Investigation of Novel Tetrahalometallate Complexes of Cetrimonium Bromide Surfactant against in vitro Human Tumour Cell Lines of Lung, Colon and Liver

The synthesis of the tetrahalo Cu(II) and tetrahalo Zn(II) metal complexes with two cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) ligands is reported. Potentiometric studies showed that these complexes in aqueous solution showed no metal release, thus accounting for their high in vitro toxicity against three human cancer cell lines: A-549 (non-small cell lung carcinoma), HCT-116 (colon carcinoma cells), and HepG-2 (Hepatocellular carcinoma cells). The tetrahalo Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal complexes were synthesized by solid state grinding. Metal complexes of chelating CTAB with metal ion were studied on the basis of FT-IR, 1H-NMR and atomic absorption spectroscopic data. The tetrahalo Cu(II) and Zn(II) metal complexes induced cancer cell apoptosis. The tetrahalo complex of Cu(II) or Zn(II) inhibited in vitro the growth of three tumor cell lines at low concentrations. The tetrahalo copper(II) complex displayed against A-549 (non-small cell lung carcinoma) human cancer cell lines, IC50 values in mM range was similar to that of the antitumor drug cis-platin and they are considered for further stages of in vitro screening as potential antitumor activity.

Study Design: Antiproliferative activities were evaluated using a SRB and MTT assays. Effects on the cell cycle were assessed by flow cytometry and on apoptosis-related proteins (active caspase-3, -8 and -9, procaspase-3, -8, -9, PARP, Bid, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2) by Western blotting. Cu(II) and Zn (II) metal complexes displayed high inhibition potency against A-549 (non-small cell lung carcinoma), HCT-116 (colon carcinoma cells), and HepG-2 (Hepatocellular carcinoma cells).

Place and Duration of Study: Regional Center Mycology and Biotechnology, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, between March 2016 and June 2016.