Anticancer activity and DNA-binding properties of novel cationic Pt(II) complexes

In this study, three structurally related cationic Pt complexes, [Pt(ppy)(dppe)]CF3CO2: C1, [Pt(bhq)(dppe)]CF3CO2: C2, and [Pt(bhq)(dppf)]CF3CO2: C3, in which ppy = deprotonated 2-phenylpyridine, bhq = deprotonated benzo[h]quinoline, dppe = bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane and dppf = 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene, were used for the assessment of their anticancer activities against Jurkat and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. The Pt complexes (C1-C3) demonstrated significant level of anticancer properties, as measured using 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Moreover, the changes in nuclear morphology with Acridine Orange (AO) staining reveal that these complexes are capable to induce apoptosis, and only C1 stimulates activity of Caspase-3 in Jurkat cancer cells. To get a better insight into the nature of binding between these cationic Pt complexes and DNA, different spectroscopic techniques and gel electrophoresis were applied. On the basis of the results of UV/vis absorption spectroscopy, CD experiment and fluorescence quenching of ethidium bromide (EB)-DNA, the interaction between DNA and the Pt complexes is likely to occur through a mixed-binding mode. Overall, the present work suggests that a controlled modification could result in new potentially antitumor complexes which can survive the repair mechanism and induce facile apoptosis.