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

• DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130469
• Publication Date: 2021-04-16T21:53:06Z
• Authors: LiXia Hou; XiaoYing Jia; YouRu Wu; Jinlong Li; Dong Yao; Yi Gou; GuoJin Huang
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences

Abstract Three aroylhydrazone Cu(Ⅱ) complexes [Cu(L)(H2O)2]NO3•0.5H2O (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.