Synthesis, cytotoxicity and DNA-binding properties of Pd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with 4′-(4-(2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethoxy)phenyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine

Pd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes (1-3) based on 4′-(4-(2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethoxy)phenyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine were synthesized and characterized by UV, IR, NMR, EPR, HRMS, elemental analyses, and molar conductivity measurements. The cytotoxicity of these complexes against HL-60, BGC-823, KB, Bel-7402, A549, Hela, K562 and MCF-7 cell lines in vitro was measured by MTT method. The DNA binding property of the complexes was evaluated by UV, fluorescence, CD spectroscopies and thermal denaturation. The cytotoxicity of complexes 1 and 3 against all the tested cell lines is better than that of cisplatin. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit 7- and 4-folds higher cytotoxicity than cisplatin against Bel-7402 cell line. Complex 3 displays the highest cytotoxicity against all the cell lines tested, and shows 7-, 14-, 8-, 11- and 8-folds higher cytotoxicity than cisplatin against Bel-7402, A549, Hela, K562 and MCF-7 cell lines. The complexes bind to DNA via intercalation mode and complex 3 stabilizes the G-quadruplex. The results reveal that all the complexes display high cytotoxicity against all the tested cancer cell lines, and complex 3 is selective for G-quadruplex over duplex DNA.