Investigation of Synthesis, X-Ray Characterization and Biological Activities of Copper(II) Imidazole Complexes

Copper, a transition metal, possesses antimicrobial and anticancer properties. This trace element plays a critical role in various biological functions in the human body. Copper complexes have been found to enhance the effects of pharmaceuticals, with significant interest in studying their biological activities, especially when coordinated with therapeutic ligands like thiosemicarbazones, phosphines, imidazole, and benzimidazole. In this research, copper complexes containing imidazole and benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. Their antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties were evaluated. The antimicrobial effects of these complexes against bacteria strains were assessed using the Microbroth Dilution Technique. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of the synthesized complexes was tested on the Panc-1 and Clone-9 cell lines through LDH and MTT assays. The antimicrobial tests revealed that the copper(II) complex with the imidazole ligand (Complex 1) exhibited superior antimicrobial activity compared to the benzimidazole-based complex (Complex 2). On the other hand, MTT and LDH assays indicated that Complex 2 had a stronger cytotoxic effect on Clone-9 cells than Complex 1. However, Complex 1 showed greater activity against Panc-1 cells overall. The findings suggest that the copper(II)-imidazole complex could serve as a potential candidate for developing alternative chemotherapeutic agents.