Self-Assembling Metallocomplexes of the Amphiphilic 1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane Derivative as a Platform for the Development of Nonplatinum Anticancer Drugs

New 1-cetyl-4-aza-1-azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]­octane
bromide complexes
with copper­(II) bromide and lanthanum­(III) nitrate were characterized
using dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy,
with self-assembly and the morphological behavior elucidated. For
the lanthanum­(III) nitrate complex, the 3D crystal structure was characterized
using X-ray diffractometry. These metallosurfactants were tested as
antitumor agents, and a high cytotoxic effect comparable with doxorubicin
was revealed against the M-HeLa and A-549 cell lines. Both complexes
were 2 times more active toward the MCF-7 cell line than the breast
cancer drug tamoxifen. The cytotoxic mechanism of complexes is assumed
to be related to the induction of apoptosis through the mitochondrial
pathway.