Ru(ii)/diclofenac-based complexes: DNA, BSA interaction and their anticancer evaluation against lung and breast tumor cells

Abstract

The well-known anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac can form new ruthenium compounds with promising anti-tumor properties.

Abstract

Ruthenium( ii) diclofenac-based complexes of the general formula [Ru(dicl)(P–P)(bpy)]PF ₆ [dicl = diclofenac, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, and P–P = 1,4′-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb) ( 1), 1,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) ( 2), 1,3′-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) ( 3) and 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf) ( 4)] are synthesized. The complexes ( 1–4) are characterized by elemental analyses, infrared, NMR, and UV-vis spectroscopy and ( 3) and ( 4) are characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The DNA binding of complexes ( 1–4), studied by circular dichroism (CD) and Hoechst 33 258 staining assay, indicates their binding with the minor grooves. The complexes interact with BSA with binding constants ( K _b) in the range of 2.5 × 10 ³–5.5 × 10 ⁴ M ⁻¹. The complexes exhibit high cytotoxicity against the tumor cell lines A549, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7 with IC ₅₀ values ranging from 0.56 to 15.28 μM. The complexes are more selective for the hormone-dependent MCF-7 breast tumor cell line and complex ( 1) is the most potent one. The study demonstrates the anticancer activity of ruthenium( ii)/diclofenac-based complexes.