Aroylhydrazone Cu(II) complexes: Syntheses, crystal structures, and anticancer properties

Three aroylhydrazone Cu(II) complexes [Cu(L)(H2O)(2)]NO3 center dot 0.5H(2)O (1), [Cu(L)(Indazole)(NO3)] (2), and [Cu(L)(1H-1,2,4-triazole)]NO3 (3) (HL = (E)-N'-((2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)benzohydrazide) are synthesized and characterized. All the Cu(II) complexes are assessed for their in vitro anticancer properties against a panel of cancer cells. An MTT assay revealed that these Cu(II) complexes exhibited greater anticancer activity toward several tumor cell types than the HL ligand or cisplatin. Interestingly, it was observed that mixed-ligand Cu(II) complexes 2 and 3 exhibited higher anticancer activity than complex 1. Flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging, and western blot analysis revealed that complex 3 could induce reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptotic cell death. Moreover, complex 3 exhibited an obvious inhibitory effect in a 3D tumor spheroid model. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Experimental results show that Cu(II) complexes 2 and 3 exhibit stronger anticancer activity than complex 1, with complex 3 being able to induce reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptotic cell death.