Zn(II)–carbamazepine complex: synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of biological and anticancer activity

Abstract

Abstract This research centers upon the synthesis of a new Zn(II) complex. It is characterized by using various analytical and spectroscopic tools, including FTIR, mass, PXRD, molar conductivity, elemental and thermal analyses. From the results obtained, Zn(II) metal reacts with carbamazepine (CBZ) ligand in the ratio of 1:2 [M2+:CBZ] with formula [Zn(CBZ)2(H2O)Cl]Cl · H2O. The spectroscopic and analytical data demonstrated that CBZ acts as a bidentate ligand through the nitrogen of the N-H bond and the oxygen of the amide group, forming a distorted octahedral geometry complex. The synthesized complex has been investigated against different pathogenic microorganisms, such as fungi, two Gram-negative bacteria, and two Gram-positive bacteria, as well as the cytotoxicity activity of CBZ and its Zn(II) complex has been tested against two human cancer cell lines, indicating the Zn(II) complex shows higher efficiency than CBZ, with values of 0.019 µM for HepG-2 and 0.031 µM for MCF-7. Density functional theory calculations demonstrated that CBZ forms a stable Zn(II) complex via bidentate coordination, thereby reducing the HOMO–LUMO gap and increasing thermodynamic stability. Both the CBZ and Zn(CBZ)2 complexes can interact with the active site of the MCF-7 breast cancer receptor via hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, according to molecular docking experiments. Graphical abstractMulti-panel figure showing molecular structures, UV-Vis absorption spectra, and a bar graph comparing inhibition zones for various compounds.This multi-panel figure includes (1) molecular orbital diagrams for LUMO and HOMO states with energy values, (2) a UV-Vis absorbance spectrum for CBZ (black) and Zn(II)-CBZ (red) from 200 to 500 nm, and (3) a bar chart depicting inhibition zones (mm) for CBZ, Zn(II)-CBZ, Ketoconazole, and Gentamycin against six microbes. The right side displays detailed molecular structures with bond lengths and partial charges.