Biomolecular affinities and cytotoxicity of copper(I) and silver(I) phosphine–pyridinyl complexes against CACO-2 and CASKI cell lines

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Date

2025

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Publisher

John Wiley and Sons Inc

Abstract

A series of three copper (I) and three silver (I) complexes with the general formula [M L(PPh3)2]NO3, (M = Cu for complexes 1–3 and Ag for complexes 4–6) are synthesized by reacting copper(I) or silver(I)-nitrate and triphenylphosphine with the bidentate ligands, (E)-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-N-(o-tolyl)methanimine L1, (E)-N-isopropyl-1-(pyridine-2-yl)methanimine L2, or (E)-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-1-(pyridine-2-yl)methanimine L3. The structures of these complexes are elucidated using a combination of NMR spectroscopy, FTIR, UV–visible, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analysis revealed that the Schiff bases coordinate to the metal centers in a bidentate fashion, with triphenylphosphine occupying the remaining coordination sites in complexes 1, 2, and 5. In contrast, in complexes 3, 4, and 6, one coordination site is occupied by a nitrate anion instead of triphenylphosphine. All six complexes exhibit a distorted tetrahedral geometry around the metal center, as confirmed by τ4 values ranging from 0.54 to 0.87. Binding studies with calf-thymus DNA demonstrated that complexes 1–6 interact via intercalation, with complex 5 exhibiting the highest binding constant. Furthermore, all complexes showed strong binding affinity toward bovine serum albumin. Cytotoxicity studies revealed significant cytotoxicity of complexes 1–6 against human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) and human cervical epidermoid carcinoma (Caski) cell lines.

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Keywords

CT-DNA intercalation, cytotoxicity, pyridinyl schiff bases, triphenylphosphine

Citation

Adeleke, A.A., Meyer, M.D., Sibuyi, N.R., Onani, M.O. and Omondi, B., 2025. Biomolecular Affinities and Cytotoxicity of Copper (I) and Silver (I) Phosphine–Pyridinyl Complexes Against CACO‐2 and CASKI Cell Lines. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 28(15), p.e202500123.