Spectroscopic, cytotoxicity and molecular docking studies on the interaction between 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derived Schiff bases with bovine serum albumin

Antibacterial and cytotoxicity studies of pyrrolo-based organic scaffolds and their binding interaction with bovine serum albumin

Two pyrrolo-based compounds, 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine-3-carboxylic acid (L1) and 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridine-4-carboxylic acid (L2), were employed for the detection of bovine serum albumin (BSA) by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopic methods in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7). In the presence of L1 and L2, the fluorescence emission of BSA at 340 nm was quenched and concomitantly a red-shifted emission band appeared at 420 nm (L1)/450 nm (L2). The fluorescence spectral changes indicate the protein-ligand complex formation between BSA and L1/L2. An isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiment was conducted to determine the binding ability between BSA and L1/L2. The binding constants are found to be 4.45 ± 0.22 × 104 M-1 for L1 and 2.29 ± 0.11 × 104 M-1 for L2, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters were calculated from ITC measurements (i.e. ∆rH = -40 ± 2 kcal/mol, ∆rG = -4.57 ± 0.22 kcal/mol and -T∆rS = 35.4 ± 1.77 kcal/mol), which indicated that the protein-ligand complex formation between L1/L2 with BSA is mainly due to the electrostatic interactions. The protein-ligand interactions were studied by performing molecular docking. Further, the antibacterial assay of L1 and L2 was conducted against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains in an effort to address the difficulties caused by the co-occurrence of antimicrobial and multidrug-resistant bacteria. E. coli and S. aureus were significantly inhibited by L1 and L2. The L1 exhibits 13, 12 and 15 mm, whereas L2 exhibits a 2, 3 and 5 mm zone of inhibition against S. aureus, S. pyogenes and E. coli, respectively. In silico molecular docking of L1 and L2 was performed with bacterial DNA gyrase to establish the intermolecular interactions. Finally, the in vitro cytotoxicity activities of the ligands L1 and L2 have been carried out using drosophila.

Rapid Colorimetric and Fluorometric Discrimination of Maleic Acid vs. Fumaric Acid and Detection of Maleic Acid in Food Additives

An anthracene thiazole based Schiff base L was synthesized and employed for fluorescence switch-on detection of maleic acid in aqueous DMSO. The non-fluorescent L (10-5 M) showed an instantaneous and selective fluorescence enhancement at 506 nm upon interaction with maleic acid (10-5 M). Other potential carboxylic acids (10-5 M), such as malic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, cinnamic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, oxalic acid and malonic acid failed to alter the chromo-fluorogenic properties of L. Probe L can be employed to detect maleic acid down to 2.74 × 10-6 M. The probe L showed good linearity from 2.97 to 6.87 µM. Analytical utility of L was examined by detecting maleic acid in various food additives and drosophila larvae.

Protein interactions, molecular docking, antimicrobial and antifungal studies of terpyridine ligands

Resistance to antibiotics/antibacterials/antifungals in pathogenic microbes has been developing over the past few decades and has recently become a commonplace public-health peril. Thus, alternative nontoxic potent antibiotic agents are covertly needed to control antibiotic-resistant outbreaks. In an effort to combat the challenges posed by the co-occurrence of multidrug resistance, two terpyridine ligands 4'-(4-N,N'-dimethylaminophenyl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (L1) and 4'-(4-tolyl)-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine (L2) have been designed, prepared and confirmed their structure by spectral studies. Thereafter, antimicrobial assay was performed against gram positive and negative bacterial strains along with fungal strains. Both compounds L1 and L2 exhibited remarkable inhibitory activities against bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at MIC values 6.25 and 3.125 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, in silico molecular docking studies were ascertained with bacterial DNA gyrase and fungal demethylase. Furthermore, both L1 and L2 could bind Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) protein and binding interaction has been studied with the help of UV-Visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. While fluorescence of BSA unperturbed in the presence of L2, an addition of L1 to the solution of BSA resulted significant quenching. The binding constant calculations at different temperature confirmed that the fluorescence quenching between BSA and L1 is predominantly static in nature. The toxicity of L1 and L2 was checked using Drosophila melanogaster. The toxicity analysis suggest both the dyes are non-cytotoxic in nature.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Anticancer Behavior of Pyrrolidine-Based Palladium(II) Complexes and Biophysical Approach on Their DNA, BSA Binding Activity, Molecular Docking, and DFT Study

