Pharmacological performance of novel poly-(ionic liquid)-grafted chitosan-N-salicylidene Schiff bases and their complexes

In our endeavor to develop a new class of pharmacological candidates with antimicrobial and anticancer efficacy, a series of biopolymeric chitosan Schiff bases bearing salicylidene ionic liquid (IL-Sal) brushes (ILCSB1-3, poly-(G1cNHAc-G1cNH2-(G1cN-Sal-IL)) was successfully synthesized by adopting efficient synthetic routes. Unfortunately, metalation trials of these biopolymeric Schiff bases afford the corresponding Ag(I)/M(II) complexes (where M= Co, Pd). These designed architectures were structurally characterized and pharmacologically evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial, against common bacterial and fungal pathogens, and anticancer activities against human colon carcinoma (HCT-116) cell line. In conclusion functionalization of chitosan with IL-Sal brushes coupled with metalation of formed ILCSBs were synergistically enhanced its antimicrobial and antitumor properties to a great extent. Noteworthy, Ag-ILCSB2 (IC50 =9.13 mu g/mL) was ca. 5-fold more cytotoxic against HCT-116 cell line than ILCSB2 (IC50 =43.30 mu g/mL). (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.