Background and Objective:
Photoactive transition metal complexes like copper complexes finds a great
interest in promoting metal-based photochemotherapeutic agents. In present study we explored the photocytotoxic
efficacy of new selenylnaphthoquinone-based copper (II) complexes that provide a phenomenal platform in making an
effective photo-chemotherapeutic agent via PDT in the clinical field of cancer therapy.
Methods:
Three new copper(II) complexes (1-3) were synthesized in 40-60% yield and characterized
analytically/spectroscopically. ATCC® Normal Adult Human Primary Epidermal Keratinocytes were grown in Dermal
Cell Basal Media supplemented with Keratinocyte Growth Kit components, to propagate keratinocytes in serum-free (not
animal free) conditions. Anticancer activity of the complexes was studied using MTT (3- [4,5-dimethyltiazol-2-yl]-2,5-
diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay. The intracellular ROS (1O2) generation was studied by using Flow Cytometric
Analysis (FACS) on HaCaT cells using cell accessible non-polar 2′,7′-Dichlorofluorescein Diacetate (DCFH-DA) dye.
The Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide (AO/EB) dual staining assay was performed for detecting apoptosis in HaCaT
cells. Several photophysical studies probing the generation of singlet oxygen was also carried out. We have performed
Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) calculations using unrestricted B3LYP to understand the
mechanism of type-II process.
Results:
All the complexes were remarkably cytotoxic in HaCaT cells with IC50, 1-4μM under visible light with
comparing lower dark toxicity. The presence of low-lying and long-lived triplet excited state allowed effective intersystem
crossing and subsequent generation of singlet oxygen which was the primary cytotoxic species responsible for oxidative
stress and apoptosis. The experimental findings are in good agrrement with the computational analysis (TD-DFT).
Conclusion:
The remarkably enhanced cytotoxicity of the new selenyl copper(II) complexes under the visible light probed
the role of Se in photosensitized generation of singlet oxygen which was responsible for apoptosis in HaCaT cells. The
results in the present work is of paramount importance in developing next generation copper(II)-based PDT agents.
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