Work

Mononuclear Copper(II) Phosphinates Bearing Mono‐, Bi‐, and Tridentate N ‐Donor Ligands: DNA Binding and Cleavage, Cytotoxicity, and Nanoencapsulation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Mononuclear Cu(II) phosphinate‐based compounds, [Cu(H 2 L 1 ) 2 (Py) 2 ] (1) , [Cu(OAc)(H 2 L 1 )(Cl‐tpy)] (2) , and [Cu(H 2 L 1 )(Phen) 2 ]H 2 L 1 (3) (Py = pyridine, Cl‐tpy = 4ʹ‐chloro‐2,2ʹ:6ʹ,2ʹʹ‐terpyridine, Phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline monohydrate) were synthesized by reacting Cu(OAc) 2 ·2H 2 O with N ‐donor ligands in the presence of bis(2‐hydroxy‐5‐methylphenyl) phosphinic acid (H 3 L 1 ). The compounds were isolated as single crystals and characterized by spectroscopic and microanalytical techniques. Owing to the bioavailability and biocompatibility of copper, the oxidative DNA cleavage ability of 1 – 3 was studied by incubating supercoiled (SC) pUC19 DNA (40 µM). The highest cleavage efficiency of complex 3 is attributed to the strong partial intercalation of 1, 10‐phenanthroline rings, which enhances reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Encapsulation of 3 in a polydiacetylene‐supported liposome nanocarrier (Lip‐(3)) improves biocompatibility and anticancer activity while addressing solubility and toxicity concerns. The spherical nanoparticles (∼93 nm), characterized by UV–vis, TEM, DLS, and EDX studies exhibit stability, efficient encapsulation, and suitability for targeted drug delivery.

Source: Chemistry - An Asian Journal

DOI: 10.1002/asia.202500421

Authors: Navneet Matharoo, Chezhiyan Sumithaa, Mani Ganeshpandian, Ramaswamy Murugavel

Institutions: Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Metal complexes synthesis and properties

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Arthritis National Research Foundation, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Science and Engineering Research Board