Experimental and computational studies of silver(I) dibenzoylmethane-based complexes, interaction with DNA/RNA/BSA biomolecules, and in vitro cytotoxic activity

Two silver(I) complexes of composition [Ag₂(L)₂] (1) and [Ag(L)(PPh₃)₂](2) (HL = dibenzoyl- methane, PPh₃ = triphenylphosphine) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, NMR, XRPD, and UV-visible spectra. The molecular structures of the studied ligands and Ag(I) complexes have been characterized using Density Function Theory (DFT) calculations. This analysis has enabled us to determine the reactivity and the coordination site(s) for each ligand. Ag(I) ion is found to be coordinated with the ligand's oxygens in almost a linear fashion in complex (1), while in complex (2) it adopts a tetrahedral geometry. The interaction compounds with biomolecules; calf thymus (ct DNA), yeast-tRNA, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated using both absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The in vitro cytotoxic studies of the complexes against normal human lung fibroblast (WI38), cancerous breast (MDA-MB-231), mammary gland breast (MCF7), hepatocellular (HePG2), and prostate (PC3) cell lines indicated that the complexes are highly toxic to the cancer cells but less toxic towards the normal one when compared with the ligand. Flow cytometric results showed that complex (1) induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, and complex (2) at G2/M and S phases. Moreover, the results of apoptotic genes (caspase3 and p53) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl2) led us to suggest an apoptotic killing mechanism of cells rather than a necrotic one.

A study of structure-activity relationship and anion-controlled quinolinyl Ag(I) complexes as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents as well as their interaction with macromolecules

In this communication, we feature the synthesis and in-depth characterization of a series of silver(I) complexes obtained from the complexation of quinolin-4-yl Schiff base ligands ((E)-2-((quinolin-4-ylmethylene)amino)phenol L_a, 2-(quinolin-4-yl)benzo[d]thiazole L_b, (E)-N-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-(quinolin-4-yl)methanimine L_c, (E)-N-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(quinolin-4-yl)methanimine L_d, (E)-1-(quinolin-4-yl)-N-(p-tolyl)methanimine L_e, (E)-1-(quinolin-4-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)methanimine L_f) and three different silver(I) anions (nitrate, perchlorate and triflate). Structurally, the complexes adopted different coordination geometries, which included distorted linear or distorted tetrahedral geometry. The complexes were evaluated in vitro for their potential antibacterial and antioxidant activities. In addition, their interactions with calf thymus-DNA (CT-DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were evaluated. All the complexes had a wide spectrum of effective antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial and good antioxidant properties. The interactions of the complexes with CT-DNA and BSA were observed to occur either through intercalation or through a minor groove binder, while the interaction of the complexes with BSA reveals that some of the complexes can strongly quench the fluorescence of BSA through the static mechanism. The molecular docking studies of the complexes were also done to further elucidate the modes of interaction with CT-DNA and BSA.

In vitro investigation of biophysical interactions between Ag(I) complexes of bis(methyl)(thia/selena)salen and ct-DNA via multi-spectroscopic, physicochemical and molecular docking methods along with cytotoxicity study

Four silver(I) (Ag(I)) complexes: 1.PF₆ , 2.PF₆ , 1.ClO₄ and 2.ClO₄ of bis(methyl)thia salen (1) and bis (methyl)selena salen (2) with two different counter anions (PF₆ ^- and ClO₄ ^- ) have been investigated for DNA binding properties. In vitro interactional association between the Ag(I) complexes and ct-DNA has been examined by performing spectroscopic titrations on absorption spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectrophotometer. A competitive binding study has also been done using a fluorescence spectrophotometer with ethidium bromide as a classical intercalator. The spectroscopic methods revealed a major groove. Viscometry and agarose gel electrophoresis experiments have also been performed as physicochemical methods to confirm the binding of complex molecules with DNA. Molecular docking analysis has been executed to obtain the theoretical insight into the mode of binding. The docking study demonstrated the major groove binding of all four complexes to the DNA with electrostatic metal-phosphate interactions (between the metal and the backbone of DNA) and hydrophobic interactions. Cytotoxicity of the complexes has been studied on the Human Fibroblast foreskin (HFF) cell line. The cytotoxicity results showed positive gesture for moving ahead to the next level of screening; the values were above 10 μM which are appreciated for the normal cell lines.

Quinoline Functionalized Schiff Base Silver (I) Complexes: Interactions with Biomolecules and In Vitro Cytotoxicity, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

A series of fifteen silver (I) quinoline complexes Q1-Q15 have been synthesized and studied for their biological activities. Q1-Q15 were synthesized from the reactions of quinolinyl Schiff base derivatives L1-L5 (obtained by condensing 2-quinolinecarboxaldehyde with various aniline derivatives) with AgNO₃, AgClO₄ and AgCF₃SO₃. Q1-Q15 were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and the structures of [Ag(L1)₂]NO₃Q1, [Ag(L1)₂]ClO₄Q6, [Ag(L2)₂]ClO₄Q7, [Ag(L2)₂]CF₃SO₃Q12 and [Ag(L4)₂]CF₃SO₃Q14 were unequivocally determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In vitro antimicrobial tests against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria revealed the influence of structure and anion on the complexes' moderate to excellent antibacterial activity. In vitro antioxidant activities of the complexes showed their good radical scavenging activity in ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Complexes with the fluorine substituent or the thiophene or benzothiazole moieties are more potent with IC₅₀ between 0.95 and 2.22 mg/mL than the standard used, ascorbic acid (2.68 mg/mL). The compounds showed a strong binding affinity with calf thymus-DNA via an intercalation mode and protein through a static quenching mechanism. Cytotoxicity activity was examined against three carcinoma cell lines (HELA, MDA-MB231, and SHSY5Y). [Ag(L2)₂]ClO₄Q7 with a benzothiazole moiety and [Ag(L4)₂]ClO₄Q9 with a methyl substituent had excellent cytotoxicity against HELA cells.

