George Psomas

Novel copper(II) complex of N-propyl-norfloxacin and 1,10-phenanthroline with enhanced antileukemic and DNA nuclease activities.

We have synthesized and characterized a novel copper(II) complex of the fluoroquinolone antibacterial drug N-propyl-norfloxacin (Hpr-norf) in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) and studied its biological properties as antitumor antibiotic and antimicrobial agent. Human acute myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60, MTT assay, and Trypan blue assay were used to test the antileukemic, the cell viability, and the structural integrity of the cell membrane and cell proliferation properties of (chloro)(Phen)( N-propyl-norfloxacinato)copper(II) (complex 1), respectively. We found that the proliferation rate and viability of HL-60 cells decreased after treatment with complex 1, leading to cell death through apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. The antimicrobial activity of complex 1 has been tested, revealing an increased potency in comparison to the free Hpr-norf. Complex 1 proved to be capable of acting as an independent nuclease by inducing nicking of supercoiled pUC19 plasmid. Our results suggest that 1 may provide a valuable tool in cancer chemotherapy.

Copper(II) complexes with phenoxyalkanoic acids and nitrogen donor heterocyclic ligands: structure and bioactivity

The copper complexes with the phenoxyalkanoic acids MCPA, 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T and 2,4-DP in the presence of a nitrogen donor heterocyclic ligand, phen or bipyam, were prepared and characterized. Interaction of Cu(II) with phenoxyalkanoic acids and bipyam leads to dinuclear or uninuclear neutral complexes while in the presence of phen uninuclear neutral or cationic forms have been isolated. The crystal structure of bis(1,10-phenanthroline)(2-methyl-4-chloro-phenoxyacetato)copper(ll) chloride-methanol(1/1)-water(1/0.6), 1 has been determined and refined by least-squares methods using three-dimensional MoK, data. 1 crystallizes in space group P1, in a cell of dimensions a = 14.577(6)A, b = 1 1.665(5) A, c = 12.249(6) A, alpha = 98.38( 1)degrees, beta = 112.18( 1) degrees, gamma = 104.56(1 ) degrees, V= 1,798( 1) A3 and Z= 2. The cyclic voltammograms of uninuclear cationic complexes in dmf exhibit an extra cathodic wave due to the chloride ion. The available evidence supports an increasing antimicrobial effeciency for the cationic complexes.

Interaction of Zn(II) with quinolone drugs: Structure and biological evaluation

Zinc complexes with the third-generation quinolone antibacterial drugs levofloxacin and sparfloxacin have been synthesized and characterized. The deprotonated quinolones act as bidentate ligands coordinated to zinc ion through the pyridone and a carboxylato oxygen atom. The crystal structures of [bis(aqua)bis(levofloxacinato)zinc(II)], 1, and [bis(sparfloxacinato)(1,10-phenanthroline)zinc(II)], 3, have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The biological activity of the complexes has been evaluated by examining their ability to bind to calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) by UV spectroscopy and viscosity measurements. UV studies of the interaction of the complexes with DNA have revealed that they can bind to CT DNA probably by the intercalative binding mode which has also been verified by DNA solution viscosity measurements. The DNA binding constants have been also calculated. A competitive study with ethidium bromide (EB) showed that the complexes exhibit the ability to displace the DNA-bound EB indicating that they bind to DNA in strong competition with EB for the intercalative binding site. The interaction of the complexes with human and bovine serum albumin proteins has been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy showing that the complexes exhibit good binding propensity to these proteins having relatively high binding constant values. The biological properties of the complexes have been evaluated in comparison to the previously reported Zn(II) complexes with the first- and second-generation quinolones oxolinic acid and enrofloxacin.

Metal complexes of the third-generation quinolone antimicrobial drug sparfloxacin: Structure and biological evaluation

Five metal complexes of the third-generation quinolone antimicrobial agent sparfloxacin with Fe(3+), VO(2+), Mn(2+), Ni(2+) and UO(2)(2+) have been prepared and characterized with physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. In these complexes, sparfloxacin acts as a bidentate deprotonated ligand bound to the metal through the ketone oxygen and a carboxylate oxygen. The complexes are six-coordinate with distorted octahedral geometry. For VO(sparfloxacinato)(2)(H(2)O) the axial position, trans to the vanadyl oxygen, is occupied by a ketone oxygen atom. Molecular mechanics calculations have been performed in order to propose a model for the structure of each complex. The antimicrobial activity of the complexes has been tested against three microorganisms showing that they exhibit lower activity than free sparfloxacin. UV spectroscopic titration with calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) has shown that the complexes can bind to CT DNA and the binding constants to CT DNA have been calculated. The cyclic voltammograms of the complexes in the presence of CT DNA have shown that they bind to CT DNA probably by the intercalative binding mode. Fluorescence competitive studies with ethidium bromide (EB) have revealed the ability of the complexes to displace the DNA-bound EB. The complexes exhibit good binding propensity to human and bovine serum albumin proteins having relatively high binding constant values.

