Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of antiproliferative activity of novel Ag (I)-N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) compounds

• Published in: Journal of molecular structure Vol. 1199; p. 126987
• Main Authors: Çevik-Yıldız, Esranur, Şahin, Neslihan, Şahin-Bölükbaşı, Serap
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05-01-2020
• Subjects: Antiproliferative activity; Breast cancer; N-Heterocyclic carbene; Prostate cancer; Silver complex; Breast cancer; Antiproliferative activity; Prostate cancer; N-Heterocyclic carbene; Silver complex
• ISSN: 0022-2860; 1872-8014
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2019.126987

The aim of this study was to present the synthesis, characterization, and investigation of the antiproliferative activity of new metal N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) salts (1a-c) and their Ag(I) complexes (2a-c). All synthesized compounds were characterized using elemental analysis, LC-MS, FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy techniques. Salts and complexes were tested for antiproliferative activities on human breast and prostate cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-23, DU-145) and L-929 normal cells for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h using MTT assays. The Ag(I)-NHC complexes (2a-c) showed dose and time-dependent cytotoxic activity against all cell lines. MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells were the most sensitive to displaying IC50 lower than 1 μM at all time points for 2a and 2b complexes respectively. The IC50s for Ag(I)-NHC were higher in normal cells especially compared to the breast cancer cells, suggesting that complexes possessed noteworthy selectivity for human breast cancer cells. Complex 2a showed high selectivity (≥13-fold) for MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells at all time points. These results also demonstrated that complex 2b has 4-7-fold selectivity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells.
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•Synthesis of New Ag(I) N Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Complexes.•Antiproliferative activities against three human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, DA-MB-231, PC-3) and L-929 normal cells.•Benzyl substituted complex (2a) showed highest selectivity (≥13-fold) for MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.•Naphthyl substituted complex (2b) the most active complex against MCF-7 breast cancer cells (Selectivity Index 4–7 fold).•Biological activity depends on the nature of the group bound to benzimidazole and cancer cell line.