Synthesis, structural characterization, cytotoxicity and encapsulation studies of N,Nʹ-(1, 2-dicyano-1,2-vinylene)-bis(4-hydroxysalicylideneaminato) di(p-chlorobenzyl)tin as potential anticancer drug

Abstract Two new diorganotin(IV) complexes with the general formula (RC7H6)2Sn(L) (where RC7H6 = p-ClBn, C1; and p-FBn, C2) were prepared based on the reaction of 2,3-bis(4-hydroxysalicylidene-amino)-maleic nitrile (L) with substituted dibenzyltin(IV) dichloride. The structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and 13C NMR). They were tested against several cancer cell lines by using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. C1, which was most effective against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line, was further investigated in formulation and encapsulation studies, including drug encapsulation efficiency, particle size, morphology and in vitro drug release. An encapsulation of about 90% was achieved with particles of 128 nm average diameter. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) confirmed a spherical shape for the encapsulated C1. The cumulative drug release over a period of 60 days in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4 was 75%. Based on these results, the formulated drug has the potential of a slow release drug for cancer chemotherapy.