CuII-herbicide complexes: structure and bioactivity

Abstract Copper complexes with the commercial auxin herbicides 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,4-D), 3,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (3,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,4,5-T), 2-methyl-4-chloro-phenoxy-acetic acid (MCPA), 2,3-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,3-D) and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-propanoic acid (2,4-DP) in the presence or not of 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy), an antimicrobial agent, were prepared and characterized. The available evidence supports a dimeric structure for the 2,3-D complex, while the presence of bipy leads to monomeric forms. The solution behaviour of dinuclear complexes in dimethylformamide (DMF) has shown that the complexes are converted to monomeric compounds by the addition of more than 1:2 of bipy. The cyclic voltammograms of dimers in DMF suggest that the complexes retain the dimeric structure in solution. The electron spin resonance spectra of the compound (aqua)(2,2′-bipyridine)bis(2-methyl-4-chloro-phenoxyacetato) copper(II) (I) show features characteristic of the presence of an S = 1 triplet state. The crystal structure of 1 was determined and refined by least-squares methods using three-dimensional Mo Kα data. 1 crystallizes in the space group C2 c , in a cell of dimensions a=40.49(1), b=7.286(3), c=19.617(6) A , β=103.23(1)°, V=5634(3) A 3 , Z=8 . Study of the antimicrobial activity showed that the presence of bipy increases the efficiency 4–8 times.

Characterization and DNA-interaction studies of 1,1-dicyano-2,2-ethylene dithiolate Ni(II) mixed-ligand complexes with 2-amino-5-methyl thiazole, 2-amino-2-thiazoline and imidazole. Crystal structure of [Ni(i-MNT)(2a-5mt)2]

A series of mixed-ligand neutral nickel(II) complexes of the general formula [Ni(i-MNT)(2a-5mt)(2)] (1), [Ni(i-MNT)(2a-2tzn)(2)] (2) and [Ni(i-MNT)(Im)(2)] (3), [where i-MNT(2-)=the dianion of 1,1-dicyano-2,2-ethylenedithiolate, 2a-5mt=2-amino-5-methyl thiazole, 2a-2tzn=2-amino-2-thiazoline and Im=imidazole] were prepared and characterized with elemental analyses, spectroscopic (IR, UV-vis) methods, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity and cyclic voltammetry measurements. The magnetic data, the electronic spectra and the electrical conductivity measurements indicated mononuclear neutral complexes with square-planar geometry. The X-ray analysis of [Ni(i-MNT)(2a-5mt)(2)] shows the nickel atom being fourfold coordinated with the two sulfur atoms of the dithiolate (i-MNT) ligand and the endocyclic nitrogen atoms from the two 2a-5mt ring giving rise to a slightly distorted square-planar arrangement. The cyclic voltammograms of the complexes have been recorded and the corresponding redox potentials have been estimated. The DNA-binding studies of the complexes has been evaluated by examining their ability to bind to calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) with UV spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Both studies have shown that the complexes can bind to CT-DNA by the intercalative and the electrostatic binding mode. Competitive binding studies with ethidium bromide (EB) with fluorescence spectroscopy have also shown that the complexes exhibit the ability to displace the DNA-bound EB indicating that they can bind to DNA in strong competition with EB.

Host–Guest Interaction of 12‐MC‐4, 15‐MC‐5, and Fused 12‐MC‐4 Metallacrowns with Mononuclear and Binuclear Carboxylato Complexes: Structure and Magnetic Behavior

Interaction of manganese with salicylhydroxamic ligands leads to the formation of the 12-membered metallacrown [Mn(II)(2(2,4-DP)2(HCOO)2]-[12-MC(Mn(III)N(shi)-4](py)6 (2) (H-2,4-DP =2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid) and the 15-membered metallacrown [Mn(II)(2,4-D)2][15-MC(Mn(III)N(shi)-5](py)6 (1) (H-2,4-D = 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). The crystal structure analysis shows that mononuclear and dinuclear alkanoato complexes are accommodated in the cavity of the metallacrown ring. The magnetic behaviour of 1 and 2 and the magnetic behaviour of the fused 12-membered metallacrown [Ni(II)(mcpa)]2-[12-MC(Ni(II)N(shi)2(pko)2-4][12-MC(Ni(II)N(shi)3(pko)-4]-(CH3OH)3(H2O) (3) (Hmcpa = 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid) have shown that the zero field and/or the population of many energy levels at low temperatures is the reason for the divergence of the susceptibility data at high fields. For compound 3, the ground state is S = 0, with S = 1 and S = 2 low-lying excited states. This leads to a non-Brillouin behaviour of the magnetisation, since the ground state is very close to the excited states.

