Palladium(II) complexes as biologically potent metallo-drugs: synthesis, spectral characterization, DNA interaction studies and antibacterial activity

Mechanistic insights into the anti-cancer activity of the PEGylated binuclear palladacycle, BTC2, against triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a low five-year survival rate, especially if the cancer is diagnosed at a late stage and has already metastasized beyond the breast tissue. Current chemotherapeutic options for TNBC rely on traditional platinum-containing drugs like cisplatin, oxaliplatin and carboplatin. Unfortunately, these drugs are indiscriminately toxic, resulting in severe side effects and the development of drug resistance. Palladium compounds have shown to be viable alternatives to platinum complexes since they are less toxic and have displayed selectivity towards the TNBC cell lines. Here we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of a series of binuclear benzylidene palladacycles with varying phosphine bridging ligands. From this series we have identified BTC2 to be more soluble (28.38-56.77 μg/mL) and less toxic than its predecessor, AJ5, while maintaining its anticancer properties (IC₅₀ (MDA-MB-231) = 0.58 ± 0.012 μM). To complement the previous cell death pathway study of BTC2, we investigated the DNA and BSA binding properties of BTC2 through various spectroscopic and electrophoretic techniques, as well as molecular docking studies. We demonstrate that BTC2 displays multimodal DNA binding properties as both a partial intercalator and groove binder, with the latter being the predominant mode of action. BTC2 was also able to quench the fluorescence of BSA, thereby suggesting that the compound could be transported by albumin in mammalian cells. Molecular docking studies revealed that BTC2 is a major groove binder and binds preferentially to subdomain IIB of BSA. This study provides insight into the influence of the ligands on the activity of the binuclear palladacycles and provides much needed information on the mechanisms through which these complexes elicit their potent anticancer activity.

Non-Linear Optical Property and Biological Assays of Therapeutic Potentials Under In Vitro Conditions of Pd(II), Ag(I) and Cu(II) Complexes of 5-Diethyl amino-2-({2-[(2-hydroxy-Benzylidene)-amino]-phenylimino}-methyl)-phenol

Herein, we report facile procedures for synthesis of a new Schiff base ligand (H₂L,5-Diethylamino-2-({2-[(2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-phenylimino}-methyl)-phenol) and its Ag(I), Pd(II) and Cu(II) complexes. The structure of the H₂L ligand as well as its metal complexes was deduced based on wide range of analytical, structural and spectroscopic tools, along with theoretical evidence via density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The obtained results indicated that the Schiff base (H₂L) ligand acts as a tetradentate N₂O₂ donor with two azomethine nitrogen’s (N1, N2) and two deprotonated phenolic oxygens (O1, O2) atoms. A distorted octahedral structure is assigned to [CuL(OH₂)₂]·3/2H₂O complex and square planar structure for PdL and AgL complexes. The electronic structure and non-linear optical (NLO) property of the prepared compounds were discussed theoretically by the B3LYP/GENECP program. Results revealed that all complexes have non-planner geometries as indicated from the dihedral angles. The charge transfer occurs within the synthesized complexes as indicated from the calculated energy gap between HOMO and LUMO energies. The H₂L ligand and its complexes are excellent candidates for NLO materials as implied from their hyperpolarizabilities and polarizabilities values. The biological activities of the prepared complexes against selected microorganisms and cancer cell lines gave good growth inhibitory effect. The biocidal potencies of the ligand and its complexes can be arranged as follows: AgL > CuL > PdL > H₂L, as compared to the used standard drugs. The antiproliferative activity of the studied complexes against different carcinoma cell lines such as liver (Hep-G2), breast (MCF-7) and colon (HCT-116) followed the order H₂L < AgL< PdL < CuL < vinblastine. Probing the binding interactions of prepared complexes with calf thymus (CT)-DNA using electronic absorption, gel electrophoresis and viscosity measurements revealed strong interaction via intercalation modes, as also evidenced by their molecular docking study.

