Highly cytotoxic copper(II) terpyridine complexes as anticancer drug candidates

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. Chemotherapy remains frequently applied treatment modalities in clinics. However, as currently agents are associated with severe side effects, scientists searching for novel chemotherapeutic drugs. Within last decades, Cu(II) polypyridine complexes have received increasing attention potential anticancer drug candidates. Herein, biological activity terminally functionalised mono- and bis-coordinated Cu(II)-2,2?:6?,2?-terpyridine been investigated. The compounds were found to a cytotoxic effect nanomolar range human adenocarcinomic alveolar basal epithelial cells. Promisingly, equally active corresponding cisplatin resistant cell line, indicating that they could potentially be useful tumours.