Multifunctional Silver(I) Complexes with Metronidazole Drug Reveal Antimicrobial Properties and Antitumor Activity against Human Hepatoma and Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells †

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Our previous studies demonstrated that a silver(I) nitrate complex with metronidazole presented greater photo-stability, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and genotoxic properties than silver(I) nitrate. These advantages make the complex a better candidate for clinical therapy than pure salt. Therefore, in this study, we decided to synthetize and determine the chemical, cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of [Ag(MTZ)(2)](2)SO(4), a novel metronidazole silver(I) complex, in comparison with pure salt Ag(2)SO(4) and [Ag(MTZ)(2)NO(3)]. The photo-stability, cytotoxicity toward cancer cells and antimicrobial activity of [Ag(MTZ)(2)](2)SO(4) is higher than Ag(2)SO(4). What is more, we found that the novel synthetized complex shows better cytotoxicity against cancer cells than [Ag(MTZ)(2)NO(3)]. Both complexes have similar biological activity against the majority of tested bacterial strains. ABSTRACT: Silver salts and azole derivatives are well known for their antimicrobial properties. Recent evidence has demonstrated also their cytotoxic and genotoxic potential toward both normal and cancer cells. Still, little is known about the action of complexes of azoles with silver(I) salts. Thus, the goal of the study was to compare the chemical, cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of metronidazole complexes with silver(I) nitrate and silver(I) sulfate to metronidazole and pure silver(I) salts. We synthetized a novel complex, [Ag(MTZ)(2)](2)SO(4), and confirmed its chemical structure and properties using (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy and X-Ray, IR and elemental analysis. To establish the stability of complexes [Ag(MTZ)(2)NO(3)] and [Ag(MTZ)(2)](2)SO(4), they were exposed to daylight and UV-A rays and were visually assessed. Their cytotoxicity toward human cancer cells (HepG2, Caco-2) and mice normal fibroblasts (Balb/c 3T3 clone A31) was determined by MTT, NRU, TPC and LDH assays. The micro-dilution broth method was used to evaluate their antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A biofilm eradication study was also performed using the crystal violet method and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The photo-stability of the complexes was higher than silver(I) salts. In human cancer cells, [Ag(MTZ)(2)](2)SO(4) was more cytotoxic than Ag(2)SO(4) and, in turn, AgNO(3) was more cytotoxic than [Ag(MTZ)(2)NO(3)]. For Balb/c 3T3 cells, Ag(2)SO(4) was more cytotoxic than [Ag(MTZ)(2)](2)SO(4), while the cytotoxicity of AgNO(3) and [Ag(MTZ)(2)NO(3)] was similar. Metronidazole in the tested concentration range was non-cytotoxic for both normal and cancer cells. The complexes showed increased bioactivity against aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria when compared to metronidazole. For the majority of the tested bacterial strains, the silver(I) salts and complexes showed a higher antibacterial activity than MTZ; however, some bacterial strains presented the reverse effect. Our results showed that silver(I) complexes present higher photo-stability, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity in comparison to MTZ and, to a certain extent, to silver(I) salts.