Raman microspectroscopy for probing the impact of a dietary antioxidant on human breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer worldwide and the most frequent among women, being the fifth cause of death from neoplastic disease. Since this is an oxidative-stress related neoplasia, it is largely preventable. A dietary isoflavone abundant in soybean - daidzein - is currently being investigated owing to its chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic properties towards the human MDA-MB-231 (metastatic, estrogen-unresponsive) and MCF-7 (estrogen-responsive) breast cancer cell lines. Biological assays for evaluation of antitumour and anti-invasive activities were combined with state-of-the-art vibrational microspectroscopy techniques. At 50 and 100 μM concentrations and 48 h incubation time, daidzein was found to induce a marked decrease in cell viability (ca. 50%) for MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells (respectively ca. 50% and 42%) and 40% inhibition of cell migration. MicroRaman analysis of fixed cells upon exposure to this isoflavone unveiled its metabolic impact on both cell lines. Multivariate data analysis (unsupervised PCA) led to a clear discrimination between the control and DAID-exposed cells, with distinctive effects on their biochemical profile, particularly regarding DNA, lipids and protein components, in a cell-dependent way. This is the first reported study on the impact of dietary antioxidants on cancer cells by microRaman techniques.

Design, synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity, molecular docking and analysis of binding interactions of novel acetylacetonatopalladium(ii) alanine and valine complexes with CT-DNA and BSA

The neutral, water soluble palladium(ii) amino acid complexes, interact with CT-DNA (groove binding) and BSA (H-binding in main pocket). Molecular docking supports the interactions.

Synthesis of platinum(II) complexes of 2-cycloalkyl-substituted benzimidazoles and their cytotoxic effects

Five novel Pt(II) complexes with some 2-cycloalkyl-substituted benzimidazole carrier-ligands were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against HeLa and OVCAR-3 cell lines. A cell viability test revealed that [dichloro-bis(2-cycloheptylbenzimidazole) platinum(II)] is less cytotoxic than cisplatin, and its cytotoxic effect can be compared with that of carboplatin. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that this complex at 117 μM concentration causes apoptosis in approx. 72 % of the OVCAR-3 cell population. In addition, the complex was found to cause an increase in the SubG1 population of both OVCAR-3 and HeLa cells and to cause less apoptosis in HeLa cells than cisplatin.

A molecular view of cisplatin's mode of action: interplay with DNA bases and acquired resistance

A definite molecular picture of cisplatin's MOA is presented, including a detailed interpretation of the glutathione-mediated drug scavenging process.

Conformational insights and vibrational study of a promising anticancer agent: the role of the ligand in Pd(ii)–amine complexes

This study reports the first complete vibrational analysis of a dinuclear polyamine-based compound displaying antitumour properties.

Synthesis and analysis of the anticancer activity of platinum(ii) complexes incorporating dipyridoquinoxaline variants

Platinum complexes incorporating variants of dpq were synthesised. Their DNA affinity and cytotoxicity were compared to complexes containing phen variants, revealing unexpected trends in biological activity.