Investigating the Antibacterial and Antitumoral Activities of New Copper(II) Complexes with Trifluoromethyluracil Isomers

Author(s)
Gabriele de Menezes Pereira, Julia Helena Bormio Nunes, Silmara Cristina Lazarini Frajácomo, Wilton Rogério Lustri, Fernando Rodrigues Goulart Bergamini, Josélia Cristina de Oliveira Moreira, Robson Pontes, Ana Lucia T.G. Ruiz, João Ernesto de Carvalho, Wdeson Pereira Barros, Pedro Paulo Corbi
Abstract

New copper(II) complexes, derived from the isomers 5-(trifluoromethyl)uracil (L1) and 6-(trifluoromethyl)uracil (L2) with 2,2′-bipyridine (Bpy), [Cu(H2O)(L1)2Bpy] and [Cu(H2O)(L2)2Bpy], were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for their antibacterial and antitumoral properties. Chemical analyses suggest the molecular formula CuC20H12F6N6O4·H2O for both complexes. Infrared spectroscopic analyses indicate that trifluoromethyluracil isomers coordinate to copper(II) by the oxygen atoms. Structural confirmation of the [Cu(H2O)(L2)2Bpy] complex was obtained by single crystal X-ray diffraction, where two L2 molecules coordinate to the copper(II) ion by both oxygen atoms from carbonyl groups. The complexes demonstrated antibacterial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli strains. The [Cu(H2O)(L1)2Bpy] complex exhibited the most promising results against P. aeruginosa, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.478 mmol L−1. The [Cu(H2O)(L1)2Bpy] complex demonstrated antiproliferative effects on U251 and MCF-7 cells, with GI50 values (concentration that inhibits 50% of cell growth) of 2.18 ± 1.17 and 16.00 ± 10.07 µmol·L−1, whereas the [Cu(H2O)(L2)2Bpy] complex inhibited the growth of FaDu and U251 cells (GI50 values 4.70 ± 2.69 µmol·L−1 and 9.06 ± 3.86 µmol·L−1, respectively). Neither the precursors nor the copper(II) complexes affected the structure of CT-DNA at the evaluated concentrations, suggesting that DNA is not the main cellular target of the complexes.

Organisation(s)
Department of Inorganic Chemistry
External organisation(s)
Universidade Estadual de Campinas, University of Araraquara, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia
Journal
ChemistrySelect
Volume
10
ISSN
2365-6549
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202405096
Publication date
02-2025
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
104003 Inorganic chemistry, 301904 Cancer research
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Chemistry
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/0349a735-7cd0-49e2-9df4-3cdbfe9e7ca2