Metal complexes as innovative breast cancer therapy, preparation, spectroscopic characterization and antitumor activity.

Abstract New binary Cu(II), Mn(II), Na(I), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Mg(II), Al(III) and Ba(II) metal complexes derived from the (Z)-N'-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-((Z)-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)prop-anehydrazide ligand were prepared. Physicochemical studies were also performed (IR, UV‒Vis, mass, 1H NMR, magnetism, DTA and TGA, conductivity and ESR). The measurements revealed that the ligand coordinates to the metal ion in a neutral pentadentate or dibasic pentadentate mode through the nitrogen atoms of the imino and oxime groups and the oxygen atom of the amide group. All the metal complexes are nonelectrolytic in nature, as suggested by the molar conductance measurements. The complexes adopted a tetragonal distorted octahedral geometry around the metal ions. The cytotoxic activities of the ligand and several of its metal complexes were evaluated against breast cancer (MCF-7). Notably, the cytotoxic activity was enhanced upon complexation. Interestingly, the Zn(II) complex (15) exhibited the highest IC50 against MCF-7 cells. However, compared with the standard drug (vinblastine sulfate), the other tested complexes showed weak cytotoxicity against the same cell line.