24Br2N6O4)Ti] and TiH2L5 [(C38H24N8O8)Ti], were obtained by treating Ti(OPri)4 with appropriate ONO ligands (H2L1-H2L5) in anhydrous THF as solvent. The electronic structures and properties of titanium(iv) complexes (TiH2L1-TiH2L5) and ligands (H2L1-H2L5) were examined by DFT studies. The stability of all synthesized derivatives was assessed by a UV-visible technique using 10% DMSO, GSH medium and n-octanol/water systems. The binding interactions of BSA and CT-DNA with respective titanium(iv) complexes were successfully evaluated by employing UV-visible absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) techniques and docking studies. The in vitro cytotoxicity of TiH2L2, TiH2L3 and TiH2L4 complexes was assessed against HeLa (human epithelioid cervical cancer cells) and A549 (lung carcinoma) cell lines. The IC50 values of TiH2L2, TiH2L3 and TiH2L4 were observed to be 28.8, 14.7 and 31.2 μg mL-1 for the HeLa cell line and 38.2, 32.9 and 67.78 μg mL-1 for A549 cells, respectively. Complex TiH2L3 exhibited remarkably induced cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and 77.99% ROS production selectivity in the HeLa cell line.

Novel cyanochalcones as potential anticancer agents: apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, DNA binding, and molecular docking studies

In the light of anticancer drug discovery and development, a new series of cyanochalcones incorporating indole moiety (5a-g) were efficiently synthesized and characterized by different spectral analysis. MTT assay was used to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of the synthesized compounds towards different cancer cells (Hela, MDA-MB-231, A375, and A549) in parallel with normal cells (HSF). Trimethoxy and diethoxy-containing derivatives (5d and 5e) displayed the most selective cytotoxic activities against cervical Hela cells with IC50 values of 8.29 and 11.82 µM, respectively, with great safety pattern toward normal HSF cells (Selectivity index: 21.3 and 13.9, respectively). Therefore, 5d and 5e were chosen to study their effects on apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and migration of Hela cells using flow cytometric analysis and wound healing assay. They induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the S phase and impaired migration of HeLa cells. Regarding their effects on the expression profile of crucial genes related to the potential anticancer activities, 5d and 5e remarkably upregulated caspase 3 and Beclin1 and downregulated cyclin A1, CDK2, CDH2, MMP9, and HIF1A using qRT-PCR and ELISA techniques. UV-Vis spectral measurement demonstrated the ability of 5d and 5e to bind CT-DNA efficiently with Kb values of 3.7 × 105 and 1 × 105 M-1, respectively. Moreover, in silico molecular docking was performed to assess the binding affinities of the compounds toward the active sites of Bcl2, CDK2, and DNA. Therefore, cyanochalcones 5d and 5e might be promising anticancer agents and could offer a scientific basis for intensive research into cancer chemotherapy.