Synthesis, anticancer activities, interaction with DNA and mitochondria of manganese complexes

Two new complexes [(Etdpa)MnCl₂] and [(Adpa)Mn(Cl)(H₂O)] (Etdpa = ethyl bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino-2-propionate; Adpa = bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino-2-propionic acid) were synthesized and characterized by spectral methods. The crystal structure of [(Etdpa)MnCl₂] shows that the Mn(II) atom is coordinated by three N atoms (N1, N2, N3), one oxygen atom (O1) of the ligand (Etdpa) and two chloride atoms (Cl1, Cl2), forming a distorted octahedral geometry. The binding interaction between ct-DNA and the synthesized complexes was relatively weak, but they can inhibit the induced swelling of Ca²⁺-loaded mitochondria in a dose-dependent manner. The [(Adpa)Mn(Cl)(H₂O)] can cause the obvious decrease of mitochondria membrane potential. The MTT (3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenpyltetra-zolium bromide) assay shows that the two Mn(II) complexes are more active against cancer cells. Especially [(Adpa)Mn(Cl)(H₂O)] can inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells with IC₅₀ 9.5 μM. Experimental results indicate that the [(Adpa)Mn(Cl)(H₂O)] could be a new potential antitumor complex to target the mitochondria.