Synthesis, structural characterization, cytotoxicity and encapsulation studies of N,N′-(1, 2-dicyano-1,2-vinylene)-bis(4-hydroxysalicylideneaminato) di(p-chlorobenzyl)tin as potential anticancer drug

Two new diorganotin(IV) complexes with the general formula (RC7H6)(2)Sn(L) (where RC7H6 = p-ClBn, C1; and p-FBn, C2) were prepared based on the reaction of 2,3-bis(4-hydroxysalicylidene-amino)-maleic nitrile (L) with substituted dibenzyltin(IV) dichloride. The structu- res were confirmed by elemental analysis, Fourier trans- form infrared (FT-IR), proton and carbon nuclear magne- tic resonance (H-1 and C-13 NMR). They were tested against several cancer cell lines by using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. C1, which was most effective against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, was further investigated in formulation and encapsulation studies, including drug encapsulation efficiency, particle size, morphology and in vitro drug release. An encapsulation of about 90% was achieved with particles of 128 nm average diameter. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) confirmed a spherical shape for the encapsulated C1. The cumulative drug release over a period of 60 days in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 was 75%. Based on these results, the formulated drug has the potential of a slow release drug for cancer chemotherapy.