Antimicrobial and Antifungal Activities of Terpene-Derived Palladium Complexes

In an era of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections overshadowed by a lack of innovation in the antimicrobial drug development pipeline, there has been a resurgence in multidisciplinary approaches aimed at tackling this global health problem. One such approach is to use metal complexes as a framework for new antimicrobials. Indeed, in this context, bismuth-, silver- and gold-derived compounds in particular have displayed demonstrable antimicrobial activity. In this work, we discuss the antimicrobial and antifungal activities of terpene-derived chiral palladium complexes against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. It was established that all studied coordination compounds of palladium were highly active antifungal drugs. In contrast, the subset of palladacycles possessing a palladium–carbon bond were only active against the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. All compounds were inactive against the Gram-negative bacteria tested.

Characterization by Potentiometric Procedures of the Stability Constants of the Binary and Ternary Complexes of Cu(II) and Duloxetine Drug with Amino Acids

Potentiometric titration method has been used to define stoichiometries and stability constants of ternary complexes of Cu(II) with duloxetine (D) and some selected amino acids (L). The protonation constants of the ligands and the stability constants of the binary and ternary complexes of Cu(II) with the ligands were calculated from the potentiometric data using the HYPERQUAD program. The formation constants of the complexes formed in aqueous solutions and their concentration distributions as a function of pH were evaluated at 25°C and ionic strength 0.10 mol·L−1 NaNO3. Respective stabilities of ternary complexes have been determined compared with the corresponding binary complexes in terms of Δlog  K and %R.S. values. A novel binary and ternary duloxetine (D) drug with glycine and its Cu(II) complexes has been synthesized and characterized by several spectroscopic methods. Electronic spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal square planar geometry for both complexes. The elemental analyses and mass spectral data have justified the [Cu(D)(Gly)] and [Cu(D)Cl(H2O)] composition of complexes, where D = duloxetine and Gly = glycine. The EPR spectra of Cu(II) complexes support the mononuclear structures. Thermal properties and decomposition kinetics of Cu(II) complexes are investigated.

Heterocyclic Schiff base transition metal complexes in antimicrobial and anticancer chemotherapy

In recent years, the number of people suffering from cancer and multidrug-resistant infections has sharply increased, leaving humanity without any choice but to search for new treatment options and strategies. Although cancer is considered the leading cause of death worldwide, it also paves the way many microbial infections and thus increases this burden manifold. Development of small molecules as anticancer and anti-microbial agents has great potential and a plethora of drugs are already available to combat these diseases. However, the wide occurrence of multidrug resistance in both cancer and microbial infections necessitates the development of new and potential molecules with desired properties that could circumvent the multidrug resistance problem. A successful strategy in anticancer chemotherapy has been the use of metallo-drugs and this strategy has the potential to be used for treating multidrug-resistant infections more efficiently. As a class of molecules, Schiff bases have been the topic of considerable interest, owing to their versatile metal chelating properties, inherent biological activities and flexibility to modify the structure to fine-tune it for a particular biological application. Schiff base-based metallo-drugs are being researched to develop new anticancer and anti-microbial chemotherapies and because both anticancer and anti-microbial targets are different, heterocyclic Schiff bases can be structurally modified to achieve the desired molecule, targeting a particular disease. In this review, we collect the most recent and relevant literature concerning the synthesis of heterocyclic Schiff base metal complexes as anticancer and anti-microbial agents and discuss the potential and future of this class of metallo-drugs as either anticancer or anti-microbial agents.

