The Zn(II) nanocomplex: Sonochemical synthesis, characterization, DNA- and BSA-binding, cell imaging, and cytotoxicity against the human carcinoma cell lines

The focus of this article is preparation of a new kind of nanomaterial, the Zn(II) nanocomplex, to decrease growth of human carcinoma cell lines. The Zn(II) nanocomplex coordinated by phendione, [Zn(phendione)3](PF6)2 (where phendione is 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione), has been synthesized by sonochemical method and characterized by FT-IR, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The interaction of the complex and nanocomplex with fish sperm DNA (FS–DNA) has been investigated under physiological conditions by a series of experimental methods (fluorescence titration, viscosity, cyclic voltammetry (CV), competitive DNA–binding studies with ethidium bromide, and SEM). Results have indicated that the complex binds to FS–DNA by two biding modes, viz., electrostatic and partial insertion phendione between the base stacks of double-stranded DNA. The quenching constants (Ksv), binding constants (Kbin), and number of binding sites (n) at different temperatures, as well as thermodynamic parameters (ΔHo, ΔSo and ΔGo) have been calculated for the BSA–complex system. Protein binding studies show that the complex and nanocomplex could bind with BSA. Results of synchronous fluorescence of BSA show that addition of the complex affect the microenvironment of both tyrosine and tryptophan residues during the binding process. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the complex and nanocomplex against the human carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7 and A-549) was evaluated by MTT assay. Results indicate that the complex and nanocomplex have greater cytotoxicity activity against MCF-7 with IC50 values of 0.2 and 0.9 mg/L, respectively. Results of the microscopic analyses of the cancer cells confirm results of cytotoxicity.