Neutral and ion-pair silver(I) complexes of Schiff bases derived from methyl and ethyl carbazates with glyoxylic acid: Synthesis, structure, thermal behavior and cytotoxic activity

Silver Complexes of Miconazole and Metronidazole: Potential Candidates for Melanoma Treatment

Melanoma, arguably the deadliest form of skin cancer, is responsible for the majority of skin-cancer-related fatalities. Innovative strategies concentrate on new therapies that avoid the undesirable effects of pharmacological or medical treatment. This article discusses the chemical structures of [(MTZ)2AgNO3], [(MTZ)2Ag]2SO4, [Ag(MCZ)2NO3], [Ag(MCZ)2BF4], [Ag(MCZ)2SbF6] and [Ag(MCZ)2ClO4] (MTZ-metronidazole; MCZ-miconazole) silver(I) compounds and the possible relationship between the molecules and their cytostatic activity against melanoma cells. Molecular Hirshfeld surface analysis and computational methods were used to examine the possible association between the structure and anticancer activity of the silver(I) complexes and compare the cytotoxicity of the silver(I) complexes of metronidazole and miconazole with that of silver(I) nitrate, cisplatin, metronidazole and miconazole complexes against A375 and BJ cells. Additionally, these preliminary biological studies found the greatest IC50 values against the A375 line were demonstrated by [Ag(MCZ)2NO3] and [(MTZ)2AgNO3]. The compound [(MTZ)2AgNO3] was three-fold more toxic to the A375 cells than the reference (cisplatin) and 15 times more cytotoxic against the A375 cells than the normal BJ cells. Complexes of metronidazole with Ag(I) are considered biocompatible at a concentration below 50 µmol/L.

Rhenium Tricarbonyl Complexes of Azodicarboxylate Ligands

The excellent π-accepting azodicarboxylic esters adcOR (R = Et, iPr, tBu, Bn (CH₂-C₆H₅) and Ph) and the piperidinyl amide derivative adcpip were used as bridging chelate ligands in dinuclear Re(CO)₃ complexes [{Re(CO)₃Cl}₂(µ-adcOR)] and [{Re(CO)₃Cl}₂(µ-adcpip)]. From the adcpip ligand the mononuclear derivatives [Re(CO)₃Cl(adcpip)] and [Re(CO)₃(PPh₃)(µ-adcpip)]Cl were also obtained. Optimised geometries from density functional theory (DFT) calculations show syn and anti isomers for the dinuclear fac-Re(CO)₃ complexes at slightly different energies but they were not distinguishable from experimental IR or UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The electrochemistry of the adc complexes showed reduction potentials slightly below 0.0 V vs. the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple. Attempts to generate the radicals [{Re(CO)₃Cl}₂(µ-adcOR)]^•- failed as they are inherently unstable, losing very probably first the Cl^- coligand and then rapidly cleaving one [Re(CO)₃] fragment. Consequently, we found signals in EPR very probably due to mononuclear radical complexes [Re(CO)₃(solv)(adc)]^•. The underlying Cl^-→solvent exchange was modelled for the mononuclear [Re(CO)₃Cl(adcpip)] using DFT calculations and showed a markedly enhanced Re-Cl labilisation for the reduced compared with the neutral complex. Both the easy reduction with potentials ranging roughly from -0.2 to -0.1 V for the adc ligands and the low-energy NIR absorptions in the 700 to 850 nm range place the adc ligands with their lowest-lying π* orbital being localised on the azo function, amongst comparable bridging chelate N^N coordinating ligands with low-lying π* orbitals of central azo, tetrazine or pyrazine functions. Comparative (TD)DFT-calculations on the Re(CO)₃Cl complexes of the adcpip ligand using the quite established basis set and functionals M06-2X/def2TZVP/LANL2DZ/CPCM(THF) and the more advanced TPSSh/def2-TZVP(+def2-ECP for Re)/CPCMC(THF) for single-point calculations with BP86/def2-TZVP(+def2-ECP for Re)/CPCMC(THF) optimised geometries showed a markedly better agreement of the latter with the experimental XRD, IR and UV-Vis absorption data.

