Synthesis, characterization, DNA interactions and antiproliferative activity on glioblastoma of iminopyridine platinum(II) chelate complexes

Abstract A series of iminopyridine platinum chelate compounds has been prepared and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The complexes were evaluated in C6 tumoral cells as an in vitro model for glioblastoma multiforme. The DNA-binding properties of these complexes were studied by UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory calculations were performed in an effort to rationalize the observed properties at the molecular level. The most promising drug candidate displayed a similar potency in inducing cell death to the clinically used reference compound and showed significant inhibition of glioblastoma cell proliferation. Moreover, this compound had a safer profile than cisplatin on non-tumoral cells.