C. Parthiban

Anion induced azo-hydrazone tautomerism for the selective colorimetric sensing of fluoride ion

The design, synthesis, characterization and their anion sensing properties of two receptors capable of exhibiting azo-hydrazone tautomerism are reported. The anion sensing properties have been investigated using electronic, fluorescence and nuclear magnetic spectral studies in addition to electrochemical and visual detection experiments. Both the receptors selectively bind fluoride ion with >100 nm red-shift in the electronic spectrum and the color changes from yellow to red. The results of the spectral studies revealed that the sensing mechanism involves fluoride ion induced change of chromophore from C=N (hydrazone form) to N=N (azo form) in these receptors leading to the visible color change. Density Functional Theory calculations were conducted to rationalize the optical response of the receptors.

Selective colorimetric sensing of fluoride in an aqueous solution by amino-naphthoquinone and its Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes – effect of complex formation on sensing behaviour

An amino-naphthoquinone ligand and its Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized using analytical and spectral techniques. The anion sensing behaviour of these receptors is investigated using UV-vis, fluorescence and 1H NMR spectral studies. Electrochemical and DFT computations are also carried out to substantiate the results of spectral studies. The receptors colourimetrically sense fluoride ions selectively and sensitively in aqueous DMF mixtures. The mechanism of sensing involves formation of an H-bond between the N–H group and fluoride ion. The binding constants for the formation of 1 : 1 receptor–fluoride complexes are found to be in the order of 105 M−1. The results indicate that complexation with metal ions not only enhanced the HBD property of the N–H group but also accommodates ≥50% of water in the sensing medium.

Synthesis, characterization and DNA binding/cleavage, protein binding and cytotoxicity studies of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of aminonaphthoquinone

The Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of an aminonaphthoquinone ligand (L) have been prepared and characterized using analytical and spectral techniques. The structures of L and its Zn(II) complex are confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The results indicate that Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes possess tetrahedral geometry while Cu(II) complex exhibits square planar structure. The interaction of L and its complexes with CT-DNA reveal that they could interact with CT-DNA through intercalation. The DNA cleavage studies of the L and its complexes indicate that the Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes cleave the circular form of the DNA relatively to a greater extent than the other complexes. The results of the interaction of these compounds with bovine serum albumin (BSA) indicate that the complexes exhibit a strong binding to BSA over the L. The in vitro anticancer activities indicate that these compounds exhibit substantial activity against human breast (MCF7) and lung cancer (A549) cell lines. The characteristics of apoptosis in cell morphology have been observed using AO/EB and DAPI staining and the results suggest that an apoptotic mode of cell death with these compounds. The overall results and discussion indicate that coordination of metal ions with the ligand enhances the biological activity.

Design, synthesis, characterization and cation sensing behavior of amino-naphthoquinone receptor: Selective colorimetric sensing of Cu(II) ion in nearly aqueous solution with mimicking logic gate operation

An amino-naphthoquione receptor (R1) has been rationally designed, synthesized and characterized using 1H and 13C NMR, LCMS and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The receptor exhibits an instantaneous colour change from yellow to blue selectively with Cu(II) ions in water-DMF (98:2% v/v) medium. The results of UV-Vis and fluorescence spectral studies indicates that the mechanism of sensing involves formation of a 1:1 complex between R1 and Cu(II) ion. The proposed mechanism has been confirmed through product analysis using FT-IR, UV-Vis, EPR and HRMS studies in addition to magnetic moment and elemental analysis measurements. The formed [Cu(R1)Cl2] possess a square planar geometry. The binding constant for the interaction of Cu(II) ion with the present unsubstituted quinone is found to be relatively higher than that with quinones containing electron withdrawing chlorine atom and electron releasing methyl group reported in literature. The detection limit of Cu(II) ion in aqueous solution by R1 is observed to be 8.7nM. The detection of Cu(II) ion by R1 in aqueous solution produces remarkable changes in the electronic and fluorescence spectra, which is applied to construct logic gate at molecular level.

