Study on electrochemical behavior and in vitro anticancer effect of Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes containing pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate

• Published in: Inorganica Chimica Acta 2021-11, Vol.527, p.120549, Article 120549
• Main Authors: Abdolmaleki, Sara, Ghadermazi, Mohammad, Aliabadi, Alireza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: (X-ray) crystal structure; 6-Dicarboxylic acid; Amines; Aminobenzimidazole; Anticancer properties; Argon; Cancer cell; Colon; Coordination complexes; Cytotoxicity; Electrochemical analysis; Lymphocytes; Mitochondrial membrane potential; Pyridine dicarboxylate; Pyridine-2; Silver chloride; Single crystals; Three dimensional models; Zinc
• ISSN: 0020-1693; 1873-3255
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2021.120549

Two new Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes were synthesized through a one-pot reaction between metal salts and organic ligands. The disordered octahedral arrangement was suggested through single-crystal X-ray diffraction for both complexes. The potent cytotoxicity was exhibited by Co(II) complex against the human breast cancer (MCF7) cell line. Also, the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential and the generation of reactive oxygen species were recognized in the mentioned cells when treated with the complex. The remarkable cytostatic effect was shown on the MCF7 3D spheroid model by the Co(II) complex. [Display omitted] •Two novel Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography.•The electrochemical behavior of the complexes was studied.•The inhibition effect of the compounds was checked against three cancer cell lines and one normal cell line.•The effect of the Co(II) complex on MMP and the generation of ROS in MCF7 cells was studied.•The status change in MCF7 cells treated by Co(II) complex was depicted. Two new Cobalt(II) (C1) and Zinc(II) (C2) complexes were synthesized using the one-pot reaction of their metal salts with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic and also, amines containing 4-aminopyridine and/or 2-aminobenzimidazole, respectively. The structure of both compounds was determined by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The disordered octahedral geometry was proposed for both complexes. Cyclic voltammetry measurements on the compounds showed that C1 is a redox-active compound while significant electrochemical activity did not exhibit for C2, versus Ag/AgCl under argon. The anti-proliferative effect of the compounds was studied in vitro using oxaliplatin as a standard against three cancer cell lines including a human breast cancer (MCF7), a human colon adenocarcinoma (HT29), a human lymphocyte (HL60), as well as one normal cell line human foreskin fibroblast (HFF). The remarkable inhibition effect was indicated toward MCF7 cells by C1. Therefore, the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and also the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were evaluated in these cells following treatment by C1. The cytostatic effect of this complex in the MCF7 3D spheroid model was depicted.