Two dpa-based zinc(ii) complexes as potential anticancer agents: nuclease activity, cytotoxicity and apoptosis studies

Two new mononuclear Zn(ii)-PhMe-dpa complexes have been synthesized and the apoptosis-inducing activity of1was assessed by Hoechst 33342 staining, Annexin V binding and cell cycle experiments.

Phenyl-guanidine derivatives as potential therapeutic agents for glioblastoma multiforme: catalytic syntheses, cytotoxic effects and DNA affinity

Glioblastoma is a highly malignant form of brain tumor. In the work described here, several substituted phenyl-guanidine derivatives were developed for application in glioblastoma treatment.

Dinuclear nickel complexes of divergent Ni⋯Ni separation showing ancillary ligand addition and bio-macromolecular interaction

Reactions of ligand HL with nickel(ii) salts produce a family of five [Ni₂] complexes of varying co-ligand environments and intermetallic separations and show prominent interactions with HSA and CT-DNA.

Water-soluble DNA minor groove binders as potential chemotherapeutic agents: synthesis, characterization, DNA binding and cleavage, antioxidation, cytotoxicity and HSA interactions

Two new water-soluble copper(ii)-dipeptide complexes: [Cu(glygly)(PyTA)]ClO4·1.5H2O (1) and [Cu(glygly)(PzTA)]ClO4·1.5H2O (2) (glygly = glycylglycine anion, PyTA = 2,4-diamino-6-(2'-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine and PzTA = 2,4-diamino-6-(2'-pyrazino)-1,3,5-triazine), utilizing two interrelated DNA base-like ligands (PyTA and PzTA), have been synthesized and characterized. The structure elucidation for 1 performed by single crystal X-ray diffraction showed a one dimensional chain conformation in which the central copper ions arrange in a five-coordinate distorted square-pyramidal geometry. Spectroscopic titration, viscosity and electrophoresis measurements revealed that the complexes bound to DNA via an outside groove binding mode, and cleaved pBR322 DNA efficiently in the presence of ascorbate, probably via an oxidative mechanism with the involvement of ˙OH and ˙O2(-). Notably, the complexes exhibited considerable in vitro cytotoxicity against four human carcinoma cell lines (HepG2, HeLa, A549 and U87) with IC50 values ranging from 41.68 to 159.17 μM, in addition to their excellent SOD mimics (IC50 ~ 0.091 and 0.114 μM). Besides, multispectroscopic evidence suggested their HSA-binding at the cavity containing Trp-214 in subdomain IIA with moderate affinity, mainly via hydrophobic interaction. Further, the molecular docking technique utilized for ascertaining the mechanism and mode of action towards DNA and HSA theoretically verified the experimental results.

Zn(ii) complex with 2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde selenosemicarbazone: synthesis, structure, interaction studies with DNA/HSA, molecular docking and caspase-8 and -9 independent apoptose induction

A new Zn(ii)-based complex shows a concentration-dependent apoptotic response in highly resistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells with extensive activation of caspase-8 and -9.

Synthesis and crystal structure determination of a mononuclear cobalt(ii) complex derived from 4-(pyridin-4-ylmethoxy)-benzoic acid: evaluation of the DNA/protein interaction and photo-induced pBR322 DNA cleavage

New Co(ii)-based chemotherapeutic drug candidate was synthesized and thoroughly characterized by spectroscopic, analytical and single crystal X-ray techniques.

Zn(ii) and Cu(ii) complexes containing bioactive O,O-chelated ligands: homoleptic and heteroleptic metal-based biomolecules

Zn(ii) or Cu(ii) highly stable complexes with chelated O,O-donor ligands from natural extractions give rise to drug delivery systems, new biologically active complexes and potential diagnostic agents due to their intrinsic spectroscopic properties.

Four related mixed-ligand nickel(ii) complexes: effect of steric encumbrance on the structure, DNA/BSA binding, DNA cleavage and cytotoxicity

Four new interrelated mixed-ligand nickel(ii) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The activities of DNA binding/cleavage, BSA binding with complexes and the vitro cytotoxicity also have been explored.

Significant differences in the biological activity of mononuclear Cu(ii) and Ni(ii) complexes with the polyquinolinyl ligand

The difference in the redox activity of metal ions Cu(ii) and Ni(ii) results in some discrepancy in the biological activity of their complexes.

Bovine Serum Albumin Interactions with Metal Complexes

The continuous search for new molecules with therapeutic abilities has led to the synthesis and characterization of a large number of metal complexes, proven to exhibit potential as pharmacological agents through their antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antineoplastic properties. As serum albumins play a key role in drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, the study of coordination compounds affinity towards this class of proteins, as well as understanding the mechanism through which they interact is crucial. The aim of this review is to focus on the structure and biological functions of bovine serum albumin, the design of metal complexes that are able to bind to the biomolecule, as well as the experimental techniques employed in the study and evaluation of these interactions.

