Biological Activity of Two Anticancer Pt Complexes with a Cyclohexylglycine Ligand against a Colon Cancer Cell Line: Theoretical and Experimental Study

Because of their extraordinary ability to disrupt the natural structure of nucleic acids, metal complexes could be used in cancer therapy. In this study, cyclohexylglycine (HL) as a ligand and two new Pt complexes, [Pt(NH3)2(L)]NO3 (1) and [Pt(bipy)(L)]NO3 (2), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, LC-MS, UV-vis spectrometry, FT-IR, 1H NMR spectroscopy, 13C NMR spectroscopy, 195Pt NMR spectroscopy, HPLC analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 2 crystallized in the orthorhombic Pbca space group, and density functional theory (DFT) was used to describe its structural parameters were described in detail. These complexes can be classified as oral medications and drug-like molecules based on a comparison of their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion assessment. Quantum chemical descriptors (QCDs) were determined using DFT calculations to predict the tendency of DNA to approach these complexes. During the determination of the function of the metallodrug in DNA binding, the fluorescence data indicated that static quenching took place for all ligands and complexes with higher DNA binding affinity. CD and isothermal absorption studies indicate the presence of electrostatic and groove binding for the amine derivative and that DNA binds with the bipy moiety via groove binding. Furthermore, the interaction modes were determined using molecular docking to investigate the binding of these compounds with the target DNA molecule. According to docking investigations, binding energies of -5.7, -11.56, and -10.00 kcal/mol for HL and complexes 1 and 2, respectively, indicate partially electrostatic and groove binding. The anticancer activities of the Pt(II) complexes were tested against the HCT116 human colon cancer cell line, with IC50 values of 35.51 and 51.33 mu M for 1 and 2, respectively, after 72 h. These values show that the inhibitory effect of complex 1 was better than those of 2 and carboplatin (IC50 = 51.94 mu M).

Automated summary

Metal complexes have the potential to be used in cancer therapy due to their ability to disrupt nucleic acids. In this study, two new Pt complexes were synthesized and characterized, and their binding properties with DNA were investigated. The results showed that these complexes exhibited good anticancer activity against colon cancer cells.