Cobalt(II) Porphyrin Complex Anchored on Chitosan@Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite as a Novel Anticancer Agent Against Colon Cancer Cells

Abstract The ongoing challenge of high cancer death rates highlights the critical need for innovative treatments with high selectivity and low toxicity. Graphene oxide (GO) and porphyrins have been investigated separately for various medical cancer treatments. However, each system has certain limitations, such as GO’s poor solubility or porphyrins’ propensity to aggregate in physiological media. In this regard, a novel cobalt(II) porphyrin complex [Co(II) TP-OHPP] 1, cobalt(II) porphyrin complex covalently bonded to chitosan [Co(II) TP-OHPP]-Cs 2 and supported on graphene oxide ([Co(II) TP-OHPP]-Cs @ G.O) 3 were synthesized, characterized, and confirmed utilizing FT-IR, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Further, the formulated nanocomposite was introduced as an anticancer candidate by measuring its antiproliferative impact, apoptosis, ROS, and cell cycle arrest inducer. The obtained data disclosed that [Co(II) TP-OHPP]-Cs @ G.O nanocomposite reduced HCT-116 growth with an IC 50 of 43.43 ± 6.07 µg mL −1 . Additionally, HCT-116 treated with the IC 50 of the nanocomposite was able to significantly ( P < 0.0001) trigger apoptosis (53.46 ± 4.2%) in a dose-dependent manner compared to untreated HCT-116. Importantly, the IC 50 of [Co(II) TP-OHPP]-Cs @ G.O was able to generate ROS within HCT-116, which further arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. Collectively, metalloporphyrin functionalized by graphene oxide displayed anticancer potential via apoptosis activation and cell cycle inhibition.