Structural insights into interactions of new polymeric (μ–oxo) bridged Cu(II) complexes of taurine with yeast tRNA by spectroscopic and computational approaches and its application towards chemoresistant cancer lines

RNA-targeted drugs are considered as safe treatment option for the cure of many chronic diseases preventing off-targeted delivery and acute toxic manifestations. FDA has approved many such RNA therapies in different phases of clinical trials, validating their use for the treatment of various chronic diseases. We report herein, new water-soluble (μ–oxo) bridged polymeric Cu(II) complexes of taurine (2–aminoethane sulfonic acid) complexes 1 and 2. The therapeutic potency of 1 and 2 was ascertained by studying biophysical interactions with tRNA/ct-DNA. The experimental results demonstrated that the complexes interacted avidly to nucleic acids through intercalation mode depicting a specific preference for tRNA in comparison to ct–DNA and, moreover 2 showed higher binding propensity than 1. The electrophoretic behaviour of the complexes with plasmid pBR322 DNA and tRNA were examined by gel mobility assay that revealed a concentration-dependent activity with complex 2 performing more efficient cleavage as compared to complex 1. Cytotoxicity results on cancer cell strains displayed higher cytotoxicity than complex 1 against treated cancer cells. The synthesized copper(II) taurine complexes have met the basic criteria of anticancer drug design as they are structurally well-characterized, exhibiting good solubility in water, lipophilic in nature with superior intercalating propensity towards tRNA and cytotoxic in nature.