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 7
Human hormone estrogen dependent ductal breast carcinoma cell line MCF 7 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) Photomicrograph depicts the MCF 7 cells from the control group formed a compact confluent layer, where all the cells displayed aggressive multiplication and intact cellular membrane. In treatment groups, generally, the complexes demonstrated more significant activity than their respective ligands. (b) Treatment with tamoxifen showed marked inhibition in cell proliferation with IC50 = 14 μM. The picture revealed that the population of the cells is reduced drastically. (c) The treatment with 4 showed moderate to least cytotoxicity, with higher IC50 value is found to be >200 μM. (d) Treatment of MCF 7 cells with 6 showed strong cytotoxic effect (IC50 = 6.38 μM) as the antiproliferative effect was similar to that of the standard reference tamoxifen. The viability of the cells was severely affected, as the photomicrograph showed all the treated cells lost their viable characteristic features. (e) Treatment with 5 showed mild antiproliferative activity on MCF-7 cells. The IC50 was determined to be 158 μM. (f) Photomicrograph of MCF-7 cell treated with 7 showed potent inhibition in cell proliferation with IC50 = 1.12 μM. The picture revealed the strong cytotoxic activity of the complex as the cells undergo apoptotic changes with the clear evidence of membrane blebbing and nuclear condensation.