Metal complexes of naphthoquinone based ligand: synthesis, characterization, protein binding, DNA binding/cleavage and cytotoxicity studies

Protein binding, DNA binding/cleavage and in vitro cytotoxicity studies of 2-((3-(dimethylamino)propyl)amino)naphthalene-1,4-dione (L) and its four coordinated M(II) complexes [M(II) = Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II)] have been investigated using various spectral techniques. The structure of the ligand was confirmed by spectral and single crystal XRD studies. The geometry of the complexes has been established using analytical and spectral investigations. These complexes show good binding tendency to bovine serum albumin (BSA) exhibiting high binding constant values (105 M−1) when compared to free ligand. Fluorescence titration studies reveal that these compounds bind strongly with CT-DNA through intercalative mode (Kapp 105 M−1) and follow the order: Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Ni(II) > Co(II) > L. Molecular docking study substantiate the strength and mode of binding of these compounds with DNA. All the complexes efficiently cleaved pUC18-DNA via hydroxyl radical mechanism and the Cu(II) complex degraded the DNA completely by converting supercoiled form to linear form. The complexes demonstrate a comparable in vitro cytotoxic activity against two human cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and A-549), which is comparable with that of cisplatin. AO/EB and DAPI staining studies suggest apoptotic mode of cell death, in these cancer cells, with the compounds under investigation.

Studies on the interaction of mononuclear metal(II) complexes of amino‑naphthoquinone with bio-macromolecules

Three metal(II) complexes [CoLCl2], [CuLCl2] and [ZnL2Cl2] {L = 2‑chloro‑3‑((3‑dimethylamino)propylamino)naphthalene‑1,4‑dione} have been synthesized and characterized using analytical, thermal and spectral techniques (FT-IR, UV-Vis, ESR and ESI-MS). The structure of the L has been confirmed by single crystal XRD study. The complexes show good binding propensity to bovine serum albumin (BSA) having relatively higher binding constant values (104 M-1) than the ligand. Fluorescence spectral studies indicate that [CoLCl2] binds relatively stronger with CT DNA through intercalative mode, exhibiting higher binding constant (2.22 × 105 M-1). Agarose gel electrophoresis run on plasmid DNA (pUC18) prove that all the complexes showed efficient DNA cleavage via hydroxyl radical mechanism. The complexes were identified as potent anticancer agents against two human cancer cell lines (MCF7 and A549) by comparing with cisplatin. Co(II) complex demonstrated greater cytotoxicity against MCF7 and A549 cells with IC50 values at 19 and 22 μM, respectively.

Metal(II) complexes of bioactive aminonaphthoquinone-based ligand: synthesis, characterization and BSA binding, DNA binding/cleavage, and cytotoxicity studies

Abstract An aminonaphthoquinone ligand, L, and its metal complexes of general formula [MLCl2] {M = Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)} have been synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectral techniques. Tetrahedral geometry has been assigned to Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes and square planar geometry to Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes on the basis of electronic spectral and magnetic susceptibility data. The binding of complexes with bovine serum albumin (BSA) is relatively stronger than that of free ligand and alters the conformation of the protein molecule. Interaction of these complexes with CT-DNA has been investigated using UV-Vis and fluorescence quenching experiments, which show that the complexes bind strongly to DNA through intercalative mode of binding (Kapp 105 M−1). Molecular docking studies reiterate the mode of binding of these compounds with DNA, proposed by spectral studies. The ligand and its complexes cleave plasmid DNA pUC18 to nicked (Form II) and linear (Form III) forms in the presence of H2O2 oxidant. The in vitro cytotoxicity screening shows that Cu(II) complex is more potent against MCF-7 cells and Zn(II) complex exhibits marked cytotoxicity against A-549 cells equal to that of cisplatin. Cell imaging studies suggested apoptosis mode of cell death in these two chosen cell lines.