Interaction of copper(II) with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs naproxen and diclofenac: synthesis, structure, DNA- and albumin-binding.

Copper(II) complexes with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) naproxen and diclofenac have been synthesized and characterized in the presence of nitrogen donor heterocyclic ligands (2,2'-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline or pyridine). Naproxen and diclofenac act as deprotonated ligands coordinated to Cu(II) ion through carboxylato oxygens. The crystal structures of (2,2'-bipyridine)bis(naproxenato)copper(II), 1, (1,10-phenanthroline)bis(naproxenato)copper(II), 2 and bis(pyridine)bis(diclofenac)copper(II), 4 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The UV study of the interaction of the complexes with calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) has shown that the complexes can bind to CT DNA with (2,2'-bipyridine)bis(naproxenato)copper(II) exhibiting the highest binding constant to CT DNA. Competitive study with ethidium bromide (EB) indicates that the complexes can displace the DNA-bound EB suggesting strong competition with EB. The cyclic voltammograms of the complexes recorded in the presence of CT DNA have shown that the complexes can bind to CT DNA by the intercalative binding mode which has also been verified by DNA solution viscosity measurements. The NSAID ligands and their complexes exhibit good binding propensity to human or bovine serum albumin protein having relatively high binding constant values. The biological properties of the previously reported complexes [Cu(2)(naproxenato)(4)(H(2)O)(2)], [Cu(2)(diclofenac)(4)(H(2)O)(2)] and [Cu(naproxenato)(2)(pyridine)(2)(H(2)O)] have been also evaluated. The dinuclear complexes exhibit similar affinity for CT DNA as the 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline containing complexes. The pyridine containing complexes exhibit the lowest affinity for CT DNA and the lowest ability to displace EB from its EB-DNA complex.