Biological Activity of NHC-Gold-Alkynyl Complexes Derived from 3-Hydroxyflavones
Inés Mármol,
Javier Quero,
Paula Azcárate,
Elena Atrián-Blasco,
Carla Ramos,
Joana Santos,
María Concepción Gimeno,
María Jesús Rodríguez-Yoldi,
Elena Cerrada
Affiliations
Inés Mármol
Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Síntesis Química y Catálisis Homogénea-ISQCH, Universidad de Zaragoza-C.S.I.C., Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Javier Quero
Departamento de Farmacología y Fisiología, Medicina Legal y Forense, Unidad de Fisiología, Universidad de Zaragoza, CIBERobn, IIS Aragón, IA2, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Paula Azcárate
Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Síntesis Química y Catálisis Homogénea-ISQCH, Universidad de Zaragoza-C.S.I.C., Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Elena Atrián-Blasco
Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Carla Ramos
Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Avenida do Atlântico No. 644, 4900-348 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Joana Santos
Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Avenida do Atlântico No. 644, 4900-348 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
María Concepción Gimeno
Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Síntesis Química y Catálisis Homogénea-ISQCH, Universidad de Zaragoza-C.S.I.C., Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
María Jesús Rodríguez-Yoldi
Departamento de Farmacología y Fisiología, Medicina Legal y Forense, Unidad de Fisiología, Universidad de Zaragoza, CIBERobn, IIS Aragón, IA2, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
Elena Cerrada
Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Instituto de Síntesis Química y Catálisis Homogénea-ISQCH, Universidad de Zaragoza-C.S.I.C., Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
In this paper we describe the synthesis of new N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) gold(I) derivatives with flavone-derived ligands with a propargyl ether group. The compounds were screened for their antimicrobial and anticancer activities, showing greater activity against bacteria than against colon cancer cells (Caco-2). Complexes [Au(L2b)(IMe)] (1b) and [Au(L2b)(IPr)] (2b) were found to be active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. The mechanism of action of 1b was evaluated by measurement of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) activity, besides scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Inhibition of the enzyme thioredoxin reductase is not observed in either Escherichia Coli or Caco-2 cells; however, DHFR activity is compromised after incubation of E. coli cells with complex 1b. Moreover, loss of structural integrity and change in bacterial shape is observed in the images obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after treatment E. coli cells with complex 1b.
