Effective inhibition of insulin amyloid fibril aggregation by nickel(II) complexes containing heterocyclic thiosemicarbazones

The sensitivity of protein molecular structures makes them susceptible to aggregation in conditions unfavorable for the maintenance of their native folds. The aggregation of proteins leads to many disorders, but the inhibition of amyloid fibril formation using metal-containing small molecules is gaining popularity. Herein we report the effect of nickel(II) complexes (N1, N2, N3, and N4) bearing thiosemicarbazones on the inhibition of amyloid fibril formation by insulin. The interactions of the complexes with amyloid fibrils were investigated using various biophysical techniques, including light scattering, intrinsic fluorescence assay, thioflavin T (ThT) assay, and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that the phenyl-substituted N3 was an efficient inhibitor of amyloid fibril formation and maintained the insulin in its native structure despite conditions promoting fibrillation. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] Nickel(II) complexes containing indole based thiosemicarbazones were efficient in inhibiting the amyloid fibril formation and maintaining the insulin in its native structure in unfavorable conditions.