Synthesis, structure, and biological properties of Cu(II) complexes based on diimine ligands

Three copper(II) complexes, [Cu(phen)(2)Cl](3,5-DNB) (3,5-HDNB) (1), [Cu(phen)(4-NB)(2) (H2O)] (2), and [Cu(2,2' -bipy)(4-NB)(2)(H2O)] (3), [phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2' -bipy = 2,2' -bipyridine, 3,5-DNB = 3,5dinitrobenzoate anion, 3,5-HDNB = 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid, 4-NB = 4-nitrobenzoate], have been synthesized and characterized. The interactions between three complexes and HS-DNA/BSA were determined by UV and fluorescence spectra. The results suggest that these copper(II) complexes interact with HS-DNA in an intercalative way and quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA via a static mechanism. The fluorescence data also indicated the complexes exhibited good binding propensity to BSA and the binding site available on BSA for the complexes was only one. The antiproliferative activity of the three complexes against several tumor cell lines (MCF-7, HepG-2, A549, and HeLa) was tested by MTT method. Three complexes displayed cytotoxicity against four tumor cells, but complex 3 is less cytotoxic than complexes 1-2. Moreover, the apoptosis was measured by the Annexin-V/PI double staining methods and the results demonstrated that complex 1 and 2 could induce apoptosis in MCF-7 and HeLa cells, respectively. (c) 2022ElsevierB.V. Allrightsreserved.