The Development of Organotin(IV) N-Ethyl-N-Benzyldithiocarbamate Complexes: A Study on Their Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytocidal Effects on A549 Cell Line

Nurul Amalina Abd Aziz; Normah Awang; Nurul Farahana Kamaludin; Nur Najmi Mohamad Anuar; Asmah Hamid; Kok Meng Chan; Suhana Arshad

doi:10.2174/0118715206309421240402093335

The Development of Organotin(IV) N-Ethyl-N-Benzyldithiocarbamate Complexes: A Study on Their Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytocidal Effects on A549 Cell Line

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2024 Apr 15. doi: 10.2174/0118715206309421240402093335. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Nurul Amalina Abd Aziz¹, Normah Awang¹, Nurul Farahana Kamaludin¹, Nur Najmi Mohamad Anuar¹, Asmah Hamid¹, Kok Meng Chan², Suhana Arshad³

Affiliations

¹ Center for Toxicology and Health Risk Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
² Product Stewardship and Toxicology, Petroliam Nasional Berhad, Level 13, Tower 1, PETRONAS Twin Towers, KLCC, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
³ X-ray Crystallography Unit, School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.

PMID: 38629375
DOI: 10.2174/0118715206309421240402093335

Abstract

Background: Organotin(IV) complexes of dithiocarbamate are vital in medicinal chemistry, exhibiting potential in targeting cancer cells due to their unique properties that enhance targeted delivery. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize organotin(IV) N-ethyl-N-benzyldithiocarbamate complexes (ONBDCs) and evaluate their cytotoxicity against A549 cells, which are commonly used as a model for human lung cancer research.

Method: The two ONBDC derivatives - ONBDC 1 (dimethyltin(IV) N-ethyl-N-benzyldithiocarbamate) and ONBDC 2 (triphenyltin(IV) N-ethyl-N-benzyldithiocarbamate) - were synthesized via the reaction of tin(IV) chloride with N-ethylbenzylamine in the presence of carbon disulfide. A range of analytical techniques, including elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrometry, TGA/DTA analysis, and X-ray crystallography, was conducted to characterize these compounds comprehensively. The cytotoxic effects of ONBDCs against A549 cells were evaluated using MTT assay.

Results: Both compounds were synthesized and characterized successfully via elemental and spectroscopies analysis. MTT assay revealed that ONBDC 2 demonstrated remarkable cytotoxicity towards A549 cells, with an IC50 value of 0.52 μM. Additionally, ONBDC 2 displayed significantly higher cytotoxic activity against the A549 cell line when compared to the commercially available chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin (IC50: 32 μM).

Conclusion: Thus, it was shown that ONBDC 2 could have important anticancer properties and should be further explored as a top contender for creating improved and specialized cancer treatments.

Keywords: A549 cells.; Organotin(IV); cytotoxicity; dithiocarbamate; elemental; spectroscopy; synthesis.