Mitochondriotropic agents conjugated with NSAIDs through metal ions against breast cancer cells.

Two copper(I) polymorphs of formula [Cu(SALH)(TPP)3] (1a and 1b) were prepared by the conjugation of the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) salicylic acid (SALH2) with the mitochondriotropic agent triphenylphosphine (TPP) via metal ion. For comparison, the isomorph [Ag(SALH)(TPP)3] (2) was prepared. The conjugates 1a, 1b and 2 were characterized by melting point (m.p.), Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). The crystal structures of 1a, 1b and 2 were confirmed by X-ray diffraction crystallography (XRD). The ex vivo binding affinity of 1-2 towards CT (calf thymus)-DNA was studied by UV, fluorescence, viscosity and DNA Thermal Denaturation studies. Their inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase (LOX) (an enzyme which is mainly located in the mitochondrion) was determined. The in vitro activity of 1-2 was evaluated against human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 (hormone depended (HD)) and MDA-MB 281 (hormone independent (HI)) cells. Compounds 1-2 inhibit stronger than cisplatin the cancerous cells. The molecular mechanism of action of 1-2 was suspected by the MCF-7 cells morphology and confirmed by DNA fragmentation, Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide (AO/EB) Staining and mitochondrial membrane permeabilization tests.