A series of pyrrolidine-based Pd(II) complexes, [Pd(AEP)Cl2] (C-1), [Pd(AEP)(OH2)2]2+(C-2), [Pd(AEP)(L-cys)]+ (C-3), [Pd(AEP)(N-ac-L-cys)] (C-4), [Pd(AEP)(GSH)] (C-5), and [Pd(AEP)(DL-meth)]2+ (C-6) (where, AEP = 1-(2-aminoethyl)pyrrolidine, L-cys = l-cysteine, N-ac-L-cys = N-acetyl-l-cysteine, GSH = glutathione, and DL-meth = dl-methionine), as anticancer drug candidates have been synthesized and characterized. The DNA binding property of the complexes was executed by gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometric and viscometric methods, and their interaction with BSA was also investigated by various spectroscopic methodologies. The binding activity of the Pd(II) complexes with DNA and BSA were assessed to evaluate their binding mode and binding constants. Molecular docking was performed to correlate with the experimental results on the interaction of the complexes with DNA and BSA. The changes in the microenvironmental and structural properties of BSA are monitored by a synchronous and 3D fluorescence study. The structural properties were evaluated by DFT and TD-DFT studies. The anticarcinogenic activity of the Pd(II) complexes was assessed by PASS prediction software to corroborate with the experimental results of the anticancer activity of the complexes. The ROS generation in cancer cell lines has been investigated, and the cell death mechanism through apoptosis was confirmed by measuring the protein expression. All these complexes have excellent anticancer activity compared to ancillary ligands. The cancer cell line (HCT116) shows almost similar or better cell inhibition activity when treated with the Pd(II) complexes compared to cisplatin, whereas the adverse effect is minimum on a normal cell (NKE). Both the Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes carrying the same ligands reveal almost similar antiproliferative activity.

Ratiometric colorimetric detection of fluoride ions using a schiff base sensor: enhancing selectivity and sensitivity for naked-eye analysis

A Schiff base receptor with an active -NH group was designed and synthesized for the selective and sensitive colorimetric detection of inorganic fluoride (F^-) ions in an aqueous medium. The sensitivity of the receptor for F^- ions was enhanced by the influence of two electron-withdrawing -NO₂ groups at ortho and para positions which result in a vivid color change. The receptor underwent a remarkable color change from light yellow to violet, enabling naked-eye detection of F^- ions without the need for spectroscopic equipment. To ensure the structural integrity of the synthesized receptors, prominent spectroscopic techniques such as ¹H NMR, FTIR, and GCMS analysis were used for characterization. With a limit of detection (LoD) of 0.0996 ppm, a 1 : 2 stoichiometric binding ratio was observed for receptor and F^- ions. The binding mechanism confirmed the deprotonation of the -NH group followed by the formation of -HF₂, resulting in an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) transition, which correlates with UV-vis and ¹H NMR titration results. In addition, the proposed binding mechanism of F^- ion interaction with the receptor was theoretically validated using DFT and TDDFT calculations. Furthermore, as a real-life implementation of the receptor, quantification of the F^- ions present in a commercially available mouthwash was demonstrated. To assess the sensitivity performance, a paper-based dip sensor and a solid substrate sensor by functionalizing the receptor on diatomaceous earth were demonstrated. Finally, sensors were built into smartphones that could recognize the red, green, and blue percentages (RGB%) where each parameter defines the intensity of the color, which could also be used as a supplement to the colorimetric investigations.

Silver(I) pyridinyl complexes with benzothiazole, thiophene, and furan moieties: DNA/protein-binding, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer studies

We have synthesized and characterized nine Ag(I) complexes of Schiff bases containing thiophene, furan, and pyridine moieties for in vitro antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer activities, and DNA/bovine serum albumin (BSA) binding studies. Based on the analytical and spectral analyses, a linear geometry was proposed for all the Ag(I) complexes, except for one (with the furan moiety), which formed a distorted T-shaped geometry. UV-vis absorption studies on the interactions of calf thymus-DNA (CT-DNA) with the nine Ag(I) complexes pointed to an intercalative binding mode. With a binding constant K_b of 3.75 × 10⁵ M^-1 , the complex bearing a benzothiazole moiety (1) interacted stronger with CT-DNA than the rest of the complexes. Fluorescence spectroscopic data revealed that the complexes had a modest binding affinity for BSA through static quenching. The complexes displayed good antioxidant properties, especially those with a benzothiazole moiety. Notable antibacterial activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were observed for complexes with the furan and thiophene moieties. The in vitro anticancer studies of selected complexes against three cancer cell lines showed that the complexes were more effective against the inhibition of the growth of cervical cancer cells relative to cisplatin.

Iridium(III)-Cp*-(imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)phenol analogues as hypoxia active, GSH-resistant cancer cytoselective and mitochondria-targeting cancer stem cell therapeutic agents

Herein, we have introduced a series of iridium(III)-Cp*-(imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)phenol complexes via a convenient synthetic methodology, which act as hypoxia active and glutathione-resistant anticancer metallotherapeutics. The [Ir^III(Cp*)(L5)(Cl)](PF₆) (IrL5) complex exhibited the best cytoselectivity, GSH resistance and hypoxia effectivity in HeLa and Caco-2 cells among the synthesized complexes. IrL5 also exhibited highly cytotoxic effects on the HCT-116 CSC cell line. This complex was localized in the mitochondria and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction was observed via MMP alteration and ROS generation on colorectal cancer stem cells. Cell cycle analysis also established the potential of this complex in mediating G2/M phase cell cycle arrest.