Synthesis, characterization and in vitro biological activity of new zinc(II) complexes of the nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug sulindac and nitrogen‐donor ligands

Structure elucidation, in vitro binding studies and ROS-dependent anti-cancer activity of Cu(II) and Zn(II) phthaloylglycinate(phen) complexes against MDA-MB-231 cells

New mononuclear Cu(II) and Zn(II)-based complexes 1 [Cu(L)2(diimine)HOCH3] and 2 [Zn(L)2(diimine)] have been synthesized as anti-cancer chemotherapeutics targeted to tRNA. The structure elucidation of complexes 1 and 2 was carried out by spectroscopic and single X-ray diffraction studies. In vitro interaction studies of complexes 1 and 2 with ct-DNA/tRNA were performed by employing various biophysical techniques to evaluate and predict their interaction behavior and preferential selectivity at biomolecular therapeutic targets. The corroborative results of the interaction studies demonstrated that complexes 1 and 2 exhibited avid binding propensity via intercalative mode of binding toward ct-DNA/tRNA. Electrophoretic assay revealed that the complexes 1 and 2 were able to promote single- and double-strand cleavage of the plasmid DNA at low micromolar concentrations under physiological conditions in the absence of an additional oxidizing or reducing agent. RNA hydrolysis studies revealed that the complexes 1 and 2 could promote tRNA cleavage in a concentration and time-dependent manner. The cytotoxic potential of complexes 1 and 2 was evaluated against the MDA-MB-231 cell line, which showed that the complexes were able to inhibit the cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. The intracellular ROS production and mitochondrial superoxide anion assay revealed that the complexes 1 and 2 induce a dose-dependent activity, suggesting the involvement of ROS-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway leading to cell death.

Zinc phosphate-based nanoparticles as a novel antibacterial agent: in vivo study on rats after dietary exposure

Background

Development of new nanomaterials that inhibit or kill bacteria is an important and timely research topic. For example, financial losses due to infectious diseases, such as diarrhea, are a major concern in livestock productions around the world. Antimicrobial nanoparticles (NPs) represent a promising alternative to antibiotics and may lower antibiotic use and consequently spread of antibiotic resistance traits among bacteria, including pathogens.

Results

Four formulations of zinc nanoparticles (ZnA, ZnB, ZnC, and ZnD) based on phosphates with spherical (ZnA, ZnB) or irregular (ZnC, ZnD) morphology were prepared. The highest in vitro inhibitory effect of our NPs was observed against Staphylococcus aureus (inhibitory concentration values, IC₅₀, ranged from 0.5 to 1.6 mmol/L), followed by Escherichia coli (IC₅₀ 0.8-1.5 mmol/L). In contrast, methicillin resistant S. aureus (IC₅₀ 1.2-4.7 mmol/L) was least affected and this was similar to inhibitory patterns of commercial ZnO-based NPs and ZnO. After the successful in vitro testing, the in vivo study with rats based on dietary supplementation with zinc NPs was conducted. Four groups of rats were treated by 2,000 mg Zn/kg diet of ZnA, ZnB, ZnC, and ZnD, for comparison two groups were supplemented by 2,000 mg Zn/kg diet of ZnO-N and ZnO, and one group (control) was fed only by basal diet. The significantly higher (P < 0.05) Zn level in liver and kidney of all treated groups was found, nevertheless Zn NPs did not greatly influence antioxidant status of rats. However, the total aerobic and coliform bacterial population in rat feces significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in all zinc groups after 30 d of the treatment. Furthermore, when compared to the ZnO group, ZnA and ZnC nanoparticles reduced coliforms significantly more (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that phosphate-based zinc nanoparticles have the potential to act as antibiotic agents.

Synthesis, crystallographic, spectroscopic studies and biological activity of new cobalt(II) complexes with bioactive mixed sulindac and nitrogen-donor ligands

Four novel complexes [Co(H2O)4(sul)2] 1, [Co(2-ampy)2(sul)2] 2, [Co(H2O)2(1,10-phen) (sul)2] 3 and [Co(2,9-dimephen)(sul)2] 4 (sul = sulindac, 2-ampy = 2-amino pyridine, 1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,9-dimeph = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) were prepared and characterized by IR, UV-Visible spectroscopy and magnetic properties. The crystal structures of complexes 1 and 4 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In-vitro anti-bacterial activity for the prepared complexes against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Bordetella, Escherichia coli) bacteria and Yeast species (Saccharomyces and Candida) were performed using agar well-diffusion method. Only complex 4 showed reasonable activity against yeast. All compounds showed more anti-bacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative. Graphical abstract This work reports synthesis, crystallographic, spectroscopic studies and biological activity of new cobalt(II) complexes with bioactive mixed sulindac and nitrogen-donor ligands. The crystal structures of complexes 1 and 4 were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In-vitro anti-bacterial activity of the prepared complexes and their parent ligands were investigated against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using agar diffusion method.