Synthesis, anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing studies of palladacycles containing a diphosphine and a Sn,As-based chelate ligand

Dalton Trans. 2019 Apr 16;48(16):5183-5192. doi: 10.1039/c8dt03875a.

Abstract

Cleavage of the bromide bridges in [Pd2(μ-Br)2{κ2(Sn,As)-2-MeBrSnC6F4AsPh2}2] (1) by diphosphine ligands gave the mono- and dinuclear palladacycles [Pd(L)Br{κ2(Sn,As)-2-MeBrSnC6F4AsPh2}] [L = dppe (2) dppm (3), ortho-dppBz (4)] and [Pd2Br2(para-dppBz){κ2(Sn,As)-2-MeBrSnC6F4AsPh2}2] (5). The interactions of these complexes with DNA (CT-DNA) and proteins (human serum albumin) were studied by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The results confirmed the interaction of these palladium complexes with CT-DNA through groove binding, and their strong binding affinity to HSA. The anti-proliferative activities of complexes 1-5 were tested against four human cancer cell lines (HeLa, A549, PC-3, and HT1080) and normal keratinocytes (HaCaT). Among the series, the palladium(ii) complex containing the 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene ligand (4) showed the highest cytotoxicity against HeLa, PC-3 and HT1080 cells, with IC50 values of 0.25 ± 0.08, 0.85 ± 0.11, and 0.66 ± 0.15 μM, respectively. Interestingly, compound 4 exhibited lower cytotoxic activity toward normal HaCaT cells (IC50 = 4.65 ± 0.16 μM). Additionally, this complex exhibited lower toxicity and better anti-cancer activity than cisplatin. Further mechanistic studies, including Hoechst staining and flow cytometry, confirmed that complex 4 induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death in HeLa cells.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Arsenic / chemistry
  • Arsenic / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Chelating Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Chelating Agents / chemistry
  • Chelating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Structure
  • Palladium / chemistry
  • Palladium / pharmacology
  • Phosphines / chemistry
  • Phosphines / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tin / chemistry
  • Tin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Chelating Agents
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Ligands
  • Phosphines
  • Palladium
  • Tin
  • Arsenic