New Uses for Old Drugs: Attempts to Convert Quinolone Antibacterials into Potential Anticancer Agents Containing Ruthenium

Continuing the study of the physicochemical and biological properties of ruthenium-quinolone adducts, four novel complexes with the general formula [Ru([9]aneS3)(dmso-κS)(quinolonato-κ(2)O,O)](PF6), containing the quinolones levofloxacin (1), nalidixic acid (2), oxolinic acid (3), and cinoxacin (4), were prepared and characterized in solid state as well as in solution. Contrary to their organoruthenium analogues, these complexes are generally relatively stable in aqueous solution as substitution of the dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) ligand is slow and not quantitative, and a minor release of the quinolonato ligand is observed only in the case of 4. The complexes bind to serum proteins displaying relatively high binding constants. DNA binding was studied using UV-vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and performing viscosity measurements of CT DNA solutions in the presence of complexes 1-4. These experiments show that the ruthenium complexes interact with DNA via intercalation. Possible electrostatic interactions occur in the case of compound 4, which also shows the most pronounced rate of hydrolysis. Compounds 2 and 4 also exhibit a weak inhibition of cathepsins B and S, which are involved in the progression of a number of diseases, including cancer. Furthermore, complex 2 displayed moderate cytotoxicity when tested on the HeLa cell line.

Different types of copper complexes with the quinolone antimicrobial drugs ofloxacin and norfloxacin: structure, DNA- and albumin-binding.

Three novel copper(II) complexes with the second-generation quinolone antibacterial agents norfloxacin (nfH) and ofloxacin (ofloH) have been synthesized resulting in the complexes [Cu(nfH)(phen)Cl]Cl·5H(2)O (1·5H(2)O), [Cu(nfH)(2)]Cl(2)·6H(2)O (2·6H(2)O) and [Cu(II)(ofloH)(2)][(Cu(I)Cl(2))(2)] (3), respectively. The crystal structures of the complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography revealing that the quinolones act as bidentate ligands coordinated to Cu(II) atom through the pyridone oxygen and a carboxylato oxygen. UV study of the interaction of the quinolones and the complexes with calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) has shown that they can bind to CT DNA with [Cu(II)(ofloxacin)(2)][(Cu(I)Cl(2))(2)] exhibiting the highest binding constant to CT DNA. The cyclic voltammograms of the complexes in the presence of CT DNA solution have shown that the interaction of the complexes with CT DNA is mainly through electrostatic binding. DNA solution viscosity measurements have shown that the interaction of the compounds with CT DNA by classical intercalation may be ruled out. Competitive studies with ethidium bromide (EB) indicate that the complexes can partially displace the DNA-bound EB suggesting low to moderate competition with EB. Norfloxacin, ofloxacin and their copper complexes exhibit good binding propensity to human or bovine serum albumin protein having relatively high binding constant values.

Zinc(II) complexes with the quinolone antibacterial drug flumequine: structure, DNA- and albumin-binding

The interaction of Zn(II) with the quinolone antibacterial drug flumequine (Hflmq) in the presence or absence of an N,N′-donor heterocyclic ligand, 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy), is being investigated. Interaction of equimolar quantities of ZnCl2 with flumequine and 2,2′-bipyridine results in the formation of a structurally characterized [Zn(flmq)(bipy)Cl] (2) complex, while excess of flumequine leads to a structurally characterized [Zn(flmq)2(bipy)] (3) compound. The reaction of ZnCl2 with flumequine in the absence of 2,2′-bipyridine leads to formation of complex [Zn(flmq)2(H2O)2] (1). In all these complexes, the deprotonated bidentate flumequinato ligands are coordinated to zinc ions through pyridone and carboxylato oxygens. The complexes exhibit good binding propensity to human or bovine serum albumin protein having relatively high binding constant values. UV study of interaction of the complexes with calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) has shown that they bind to CT DNA and [Zn(flmq)(bipy)Cl] exhibits the highest binding constant. A competitive study with ethidium bromide (EB) has shown that the complexes can displace DNA-bound EB, indicating that they bind to DNA in strong competition with EB. The complexes bind to CT DNA in an intercalative binding mode which has also been verified by DNA solution viscosity measurements. DNA electrophoretic mobility experiments showed that all complexes bind to pDNA possibly in an intercalative manner resulting in catenanes formation as well as in double-stranded cleavage reflecting (or ending) in the formation of linear DNA.