Three new metal complexes of ceftriaxone (cef), incorporating platinum(IV), gold(III), and ruthenium(III), were prepared. The complexes were prepared using a 1:2 molar ratio between ceftriaxone sodium salt (Na2cef) to AuCl3, PtCl4, and RuCl3 salts in methanol solvent. The as-synthesized complexes were characterized using microanalytical techniques for C, H, N, and S elements, magnetic and molar conductance measurements, as well as spectroscopic methods including FTIR, 1H NMR, and UV-Vis. The shape, morphology and size calculations have been examined using SEM, TEM, and X-ray diffraction data. The cef complexes were six-coordinate systems possessing a distorted octahedral geometry. Through the oxygen of both triazine and carboxylate moieties with the chemical formulae [Au(cef)2(Cl)(H2O)] (I), [Pt(cef)2(Cl)2] (II), and [Ru(cef)2(Cl)(H2O)] (III)  the antibiotic cef acts as a bidentate ligand towards three metal ions. The newly created complexes demonstrated antibacterial activity showing efficacy in comparison to the cef sodium ligands. In vitro, antibacterial assays against specific microorganisms were evaluated to assess the antibacterial activities of the complexes. Cytotoxicity assays for cef complexes were conducted for HepG-2 and MCF-7 cell lines, representing human hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer, respectively.  A value of 22.4 g and 26.2 g for 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50), respectively, for HepG-2 and MCF-7 were obtained for [Ru(cef)2(Cl)(H2O)] (III).

KEY WORDS: Ceftriaxone sodium, Gold, Ruthenium, Platinum, Complexes, FTIR, IC50

Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2024, 38(4), 937-948.                                                      

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v38i4.10