Multifunctional Silver(I) Complexes with Metronidazole Drug Reveal Antimicrobial Properties and Antitumor Activity against Human Hepatoma and Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells

Simple Summary

Our previous studies demonstrated that a silver(I) nitrate complex with metronidazole presented greater photo-stability, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and genotoxic properties than silver(I) nitrate. These advantages make the complex a better candidate for clinical therapy than pure salt. Therefore, in this study, we decided to synthetize and determine the chemical, cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of [Ag(MTZ)₂]₂SO₄, a novel metronidazole silver(I) complex, in comparison with pure salt Ag₂SO₄ and [Ag(MTZ)₂NO₃]. The photo-stability, cytotoxicity toward cancer cells and antimicrobial activity of [Ag(MTZ)₂]₂SO₄ is higher than Ag₂SO₄. What is more, we found that the novel synthetized complex shows better cytotoxicity against cancer cells than [Ag(MTZ)₂NO₃]. Both complexes have similar biological activity against the majority of tested bacterial strains.

Abstract

Silver salts and azole derivatives are well known for their antimicrobial properties. Recent evidence has demonstrated also their cytotoxic and genotoxic potential toward both normal and cancer cells. Still, little is known about the action of complexes of azoles with silver(I) salts. Thus, the goal of the study was to compare the chemical, cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of metronidazole complexes with silver(I) nitrate and silver(I) sulfate to metronidazole and pure silver(I) salts. We synthetized a novel complex, [Ag(MTZ)₂]₂SO₄, and confirmed its chemical structure and properties using ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X-Ray, IR and elemental analysis. To establish the stability of complexes [Ag(MTZ)₂NO₃] and [Ag(MTZ)₂]₂SO₄, they were exposed to daylight and UV-A rays and were visually assessed. Their cytotoxicity toward human cancer cells (HepG2, Caco-2) and mice normal fibroblasts (Balb/c 3T3 clone A31) was determined by MTT, NRU, TPC and LDH assays. The micro-dilution broth method was used to evaluate their antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A biofilm eradication study was also performed using the crystal violet method and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The photo-stability of the complexes was higher than silver(I) salts. In human cancer cells, [Ag(MTZ)₂]₂SO₄ was more cytotoxic than Ag₂SO₄ and, in turn, AgNO₃ was more cytotoxic than [Ag(MTZ)₂NO₃]. For Balb/c 3T3 cells, Ag₂SO₄ was more cytotoxic than [Ag(MTZ)₂]₂SO₄, while the cytotoxicity of AgNO₃ and [Ag(MTZ)₂NO₃] was similar. Metronidazole in the tested concentration range was non-cytotoxic for both normal and cancer cells. The complexes showed increased bioactivity against aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria when compared to metronidazole. For the majority of the tested bacterial strains, the silver(I) salts and complexes showed a higher antibacterial activity than MTZ; however, some bacterial strains presented the reverse effect. Our results showed that silver(I) complexes present higher photo-stability, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity in comparison to MTZ and, to a certain extent, to silver(I) salts.

Synthesis, Spectroscopy, Light Stability, Single-Crystal Analysis, and In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity on HepG2 Liver Cancer of Two Novel Silver(I) Complexes of Miconazole

Two novel silver(I) complexes of the biologically active ligand miconazole in the form of Ag(MCZ)₂X (MCZ = 1-[2-(2,4-dichlorobenzyloxy)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]-1H-imidazole]; X = NO₃^- (1), ClO₄^- (2)) were synthesized and fully characterized. The complexes were obtained by reactions of Ag(I) salts with miconazole (MCZ). Silver(I) complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H-NMR and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS spectrometry, and X-ray-crystallography. This work also presents a cytotoxicity study of the silver(I) complexes of miconazole and appropriate silver(I) salts using Balb/c 3T3 and HepG2 cell lines. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was assessed based on four biochemical endpoints: lysosomal activity (neutral red uptake (NRU) assay), mitochondrial activity (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay), total protein content (TPC assay), and cellular membrane integrity (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay). The cancer HepG2 cells were more sensitive to the complexes tested, and the most affected endpoint was cellular membrane damage compared to Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts. Moreover, study complexes inhibited the growth of cancer cells at submicromolecular concentrations (0.26-0.47 μM) lower than that required for the anticancer agent, cisplatin, in MTT, NRU, and TPC assays. Both complexes were characterized by higher toxicity to human cancer cells (HepG2) than silver(I) salts and the free ligand. Combination of Ag(I) salts with miconazole is associated with the marked improvement of cytotoxic activities that can be considered as the significant point in the construction of a new generation of antineoplastic agents.