Zinc complexes of diflunisal: Synthesis, characterization, structure, antioxidant activity, and in vitro and in silico study of the interaction with DNA and albumins

From the reaction of ZnCl2 with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diflunisal (Hdifl), complex [Zn(difl-O)2(MeOH)4], 1 was formed, while in the presence of a N,N′-donor heterocyclic ligand 2,2′-bipyridylamine (bipyam), 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 2,2′-dipyridylketone oxime (Hpko), the complexes [Zn(difl-O,O')2(bipyam)], 2, [Zn(difl-O,O′)2(bipy)], 3, [Zn(difl-O,O′)2(phen)], 4 and [Zn(difl-O)2(Hpko)2], 5 were isolated, respectively. The complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques and the crystal structures of complexes 2, 3 and 5 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The ability of the complexes to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and hydroxyl radicals and to inhibit soybean lipoxygenase was studied and the complexes were more active than free Hdifl. The interaction of the complexes with serum albumins was monitored by fluorescence emission spectroscopy and the corresponding binding constants were calculated. UV–vis spectroscopy, viscosity measurements and fluorescence emission spectroscopy for the competitive studies of the complexes with ethidium bromide were employed to investigate the interaction of the complexes with calf-thymus DNA and revealed intercalation as the most possible DNA-binding mode. Computational techniques were used to identify possible binding sites of albumins and DNA, and determine the druggability of human and bovine serum albumins with the five novel complexes. The majority of the complexes are stronger binders than the free Hdifl. This is the first study incorporating experimental and computational results to explore the binding activity of metal-NSAID complexes with DNA and serum albumins, suggesting their application as potential metallodrugs. Five zinc(II)-diflunisal complexes were synthesized and structurally characterized. The complexes exhibit selective scavenging activity, bind tightly to albumins and are DNA-intercalators, according to in vitro and in silico studies. [Display omitted] •Five zinc(II) complexes with the diflunisal ligands were characterized.•The crystals structures of three mixed-ligand complexes were determined.•The complexes show selective radical scavenging activity.•In vitro and in silico investigation of the interaction with albumins and DNA•Intercalation is the most possible binding mode of the complexes to CT DNA.