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New Transition Metal Complexes as Chemotherapeutic Agents

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Inorganic Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 15936

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giorgio Facchetti

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Guest Editor

Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: organometallic chemistry; catalysis; transition metal complexes; biological active molecules; asymmetric synthesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Isabella Rimoldi

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Co-Guest Editor

Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy
Interests: organometallic chemistry; asymmetric catalysis; hybrid catalysts; transition metal-based anticancer drugs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In nature, metals are essential components of many biological systems because of their unique features like redox activity, variable coordination modes, and reactivity towards organic substrates. Metal-containing compounds offer many advantages over conventional carbon-based molecules for the development of drugs endowed with pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetics properties. Their ability to coordinate ligands in a three-dimensional fashion according to different coordination numbers and geometries allows for creating unique molecular structures, tailor-made for interacting with defined targets, an aspect otherwise unrealizable by conventional carbon-based molecules. The discovery of cisplatin and its later approved derivatives started a new era in this field, but the persistence of some severe side-effects, along with the arising of drug resistance, evoke the need for a new generation of transition metal-based chemotherapeutics with the aim to overcome these limitations.

This Special Issue of Molecules welcomes original research articles, communications, and reviews dealing with the synthesis and biological evaluation of transition metal complexes with original structures and coordination geometries that provide an effort to go beyond the cisplatin structure and its biological profile. A special focus is dedicated to organometallic complexes whose activity relies on transition metals other than platinum, and their application to the treatment of orphan tumors.

Dr. Giorgio Facchetti
Dr. Rimoldi Isabella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Transition metal complexes
Coordination chemistry
Bioinorganic medicinal chemistry
Cancer chemotherapy
Orphan tumors
Biological evaluation

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 8211 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Silico ADME and Toxicity Prediction of Benzimidazole Derivatives and Its Cobalt Coordination Compounds. Synthesis, Characterization and Crystal Structure

by Anita Raducka, Marcin Świątkowski, Katarzyna Gobis, Paweł Szymański and Agnieszka Czylkowska

Molecules 2022, 27(22), 8011; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27228011 - 18 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1708

Abstract

As a result of the synthesis, three new solids, cobalt (II) coordination compounds with benzimidazole derivatives, and chlorides were obtained. The ligands that were used in the synthesis were specially synthesized and were commercially unavailable. During the synthesis, a single crystal of the complex with the L1 ligand was obtained and the crystal structure was refined. All coordination compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. All the obtained data allowed one to determine the formulas of the new compounds, as well as to determine the method of metal–ligand coordination. Thermal analysis allowed to know the temperature stability of the compounds, solids intermediate and final products of pyrolysis. Additionally, volatile decomposition and fragmentation products have been identified. The toxicity of the compounds and their bioavailability were determined using in silico methods. By predicting activity on cell lines, the potential use of compounds as chemotherapeutic agents has been specified. The blood-brain barrier crossing and the gastrointestinal absorption were defined. Pharmaceutical biodistribution was also simulated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Transition Metal Complexes as Chemotherapeutic Agents)

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20 pages, 2535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Characterization, Antimicrobial Activity and BSA/DNA Binding Affinity of New Silver(I) Complexes with Thianthrene and 1,8-Naphthyridine

by Darko P. Ašanin, Sanja Skaro Bogojevic, Franc Perdih, Tina P. Andrejević, Dusan Milivojevic, Ivana Aleksic, Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic, Biljana Đ. Glišić, Iztok Turel and Miloš I. Djuran

Molecules 2021, 26(7), 1871; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26071871 - 26 Mar 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2790

Abstract

Three new silver(I) complexes [Ag(NO₃)(tia)(H₂O)]_n (Ag1), [Ag(CF₃SO₃)(1,8-naph)]_n (Ag2) and [Ag₂(1,8-naph)₂(H₂O)_1.2](PF₆)₂ (Ag3), where tia is thianthrene and 1,8-naph is 1,8-naphthyridine, were synthesized and structurally characterized by different spectroscopic and electrochemical methods and their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Their antimicrobial potential was evaluated against four bacterial and three Candida species, and the obtained results revealed that these complexes showed significant activity toward the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the investigated Candida species with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the range 1.56–7.81 μg/mL. On the other hand, tia and 1,8-naph ligands were not active against the investigated strains, suggesting that their complexation with Ag(I) ion results in the formation of antimicrobial compounds. Moreover, low toxicity of the complexes was detected by in vivo model Caenorhabditis elegans. The interaction of the complexes with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied to evaluate their binding affinity towards these biomolecules for possible insights into the mode of antimicrobial activity. The binding affinity of Ag1–3 to BSA was higher than that for DNA, indicating that proteins could be more favorable binding sites for these complexes in comparison to the nucleic acids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Transition Metal Complexes as Chemotherapeutic Agents)

