New metal-based drugs: spectral, electrochemical, DNA-binding and anticancer activity properties

The coordination compounds of antineoplastic chemotherapy drug of dacarbazine (DAC) with Zn(II) ([Zn(DAC)₂] 3H₂O; NGDCM1) and Cu(II) ([Cu(DAC)ClH₂O]; NGDCM2) were synthesized and characterized using analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The electrochemical behaviors of the obtained new compounds and the starting active substance DAC were examined in detail. The interaction of all compounds with fish sperm double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (FSdsDNA) was investigated by measuring their binding constant (K_b) to FSdsDNA. Also, the competitive binding fluorescence spectroscopy studies with ethidium bromide (EtBr) were carried out. Furthermore, both compound’s anticancer activities were investigated on human lung cancer (A549) cells, and their effects were compared to other metals possessing antineoplastic drugs, including oxaliplatin and cisplatin.