Synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity of gold(I) complexes that contain tri-tert-butylphosphine and dialkyl dithiocarbamate ligands

Eur J Med Chem. 2015 May 5:95:464-72. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.03.019. Epub 2015 Mar 10.

Abstract

Two new gold(I) complexes that contain tri-ter-butylphosphine and dialkyl dithiocarbamate ligands were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, NMR spectroscopy, Cyclic voltammetry, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction. The in vitro cytotoxicity of both complexes was examined against A549 (lung cancer), MCF7 (breast cancer), and HeLa (cervical cancer) human cancer cell lines. Both complexes exhibit very strong in vitro cytotoxic effects against A549, MCF7 and HeLa cell lines. The screening of the cytotoxic activity based on IC50 data against the A549, MCF7, and HeLa lines shows that the synthesized gold(I) complexes are highly effective, particularly against HeLa cancer cell line. Based on IC50 data, the cytotoxic activity of both complexes is better than well-known commercial anticancer drug cisplatin against all the three cancer lines tested.

Keywords: Anticancer activity; Gold(I) complexes; Human A549; MCF7 and HeLa cell lines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Electrochemistry
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Organometallic Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Phosphines / chemistry*
  • Thiocarbamates / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Ligands
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Phosphines
  • Thiocarbamates
  • Gold
  • phosphine