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26 pages, 3692 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ruthenium(II)/(III) DMSO-Based Complexes of 2-Aminophenyl Benzimidazole with In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Activity

by Shadia A. Elsayed, Shane Harrypersad, Heba A. Sahyon, Mohammed Abu El-Magd and Charles J. Walsby

Molecules 2020, 25(18), 4284; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules25184284 - 18 Sep 2020

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4308

Abstract

New anticancer ruthenium(II/III) complexes [RuCl₂(DMSO)₂(Hapbim)] (1) and [RuCl₃(DMSO) (Hapbim)] (2) (Hapbim = 2-aminophenyl benzimidazole) have been synthesized and characterized, and their chemotherapeutic potential evaluated. The interaction of the compounds with DNA was studied by both UV-Visible and fluorescence spectroscopies, revealing intercalation of both the Hapbim ligand and the Ru complexes. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds was tested on human breast cancer (MCF7), human colorectal cancer (Caco2), and normal human liver cell lines (THLE-2), with compound (2) the most potent against cancer cells. The cytotoxic effect of (2) is shown to correlate with the ability of the Ru(III) complex to induce apoptosis and to cause cell-cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Notably, both compounds were inactive in the noncancerous cell line. The anticancer effect of (2) has also been studied in an EAC (Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma) mouse model. Significantly, the activity of the complex was more pronounced in vivo, with removal of the cancer burden at doses that resulted in only low levels of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. An apoptosis mechanism was determined by the observation of increased Bax and caspase 3 and decreased Bcl2 expression. Furthermore, (2) decreased oxidative stress and increased the levels of antioxidant enzymes, especially SOD, suggesting the enhancement of normal cell repair. Overall, compound (2) shows great potential as a chemotherapeutic candidate, with promising activity and low levels of side effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Transition Metal Complexes as Chemotherapeutic Agents)

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Graphical abstract

20 pages, 3500 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Equilibria in Aqueous Cobalt(II)—Reduced Schiff Base N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine System: Chemical Characterization, Kinetic Analysis, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Properties

by Magdalena Woźniczka, Manas Sutradhar, Armando J. L. Pombeiro, Mirosława Świątek, Marek Pająk, Joanna Gądek-Sobczyńska, Magdalena Chmiela, Weronika Gonciarz, Beata Pasternak and Aleksander Kufelnicki

Molecules 2020, 25(15), 3462; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules25153462 - 30 Jul 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2683

Abstract

The present study describes the coordination properties of a reduced Schiff base, N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine, towards cobalt(II) using potentiometric as well as spectroscopic (UV-Vis and ESI-MS) methods. The results indicate the formation of six mononuclear complexes showing high stability in aqueous solution. Coordination occurs in the {O⁻_phenolic,N,O⁻_carboxyl} and {N,O⁻_carboxyl} chelation modes, depending on the degree of ligand deprotonation. Examination of the complexation equilibria at pH ca 7, which is important from a biological point of view, allowed to identify two species: [CoL] and [CoL₂H]⁻. The kinetic analysis showed a structural change of those cobalt(II) complexes from octahedral to tetrahedral in accordance with a first-order time relationship. The antimicrobial properties of N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine, cobalt(II) nitrate and of the Co(II) – ligand complexes were determined against Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis), Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori) and a fungal strain (Candida). The results indicate that the complexes are more active for more strains than the ligand alone. Nevertheless, the complexes induce a higher decrease in the metabolic activity of cells but without damage to nuclei. Tetrahedral structures show stronger anti-cellular toxicity than octahedral complexes, which is most likely due to the higher accessibility of the cobalt(II) center. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Transition Metal Complexes as Chemotherapeutic Agents)

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Review

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14 pages, 1047 KiB

Open AccessReview

Antitumor Activity of Pt(II), Ru(III) and Cu(II) Complexes

by Katarzyna Gałczyńska, Zuzanna Drulis-Kawa and Michał Arabski

Molecules 2020, 25(15), 3492; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules25153492 - 31 Jul 2020

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 3656

Abstract

Metal complexes are currently potential therapeutic compounds. The acquisition of resistance by cancer cells or the effective elimination of cancer-affected cells necessitates a constant search for chemical compounds with specific biological activities. One alternative option is the transition metal complexes having potential as antitumor agents. Here, we present the current knowledge about the application of transition metal complexes bearing nickel(II), cobalt(II), copper(II), ruthenium(III), and ruthenium(IV). The cytotoxic properties of the above complexes causing apoptosis, autophagy, DNA damage, and cell cycle inhibition are described in this review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Transition Metal Complexes as Chemotherapeutic Agents)

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