Biomolecular Interactions Underlying the Anticancer Activity of Gold(I) Dithiocarbamate–Phosphine Complexes

Gold(I) complexes bearing dithiocarbamate and phosphine ligands have emerged as promising anticancer agents due to their enhanced therapeutic potential and ability to interact with thiol-containing biomolecules. In this context, new gold(I) complexes bearing dithiocarbamate and phosphine ligands were synthesized, characterized by NMR, IR, CHNS, TGA and XRD, and evaluated for their cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and A549) and a normal cell line (MCF-10A), as well as for their ability to interact with reduced glutathione (GSH). The complexes exhibited IC₅₀ values two to four times lower than the ligand in the MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line, with complex 1 showing higher cytotoxicity (IC₅₀ lower than 1μM) and greater GSH interaction. These findings highlight the importance of the gold center and structure design in their biological activity, in addition to supporting possible reactivity toward thiol-containing biomolecules. Further mechanistic investigations involve additional studies around SH-containing targets and ROS generation.