Comparative study of an osazone based ligand and its palladium(II) complex with human serum albumin: A spectroscopic, thermodynamic and molecular docking approach

An osazone based ligand, hexane-3,4-dione-bis(2'-phenylhydrazone) (LH₂), was synthesized by 1:2M Schiff base condensation of 3,4-hexanedione and phenylhydrazine in dehydrated methanol. Its palladium(II) complex (1) has also been synthesized. LH₂ and 1 have thoroughly been characterized by several spectroscopic and analytical means. DFT optimized structure of 1 shows that it is a monomeric Pd(II) complex having 'N₂Cl₂' coordination chromophore. Our BVS analysis also satisfactorily reproduces the oxidation number of the palladium center. 1 shows irreversible Pd(II)/Pd(I) reduction in its CV in methanol. 1 is three-fold more emissive than LH₂. This enhanced emission has also been supported by time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) measurements at room temperature. Human serum albumin (HSA) binding aspects of both LH₂ and 1 have been investigated through various biophysical techniques. The binding constants as determined from Benesi-Hilderbrand plot using the absorbance spectral analyses were found respectively to be 1.18×10⁵ and 4.38×10⁴M^-1 for LH₂ and 1. The experimental findings confirm that both are good HSA binders. The thermodynamic parameters (∆G°, ∆H° and ∆S°) have also been evaluated by isothermal titration calorimetric (ITC) experiments. These parameters indicate that the binding processes are spontaneous both for LH₂ and 1. Molecular docking analyses reveal that both LH₂ and 1 reside in domain-I of HSA.

From Synthesis to Biological Impact of Pd (II) Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial and Scavenging Activity

The Pd (II) complexes with a series of halosubstituted benzylamine ligands (BLs) have been synthesized and characterized with different spectroscopic technique such as FTIR, UV/Vis, LCMS, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR. Their molecular sustainability in different solvents such as DMSO, DMSO : H₂O, and DMSO : PBS at physiological condition (pH 7.2) was determined by UV/Vis spectrophotometer. The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the complexes were investigated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microbes and two different fungi indicated their significant biological potential. Additionally, their antioxidant activity has been analyzed with DPPH^• free radical through spectrophotometric method and the result inferred them as an antioxidant. The stronger antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the synthesized complexes suggested them as a stronger antimicrobial agent. Our study advances the biological importance of palladium (II) amine complexes in the field of antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

Multiaddressable molecular rectangles with reversible host-guest interactions: modulation of pH-controlled guest release and capture

A series of multiaddressable platinum(II) molecular rectangles with different rigidities and cavity sizes has been synthesized by endcapping the U-shaped diplatinum(II) terpyridine moiety with various bis-alkynyl ligands. The studies of the host-guest association with various square planar platinum(II), palladium(II), and gold(III) complexes and the related low-dimensional gold(I) complexes, most of which are potential anticancer therapeutics, have been performed. Excellent guest confinement and selectivity of the rectangular architecture have been shown. Introduction of pH-responsive functionalities to the ligand backbone generates multifunctional molecular rectangles that exhibit reversible guest release and capture on the addition of acids and bases, indicating their potential in controlled therapeutics delivery on pH modulation. The reversible host-guest interactions are found to be strongly perturbed by metal-metal and π-π interactions and to a certain extent, electrostatic interactions, giving rise to various spectroscopic changes depending on the nature of the guest molecules. Their binding mode and thermodynamic parameters have been determined by 2D NMR and van't Hoff analysis and supported by computational study.

A study of the interaction tyrosine and DNA using voltammetry and spectroscopy methods

The interaction of tyrosine (Tyr) with double stranded DNA was studied by cyclic voltammetry, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The presence of DNA on a single-walled carbon nanotubes (DNA/SWCNT/GCE) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (DNA/MWCNT/GCE) modified glassy carbon electrode showed a decrease in the current and a positive shift in the Tyr oxidation peak, indicating the intercalative interaction. The transfer coefficient (α), heterogeneous rate constant (k(s)), and surface concentration (Γ) were calculated in the absence and presence of DNA. The corresponding binding constant of Tyr with DNA and Hill coefficient were obtained from cooperative Hill model. The UV spectroscopic data confirmed the interaction between Tyr and DNA is intercalative with the binding constant of 3.98×10(3) mol(-1) L. Furthermore, the mechanism of fluorescence quenching has been discussed and the binding constant and numbers of binding sites were obtained as 3.37×10(3) mol(-1) L and 2, respectively from the Stern-Volmer plot.