New dithiocarbamate cycloaurated complexes have been synthesized and their physicochemical and in vitro antitumor properties have been evaluated. All the performed studies highlighted good transport through the blood and biodistribution, according to the balance between the properties of hydrophilicity/lipophilicity and the binding of moderate strength to the BSA protein. Furthermore, none of the complexes exhibited reduction or decomposition reactions, presenting excellent physiological stability. The in vitro cytotoxic effect was evaluated on human colon cancer cell line Caco-2/TC7, and the complexes showed great antiproliferative activity and excellent selectivity, as much less effect was detected on normal Caco-2/TC7 cells. Most of the complexes exhibit antiproliferative activity that was better than or similar to auranofin, and at least nine times better than that of cisplatin. Its action mechanism is still under discussion since no evidence of cell cycle arrest was found, but an antioxidant role was shown for some of the selective complexes. All complexes were also tested as antimicrobial drugs, exhibiting good activity towards S. aureus and E. coli. bacteria and C. albicans and C. neoformans fungi.
Keywords: anticancer drugs; antimicrobial drugs; apoptosis; cell cycle; cycloaurated; dithiocarbamate; oxidative stress damage.