Photolability of NO in ruthenium nitrosyls with pentadentate ligand induces exceptional cytotoxicity towards VCaP, 22Rv1 and A549 cancer cells under therapeutic condition

Pentadentate electron rich MePBITA ligand in [RuII(MePBITA)(NO)]n+ (n = 3, 2 and MePBITA = 1-(6-(1-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)methanamine) permits the isolation of both the redox states of nitrosyls with Enemark–Feltham notation {RuNO}6 and {RuNO}7. The nitrosyl derivative [RuII(MePBITA)(NO)](ClO4)3: [4](ClO4)3 was synthesized by stepwise synthetic manner from the chloro precursor [RuII(MePBITA)(Cl)](PF6): [1](PF6), via the acetonitrile derivative [RuII(MePBITA)(CH3CN)](PF6)2: [2](PF6)2 followed by nitro complex [RuII(MePBITA)(NO2)](PF6): [3](PF6). All the complexes were fully characterized by different analytical and spectroscopic techniques. Single crystal X-ray structures of the complexes [1](PF6), [2](PF6)2, [3](PF6), and [4](ClO4)3 were profitably determined for understanding the molecular integrity. Ru−NO stretching frequency observed at 1931 cm−1 for [4](ClO4)3 suggests a moderately electrophilic character of NO. The huge shift in νNO frequency, Δν (solid) = 325 cm−1 was observed by reducing [4](ClO4)3 to [4](ClO4)2. The conversion of [3]+ from [4]3+ was examined both electrochemically and spectrophotometrically with the addition of 0.5 M NaOH solution. Rate constants of the first order photorelease (kNO) have been found to be 8.99 × 10−3 min−1; half-life (t1/2) = 77 min and 3.84 × 10−2 min−1; half-life (t1/2) = 18 min for [4]3+ and [4]2+, respectively with visible Xenon light (200 W) source. The photo liberated NO has been scavenged by biologically relevant target protein reduced myoglobin as Mb−NO adduct. Photoactivation of [4]3+ and [4]2+ by visible light induces significant cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cell lines; VCaP (IC50 29.74 and 4.42 µM) and 22Rv1 (IC50 29.96 and 6.88 µM), and lung cancer cell line; A549 (IC50 2.24 and 0.12 µM). Collectively our results pave the way for the development of metallodrugs as potential therapeutics for a variety of cancers. Additionally, our results also demonstrate how ligand modification could enhance the photolability of metal nitrosyl, adding a new dimension for future efficient photoactive metal nitrosyl design. © 2022 Elsevier B.V