Synthesis, characterization, and biological activities of two Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with one polyquinoline ligand

Two new complexes, [CuLCl]ClO4 (1) and [Zn2L2SO4(H2O)2](ClO4)2 (2) [L=N,N-bis(quinolin-2-ylmethyl)quinolin-8-amine], have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The interactions of two complexes with CT-DNA have been investigated by UV absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, viscosity measurements and gel electrophoresis under physiological conditions. Results show that the complexes bind to CT-DNA with a moderate intercalative mode and exhibit efficient DNA cleavage activity on UV-A light of 365 nm. Furthermore, two complexes could quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA in a static quenching process based on BSA binding experiments. Notably, in vitro cytotoxicity study of two complexes on four human tumor cells lines (7404, HeLa, MCF-7, and HepG-2) indicate that both of them have the potential to act as effective anticancer drugs with low IC50 values.

Synthesis, structure elucidation and DFT studies of a new coumarin-derived Zn(ii) complex: in vitro DNA/HSA binding profile and pBR322 cleavage pathway

A new mononuclear coumarin-derived Zn(ii) complex was designed and synthesized, and its interactions with DNA and protein were analyzed.

Zinc (II) complex with a cationic Schiff base ligand: synthesis, characterization, and biological studies

A cationic Schiff base ligand, TSB (L) and its Zn (II) complex (1) were synthesized and characterized by using CHN, (1)H-NMR, FT-IR, UV, LC-MS, and X-ray methods. Their ability to inhibit topoisomerase I, DNA cleavage activities, and cytotoxicity were studied. X-ray diffraction study shows that the mononuclear complex 1 is four coordinated with distorted tetrahedral geometry. The singly deprotonated Schiff base ligand L acts as a bidentate ON-donor ligand. Complexation of L increases the inhibitory strength on topoisomerase I activity. Complex 1 could fully inhibit topoisomerase I activity at 250 μM, while L did not show any inhibitory effect on topoisomerase I activity. In addition, L and complex 1 could cleave pBR322 DNA in a concentration and time dependent profile. Surprisingly, L has better DNA cleavage activity than complex 1. The cleavage of DNA by complex 1 is altered in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, L and complex 1 are mildly cytotoxic towards human ovarian cancer A2780 and hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2.

Alpha-lipoic acid-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier: sustained release and biocompatibility to HaCaT cells in vitro

ALA-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier (ALA-NLC) was designed to improve physicochemical stability and water solubility, and promote sustained release of ALA as well as determine the biocompatibility of ALA-NLC. The ALA-NLC manufactured using hot high-pressure homogenization technique was investigated in terms of size, zeta potential, FTIR analysis and release behavior. In vitro cytotoxicity and biocompatibility were determined by incubating with HaCaT cells using the MTT assay, HE staining and Hoechst 33342 staining. Cell behavior and cellular division of HaCaT cells untreated and treated by ALA-NLC were investigated in real-time images gathered using time-lapse imaging system. The release investigation illustrated that only 6.9% of ALA released in 30 min from ALA-NLC formation, whereas it was 30.3% in free ALA system. ALA-NLC possessed a satisfactory release behavior of sustained release up to 72 h. It showed that ALA-NLC did not exert hazardous effect on HaCaT cells up to 81.9 mg/L without morphological alterations, revealing a satisfactory biocompatibility. Evidence was provided from time-lapse imaging system that cell behavior and cellular division of ALA-NLC treated HaCaT cells were in accordance with the control. These results of this investigation demonstrated that NLC encapsulated ALA formation (ALA-NLC) can improve stability, solubility and release of ALA; ALA-NLC was biocompatible to HaCaT cells.

Improving the bioactivity of Zn(II)-curcumin based complexes

New Zn(II)-curcumin based heteroleptic complexes (1-5) have been synthesized and fully characterized, with the aim to improve the bioactivity of the precursor derivative [(bpy-9)Zn(curc)Cl] (A), a potentially intercalating antitumor agent recently reported. Some structural changes have been made starting from the reference complex A, in order to introduce new functionalities, such as electrostatic and/or covalent interactions. In particular, keeping the same N,N chelating ligand, namely bpy-9, two completely different Zn(II) species have been obtained: a tetracoordinated Zn(II) cation with tetrafluoroborate as counterion (1) and a dimeric neutral complex in which the sulfate anion acts as a bridging group through two Zn(II) centres (2). Moreover, by changing the N,N chelating unit, [(L(n))Zn(curc)Cl] complexes (3-5), in which the Zn(II) ion shows the same pentacoordination seen in the precursor complex A, have been obtained. The antitumour activity of all new Zn(II) complexes was tested in vitro against the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y in a biohybrid membrane system and the results indicate that all species exhibit strong cytotoxic activity. In particular the ionic tetrafluoroborate Zn(II) complex, 1, and the neutral phenanthroline based Zn(II) derivative, 4, show the strongest growth inhibition, being even more effective than the model complex A. Both complexes have a dose-dependent anti-proliferative effect on cells as demonstrated by the decrease of viability and the increase of Annexin V and PI-positive cells with the increase of their concentration. Cells treated with complexes 1 and 4 undergo apoptosis that involves the activation of JNK, caspase 3 and MMP changes. Finally, complex 1 is more effective in the induction of caspase-3 activation demonstrating its ability to trigger the execution-phase of cell apoptosis.