4′-(5-N-Propylthiophen-2-yl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine

A new thiophene-substituted terpyridine derivative has been prepared through the reaction between 5-n-propylthiophene-2-carboxaldehyde and 2-acetylpyridine. This terpyridine derivative bears an alkyl chain linked via a thiophene heterocycle.

Evaluation of substituent bioactivity and anion impact of linear and T-shaped silver(i) pyridinyl complexes as potential antiproliferative, antioxidant, antimicrobial agents and DNA- and BSA-binders

The impact of ligand substituents and anion variation on the bio-activity of pyridinyl Ag(I) complexes was evaluated. The complexes showed potential therapeutic ability with notable anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities.

Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of a pyrazoline-pyridine silver(I) complex: DNA-interaction and anti-biofilm activity

The emergence of resistant bacterial strains mainly due to misuse of antibiotics has seriously affected our ability to treat bacterial illness, and the development of new classes of potent antimicrobial agents is desperately needed. In this study, we report the efficient synthesis of a new pyrazoline-pyridine containing ligand L1 which acts as an NN-donor for the formation of a novel silver (I) complex 2. The free ligand did not show antibacterial activity. High potency was exhibited by the complex against three Gram-negative bacteria, namely Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging between 4 and 16 μg/mL (4.2-16.7 μM), and excellent activity against the fungi Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans (MIC ≤ 0.25 μg/mL = 0.26 μM). Moreover, no hemolytic activity within the tested concentration range was observed. In addition to the planktonic growth inhibition, the biofilm formation of both Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was significantly reduced by the complex at MIC concentrations in a dose-dependent manner for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, whereas a biphasic response was obtained for MRSA showing that the sub-MIC doses enhanced biofilm formation before its reduction at higher concentration. Finally, complex 2 exhibited strong DNA binding with a large drop in DNA viscosity indicating the absence of classical intercalation and suggesting the participation of the silver ion in DNA binding which may be related to its antibacterial activity. Taken together, the current results reveal that the pyrazoline-pyridine silver complexes are of high interest as novel antibacterial agents, justifying further in vitro and in vivo investigation.

Crystal structure of chlorido-(η 5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)-(4-chloro-4-pyridyl-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-κ2N,N′) rhodium(III) hexaflourophosphate, C31H29Cl2F6N3PRh

C31H29Cl2F6N3PRh, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 7.4069(7) Å, b = 13.245(1) Å, c = 32.141(3) Å, β = 93.924(2)°, V = 3145.8(5) Å3, Z = 4, R gt(F) = 0.0386, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0962, T = 123.15 K.

Aryl variation and anion effect on CT-DNA binding and in vitro biological studies of pyridinyl Ag(I) complexes

Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of five ligands ((E)-2-((pyridin-2-ylmethylene)amino)phenol L1, 2-(pyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]thiazole L2, (E)-N-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)methanimine L3, (E)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-N-(p-tolyl)methanimine L4 and (E)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)methanimine L5 along with fifteen silver(I) complexes of L1 - L5, with a general formula [AgL₂]⁺X^- (L = Schiff base and X = NO₃^-, ClO₄^- or CF₃SO₃^-) is reported. The structures of complexes [Ag(L4)₂]NO₃, [Ag(L5)₂]NO₃, [Ag(L3)₂]ClO₄, [Ag(L4)₂]ClO₄ and [Ag(L5)₂]CF₃SO₃ were determined unequivocally by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Calf-thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (CT-DNA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) binding studies, antioxidant, and antibacterial studies were performed for all complexes. Complexes [Ag(L2)₂]NO₃, [Ag(L5)₂]NO₃, [Ag(L1)₂]ClO₄ and [Ag(L3)₂]ClO₄ whose ligands have an OH^- and F^- as substituents or with a thiophene or thiazole moiety showed better antibacterial activities with lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values compared to the standard ciprofloxacin, against most of the bacterial strains tested. Similarly, complexes [Ag(L1)₂]NO_3,[Ag(L2)₂]NO_3,[Ag(L3)₂]NO₃ and [Ag(L5)₂]NO₃ with the NO₃^- anion, [Ag(L1)₂]ClO₄ and [Ag(L2)₂]ClO₄ with ClO₄^- anion, and [Ag(L5)₂]CF₃SO₃ with CF₃SO₃^- anion showed higher activities for antioxidant studies. Complexes [Ag(L4)₂]ClO₄ and [Ag(L4)₂]CF₃SO₃ with the Methyl substituent and CF₃SO₃^- as the anion, displayed high antioxidant activities in FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) than the standard ascorbic acid. Spectroscopic studies of all the complexes revealed their moderate to high interaction with calf thymus DNA via an intercalation mode. In addition, the relatively moderate interaction of most of the complexes with BSA was through a static quenching mechanism.

4′-(N-(Propan-1,2-dienyl)pyrrol-2-yl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine

A new pyrrole-substituted terpyridine derivative that possesses an allene moiety was obtained as an “unexpected” sole product during an attempt to alkylate the N-atom of pyrrole with propargyl bromide in order to obtain an alkyne-functionalized terpyridine.

Electro- and photoelectro-catalysts derived from bimetallic amorphous metal–organic frameworks

It is developed a synthesis method for the design of new bimetallic amorphous MOFs. Such frameworks serve as precursors to prepare high-performance electro- and photoelectro-catalysts for ORR, OER and HER in both acidic and alkaline media.