Monitoring Cellular Uptake and Cytotoxicity of Copper(II) Complex Using a Fluorescent Anthracene Thiosemicarbazone Ligand

The thiosemicarbazone derivative
of anthracene (ATSC, anthracene
thiosemicarbazone 1) and its copper­(II) complex (CuATSC, 2) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical,
and crystallographic techniques. Interaction of 1 and 2 with calf thymus (CT) DNA was explored using absorption
and emission spectral methods, and viscosity measurements reveal a
partial-intercalation binding mode. Their protein binding ability
was monitored by the quenching of tryptophan emission using bovine
serum albumin ­(BSA) as a model
protein. Furthermore, their cellular uptake, in vitro cytotoxicity
testing on the HeLa cell line, and flow cytometric analysis were carried
out to ascertain the mode of cell death. Cell cycle analysis indicated
that 1 and 2 cause cell cycle arrest in
sub-G1 phase.