Synthesis, Characterization, and Crystal Structures of Bis-Imidazolium Salts and Respective Dinuclear Ag(I) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: In Vitro Anticancer Studies against “Human Colon Cancer” and “Breast Cancer”
Figure 6
HCT 116 cell images were taken under an inverted phase-contrast microscope at ×200 magnification with a digital camera at 48 hours after treatment with the samples. (a) Cells from the control group showed fully confluent growth with compactly proliferating HCT 116 cells. (b) Cells treated with the standard drug 5-fluorouracil (IC50 = 5.9 μM) showed decreased viability. The cells show apoptotic characteristic features as the cell membrane blebbing, and nuclear condensation can be seen in the treated cells. (c) Treatment with 4 showed negligible cytotoxicity (IC50 > 200 μM), as the cell growth did not get affected, and cellular morphology was almost similar to that of negative control. (d) HCT 116 cells treated with the compound 6 exhibited significant antiproliferative activity (IC50 = 20.3 μM). As the photomicrograph depicts the treatment of HCT 116 cells with the 6 reduced the doubling time of cells drastically, the population of cells decreased significantly when compared to the negative control. (e) Treatment with 5 showed insignificant inhibitory effect on proliferation of cells (IC50 > 200 μM), as the growth and morphology of the cells were unaltered with respect to those of negative control. (f) Photomicrograph of the cells treated with 7 shows the strong cytotoxic effect on HCT 116 cells (IC50 = 5.6 μM). The effect can be compared with the standard reference, 5-fluorouracil. The treatment affected the morphology of almost all cells as the cells lost their pseudopodial like cellular extensions.
