Investigation of the anticancer effects of palladium carbene complexes in cell culture

Aim: The aim of this study is to synthesize N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors, prepare palladium complexes, and investigate their biological activities in a cell culture model. Material and Method: In this study, palladium carbene complexes were synthesized and, after their structural characterizations were confirmed, they were evaluated in cell culture experiments. Cells were cultured under appropriate conditions and treated with the compounds at predetermined concentrations together with control groups. Following treatment, the expression levels of target genes were analyzed by RT-qPCR, while changes in the expression of related proteins were examined by Western blot analysis. The cellular death response was evaluated as part of apoptosis analysis using flow cytometry with Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) staining, and cell cycle distribution was determined by cell cycle analysis using PI staining. In addition, to reveal the effects of the compounds on cellular behavior, migration and invasion capacities were analyzed using appropriate in vitro assays. The obtained data were evaluated using suitable statistical methods and the results were reported comparatively. Results: Analyses performed on the A549 cell line demonstrated that the synthesized palladium carbene complexes exert significant biological effects at the cellular level. RT-qPCR results showed increased p53 gene expression along with alterations in proliferation-related genes. Western blot findings supported these changes. Additionally, migration and invasion were suppressed, apoptosis was increased, and cell cycle distribution was affected. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the synthesized palladium carbene complexes exhibit anticancer activity at the cellular level by suppressing proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and reducing cell motility. Key words: NHC, Pd, A549, M-NHC, Pt