In vitro and in vivo stability investigations of Cu(ii), Zn(ii), Ca(ii) and Gd(iii) complexes with N,N′-bis(2-hydroxyiminopropionyl) propane-1,3-diamine

Abstract

Formation constants of copper(II), zinc(II), calcium(II) and gadolinium(III) with N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyiminopropionyl) propane-1,3-diamine (L2) have been studied at 25 degrees C and an ionic strength of 0.15 mol dm(-3). The reasonably high formation constants of the copper with this ligand are due to the ease with which the metal ion deprotonates the amide moieties. The square-planar coordination of L2 towards copper as predicted from UV-visible data may also account for the high selectivity of L2 towards the metal ion. Octanol/water partition coefficients of Cu(II)-L2 complexes indicate that although these complexes are largely hydrophilic, approximately 1.86% of the [CuL2H(-1)] species goes into the octanol layer and hence may promote dermal absorption of copper with a calculated penetration rate of 1.24 x 10(-5) cm h(-1). The [CuL2H(-1)] complex which predominates at pH 7.4 is a poor mimic of native copper-zinc superoxide dismutase. Blood-plasma simulation studies predict that, despite the high concentration of zinc and calcium in vivo, L2 is able to increase the low-molecular-mass fraction of copper. Biodistribution experiments using 64Cu-labelled [CuL2H(-1)] indicate an initial high uptake of this species in the liver, but it is predominantly excreted through the renal system.