New insight into the DNA binding studies,In-Vitro anti-cancer activity and molecular modelling of dioxo complexes of Molybdenum(VI) and Tungsten(VI) hydroxamic acids

The present study embodies the detail of interaction of Complex 1, Bis(N-phenyl-o-methoxybenzohydroxamato)Molybdenum(VI): [N-PMBHA-Mo(VI)] and Complex 2, Bis(N-phenylbenzohydroxamato)Tungsten(VI): [N-PBHA-W(VI)] with ct-DNA (Calf thymus-DNA) and its consequences by UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy, viscosity measurements and molecular docking. The intrinsic binding constant, K_b of complexes were determined which follows the order as complex 1 > complex 2 along with variation in shift and intensity for the complexes. Fluorescence spectroscopy applied for the determination of Stern–Volmer quenching constant, binding constant and the number of binding sites which reveals groove mode of binding. Non-radiative energy transfer between donor and acceptor molecule exposed by Förster energy transference theory (FRET) studies. The increase in the relative viscosity of ct-DNA with increasing the concentration of the complex 1 and complex 2 is also revealed. FTIR analysis also revealed that both the complexes interacted positively with bases and phosphates of ct-DNA. The docking studies complemented the experimental results revealing minor groove mode of binding for both the complexes. Finally, the in-vitro cytotoxicity studies indicate that the complexes have excellent anticancer activity against the breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, which could be a constructive guideline to produce new generations of anticancer agents.