Synthesis, cytotoxicity and DNA-binding levels of ammine/dimethylamine platinum(II) complexes with carboxylates

Six new ammine/dimethylamine platinum(II) complexes with carboxylates (a similar to f) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity, thermal analysis, IR, UV, and H-1 NMR techniques. The cytotoxicity of the complexes was tested by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. The levels of total platinum bound to DNA were measured by ICP-MS. The results show that the complexes (a-f) have selectivity against tested carcinomas, have no cytotoxicity against HCT-8, BGC-823 and MCF-7 but have better cytotoxicity against EJ and HL-60, moreover, cytotoxicity of complexes (d-f) against HL-60 is similar to that of cisplatin. The levels of total platinum bound to DNA in HL-60 are increased with increasing concentrations, and the levels of total platinum bound to DNA increase in the following sequence: cisplatin < C < b < a < f < e < d.