Nano-magnetite supported N-heterocyclic carbene-gold complex with pendant ferrocenyl group as a multi- modal anti-breast cancer agent

A novel nano-magnetite supported N-heterocyclic carbene-gold complex with pendant ferrocenyl group has been prepared by using a multi-step procedure. The complex displayed significantly higher anticancer activity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line with IC50 = 32.38 µg/mL as compared with standard drug 5-fluorouracil (IC50 = 25.29 µg/mL) in the MTT assay. The in-ovo antiangiogenic activity of the complex using chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay showed significant decrease in secondary blood vessels indicating that it is efficient angiogenesis inhibitor. The hyperthermia studies of the complex revealed a significant specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 246.974 Wg-1 with therapeutic temperature of 46.8 oC.