Cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of triorganotin(IV) complexes of phenylcyanamide prepared by sonochemical synthesis

•Two triorganotin(IV) complexes with phenylcyanamide ligands were synthesized and characterized.•The interaction of the triorganotin(IV) complexes with CT-DNA was investigated.•The triorganotin(IV) complexes bind to bovine serum albumin proteins.•The triorganotin(IV) complexes are cytotoxic and have antioxidant properties.

This article describes the synthesis and characterization of novel triorganotin(IV) complexes and their potential medicinal applications. Triorganotin(IV) complexes with formulas [(SnMe3)2(μ-bp)(H2O)2], 1, and [(SnMe3)(4-NO2pcyd)], 2, (Me: methyl, bpH2: 4,4′-dicyanamidobiphenyl and 4-NO2pcyd: 4-nitrophenylcyanamide) have been synthesized via a sonochemical process and characterized using multinuclear NMR (1H, 13C and 119Sn), Mössbauer spectroscopy, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their DNA/protein binding with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), respectively. The in vitro cytotoxicity of 1 and 2 was examined against A549, Du145, HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. For 1, a promising growth inhibitory effect against HeLa cells was observed that is slightly higher than that of cisplatin. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of 1 and 2 against different strains of pathogenic bacteria and fungi were tested. The free radical scavenging ability (OH, NO) of 1 and 2 was assessed.

Graphical abstractThe biological activity of triorganotin(IV) phenylcyanamide complexes prepared by sonochemical synthesis is reported.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide