Synthesis, characterization, anticancer and antimicrobial studies of metal nanoparticles derived from Schiff base complexes

[Display omitted] •A new bi-dentate N, O donor Schiff base and Co(II) and Cu(II), Hg(II) and VO(II) complexes are synthesized, the laser ablation method was used to produce Cobalt and Copper nanoparticles.•Various analytical methods are employed to characterize the ligand, metal complexes, and their oxides.•The complexes and (CoO and CuO) NPs are investigation of antibacterial activity for the microorganisms.•MTT assay reveals that (CoO and CuO) NPs have better potential to be use selectively in colon cancer treatment. This study included the preparation of a new Schiff base ligand (LS) 2-(((3-hydroxyphenyl)imino)methyl-4-methylphenol which derived from 2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzaldehyde and 3-aminophenol and their metal complexes (Vanadium, Cobalt, Cupper, and Mercury)(II), also the laser ablation method was used to prepare Cobalt and Copper nanoparticles from the prepared Schiff base complexes. The characterization of chemical compounds is done by using several analytical and spectral methods such as; melting points, FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, GC–Mass, UV–Vis. spectroscopy, Magnetic susceptibility values. Using these values, a octahedral geometry is given for (VO, Co, Cu) complexes, while the (Hg) complex is shown the tetrahedral geometry. The crystal size of nanoparticles is measured using Debye Scherer’s equation in x-ray diffraction (XRD), and it was (14.63) nm for Cobalt nanoparticles and (12.30) nm for Cupper nanoparticles, while the size of the nanoparticles were calculated by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and EDX pattern. The Schiff base ligand, metal complexes, and metal Nano oxide particles were also tested for antimicrobial activity against bacterial species of two gram-positive and two gram-negative strains andone fungal strain, and complexes performed better than free ligands and nanoparticles. Recent studies have revealed the anticancer properties of metals oxides nanoparticles, specifically in the SW480 cell line. The calculation of the IC50 value, which was determined to be (15, 24) mg/ml for CoO and CuO respectively, indicates that these nanoparticles have the potential to be selectively used in the treatment of colon cancer.