Iron(III) Complexes with Substituted Salicylaldehydes: Synthesis, Interaction with DNA and Serum Albumins, and Antioxidant Activity

Metal complexes of endogenous metals, such as iron, copper, and zinc, offer a biocompatible, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to heavy metals for drug design. This study presents the synthesis, structural characterization, and evaluation of the biological activity of eight novel iron(III...

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Main Authors: Zisis Papadopoulos, Antonios G. Hatzidimitriou, George Psomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/11/2383
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author Zisis Papadopoulos
Antonios G. Hatzidimitriou
George Psomas
author_facet Zisis Papadopoulos
Antonios G. Hatzidimitriou
George Psomas
author_sort Zisis Papadopoulos
collection DOAJ
description Metal complexes of endogenous metals, such as iron, copper, and zinc, offer a biocompatible, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to heavy metals for drug design. This study presents the synthesis, structural characterization, and evaluation of the biological activity of eight novel iron(III) complexes with substituted salicylaldehydes as ligands. The characterization of the complexes involved spectroscopic and physicochemical methods. The structures of two complexes were determined using single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The biological studies of the complexes focused on the interaction of calf-thymus DNA, the (photo)cleavage of pBR322 plasmid DNA (pDNA), the affinity for bovine and human serum albumins, and the antioxidant activity. The complexes interacted with calf-thymus DNA via intercalation with high DNA-binding constants. The complexes exhibited high pDNA-cleavage ability, which is significantly enhanced upon exposure to UVA or UVB irradiation. The complexes can bind tightly and reversibly to both serum albumins, and their binding locations were identified. Finally, the complexes showed moderate ability to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals with a high ability to reduce hydrogen peroxide.
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spelling doaj-art-4e6bfdc93ebf40b29d7489199263d52f2025-08-20T02:33:06ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-05-013011238310.3390/molecules30112383Iron(III) Complexes with Substituted Salicylaldehydes: Synthesis, Interaction with DNA and Serum Albumins, and Antioxidant ActivityZisis Papadopoulos0Antonios G. Hatzidimitriou1George Psomas2Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceMetal complexes of endogenous metals, such as iron, copper, and zinc, offer a biocompatible, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to heavy metals for drug design. This study presents the synthesis, structural characterization, and evaluation of the biological activity of eight novel iron(III) complexes with substituted salicylaldehydes as ligands. The characterization of the complexes involved spectroscopic and physicochemical methods. The structures of two complexes were determined using single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The biological studies of the complexes focused on the interaction of calf-thymus DNA, the (photo)cleavage of pBR322 plasmid DNA (pDNA), the affinity for bovine and human serum albumins, and the antioxidant activity. The complexes interacted with calf-thymus DNA via intercalation with high DNA-binding constants. The complexes exhibited high pDNA-cleavage ability, which is significantly enhanced upon exposure to UVA or UVB irradiation. The complexes can bind tightly and reversibly to both serum albumins, and their binding locations were identified. Finally, the complexes showed moderate ability to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals with a high ability to reduce hydrogen peroxide.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/11/2383iron(III) complexessubstituted salicylaldehydesinteraction with DNAcleavage of plasmid DNAaffinity for albuminsantioxidant activity
spellingShingle Zisis Papadopoulos
Antonios G. Hatzidimitriou
George Psomas
Iron(III) Complexes with Substituted Salicylaldehydes: Synthesis, Interaction with DNA and Serum Albumins, and Antioxidant Activity
Molecules
iron(III) complexes
substituted salicylaldehydes
interaction with DNA
cleavage of plasmid DNA
affinity for albumins
antioxidant activity
title Iron(III) Complexes with Substituted Salicylaldehydes: Synthesis, Interaction with DNA and Serum Albumins, and Antioxidant Activity
title_full Iron(III) Complexes with Substituted Salicylaldehydes: Synthesis, Interaction with DNA and Serum Albumins, and Antioxidant Activity
title_fullStr Iron(III) Complexes with Substituted Salicylaldehydes: Synthesis, Interaction with DNA and Serum Albumins, and Antioxidant Activity
title_full_unstemmed Iron(III) Complexes with Substituted Salicylaldehydes: Synthesis, Interaction with DNA and Serum Albumins, and Antioxidant Activity
title_short Iron(III) Complexes with Substituted Salicylaldehydes: Synthesis, Interaction with DNA and Serum Albumins, and Antioxidant Activity
title_sort iron iii complexes with substituted salicylaldehydes synthesis interaction with dna and serum albumins and antioxidant activity
topic iron(III) complexes
substituted salicylaldehydes
interaction with DNA
cleavage of plasmid DNA
affinity for albumins
antioxidant activity
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/11/2383
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AT antoniosghatzidimitriou ironiiicomplexeswithsubstitutedsalicylaldehydessynthesisinteractionwithdnaandserumalbuminsandantioxidantactivity
AT georgepsomas ironiiicomplexeswithsubstitutedsalicylaldehydessynthesisinteractionwithdnaandserumalbuminsandantioxidantactivity