Novel half Salphen cobalt() complexes: synthesis, DNA binding and anticancer studies

• Published in: Dalton transactions : an international journal of inorganic chemistry Vol. 53; no. 14; pp. 6311 - 6322
• Main Authors: Bonsignore, Riccardo, Trippodo, Elisa, Di Gesù, Roberto, Carreca, Anna Paola, Rubino, Simona, Spinello, Angelo, Terenzi, Alessio, Barone, Giampaolo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 02.04.2024
• Subjects: Anticancer properties; Antiproliferatives; Binding; Cancer; Cobalt; Cobalt compounds; Glutathione; Pharmacology; Side effects
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/d4dt00092g

While platinum( ii )-based drugs continue to be employed in cancer treatments, the escalating occurrence of severe side effects has spurred researchers to explore novel sources for potential therapeutic agents. Notably, cobalt( iii ) has emerged as a subject of considerable interest due to its ubiquitous role in human physiology. Several studies investigating the anticancer effects of Salphen complexes derived from cobalt( iii ) have unveiled intriguing antiproliferative properties. In a bid to enhance our understanding of this class of compounds, we synthesized and characterized two novel half Salphen cobalt( iii ) complexes. Both compounds exhibited notable stability, even in the presence of physiologically relevant concentrations of glutathione. The application of spectroscopic and computational methodologies unravelled their interactions with duplex and G4-DNAs, suggesting an external binding affinity for these structures, with preliminary indications of selectivity trends. Importantly, antiproliferative assays conducted on 3D cultured SW-1353 cancer cells unveiled a compelling anticancer activity at low micromolar concentrations, underscoring the potential therapeutic efficacy of this novel class of cobalt( iii ) complexes. Novel DNA binding half Salphen cobalt( iii )complexes with promising anticancer activity on 3D cultured models.