Synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity studies of manganese(II) complexes derived from chitosan thiosemicarbazone vanillin Schiff base.

Chitosan is an extensively utilized biomolecule owing to its availability, non-toxicity and biodegradability. Chemical modification of chitosan by functionalization results in substituted chitosan derivatives with enhanced properties and biological activities. In this context, a chitosan-supported vanillin thiosemicarbazone Schiff base ligand and its corresponding manganese (II) complex were successfully synthesized. The synthesized ligand and its corresponding complex were comprehensively characterized using infrared spectroscopy, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, and magnetic susceptibility measurement techniques. The results confirmed the successful functionalization of chitosan and its effective coordination with manganese (II) ions. The biological activity of the synthesized compound was evaluated through in vitro anticancer studies using a human breast cancer cell line. The synthesized manganese (II) complex exhibited significantly higher cytotoxic activity than the free ligand, indicating a synergistic interaction between the metal ion and ligand framework. These findings highlight the potential of the chitosan supported vanillin thiosemicarbazone Schiff base ligand and its manganese (II) complex as promising multifunctional materials with enhanced stability, efficient metal-chelating properties, and significant anticancer activity, making them attractive for future therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications.