Au(III), Ta(V), Nb(V), Se(IV) and Te(IV) ions interaction with aurin tricarboxylic acid triammonium salt in methanolic solvent at neutral system: Focusing on the structures, morphology, thermal stability, and biology of the complexes

The present study investigated the structural, morphological, thermal, and pharmacological properties of aurin tricarboxylic acid triammonium salt (AAS) complexed with Au(III), Ta(V), Nb(V), Se(IV), and Te(IV) ions. The formed complexes were characterized by spectroscopic and physicochemical techniques, such as CHN elemental analysis, magnetic moment, conductivity, FTIR, 1H NMR, and UV–visible spectroscopies; XRD; SEM; TEM; and thermogravimetry. The analytical and spectral data suggest that Ta(V), Nb(V), Se(IV), and Te(IV) ions formed octahedral complexes, where Au(III) ion formed square planar complex. The biological activity of the formed complexes was evaluated using two human cancer cell lines and four microbes. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion and MTT-based assay methods were used for antibacterial screening and cytotoxicity towards MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines, respectively. Investigation on cytotoxic activity showed that the complexation with Au(III) ions increased the cytotoxic activity of AAS by 57% towards HepG2 cells and by 45% towards MCF-7cells. Investigation on antibacterial activity showed that the Te(IV) complex had a remarkable profile towards Gram-negative bacteria. •Article aimed to synthesis of Au(III), Ta(V), Nb(V), Se(IV), and Te(IV) aurin complexes in neutral media.•The structural, and pharmacological analyses of synthesized complexes were discussed.•Geometrical structure of Ta(V), Nb(V), Se(IV), and Te(IV) have an octahedral while Au(III) ion has a square planar complex.•The cytotoxic of Au(III) is higher than aurin ligand by 57% and 45% against HepG2 and MCF-7cells.•Te(IV) complex had a remarkable profile towards Gram-negative bacteria.