Trávníček Z, Vančo J, Belza J, Zoppellaro G, Dvořák Z. Dinuclear copper(II) complexes with a bridging bis(chalcone) ligand reveal considerable in vitro cytotoxicity on human cancer cells and enhanced selectivity.
J Inorg Biochem 2024;
252:112481. [PMID:
38215536 DOI:
10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112481]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
A bis(chalcone) molecule (H2L) was synthesized via Aldol's condensation from terephthalaldehyde and 2'-hydroxyacetophenone and it was used as bridging ligand for the preparation of five dinuclear copper(II) complexes of the composition [Cu(NN)(μ-L)Cu(NN)](NO3)2⋅nH2O (n = 0-2) (1-5), where NN stands for a bidentate N-donor ligand such as phen (1,10-phenanthroline, 1), bpy (2,2'-bipyridine, 2), mebpy (5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-dipyridine, 3), bphen (bathophenanthroline, 4) and nphen (5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline, 5). The compounds were characterized by different suitable techniques to confirm their purity, composition, and structure. Moreover, the products were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity on a panel of human cancer cell lines: ovarian (A2780), ovarian resistant to cisplatin (A2780R), prostate (PC3), osteosarcoma (HOS), breast (MCF7) and lung (A549), and normal fibroblasts (MRC-5), showing significant cytotoxicity in most cases, with IC50 ≈ 0.35-7.8 μM. Additionally, the time-dependent cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of copper, together with flow cytometric studies concerning cell-cycle arrest, induction of cell death and autophagy and induction of intracellular ROS/superoxide production in A2780 cells, were also performed. The results of biological testing on A2780 cells pointed out a possible mechanism of action characterized by the G2/M cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis by triggering the intrinsic signalling pathway associated with the damage of mitochondrial structure and depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential. SYNOPSIS: Dinuclear Cu(II) complexes bearing a bridging bis(chalcone) ligand revealed high in vitro cytotoxicity, initiated A2780 cell arrest at G2/M phase and efficiently triggered intrinsic pathway of apoptosis.
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