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Zhao Q, Han B, Peng C, Zhang N, Huang W, He G, Li JL. A promising future of metal-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes in medicinal chemistry: The emerging bioorganometallic antitumor agents. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:2194-2235. [PMID: 38591229 DOI: 10.1002/med.22039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Metal complexes based on N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have emerged as promising broad-spectrum antitumor agents in bioorganometallic medicinal chemistry. In recent decades, studies on cytotoxic metal-NHC complexes have yielded numerous compounds exhibiting superior cytotoxicity compared to cisplatin. Although the molecular mechanisms of these anticancer complexes are not fully understood, some potential targets and modes of action have been identified. However, a comprehensive review of their biological mechanisms is currently absent. In general, apoptosis caused by metal-NHCs is common in tumor cells. They can cause a series of changes after entering cells, such as mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) variation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cytochrome c (cyt c) release, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, lysosome damage, and caspase activation, ultimately leading to apoptosis. Therefore, a detailed understanding of the influence of metal-NHCs on cancer cell apoptosis is crucial. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of recent advances in metal-NHC complexes that trigger apoptotic cell death via different apoptosis-related targets or signaling pathways, including B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2 family), p53, cyt c, ER stress, lysosome damage, thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibition, and so forth. We also discuss the challenges, limitations, and future directions of metal-NHC complexes to elucidate their emerging application in medicinal chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Department of Dermatology & Venerolog, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Gu He
- Department of Dermatology & Venerolog, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun-Long Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Anti-Infective Agent Creation Engineering Research Centre of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
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2
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D'Amato A, Iacopetta D, Ceramella J, Troiano R, Mariconda A, Catalano A, Marra M, Saturnino C, Rosano C, Sinicropi MS, Longo P. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of multitarget hybrid molecules containing NHC-Au(I) complexes and carbazole moieties. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 277:116757. [PMID: 39142149 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) represent suitable ligands for rapid and efficient drug design, because they offer the advantage of being easily chemically modified and can bind several substituents, including transition metals as, for instance, gold derivatives. Gold-NHC complexes possess various biological activities and were demonstrated good candidates as anticancer drugs. Besides, carbazole derivatives are characterized by various pharmacological properties, such as anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-psychotropic. Amongst the latter, N-thioalkyl carbazoles were proved to inhibit cancer cells damaging the nuclear DNA, through the inhibition of human topoisomerases. Herein, we report the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of nine new hybrid molecules in which NHC-Au(I) complexes and N-alkylthiolated carbazoles are linked together, in order to obtain novel biological multitarget agents. We demonstrated that the lead hybrid complexes possess anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, with a high potential as useful tools for treating distinct aspects of several diseases, amongst them cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D'Amato
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, I-84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - D Iacopetta
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, I-87036, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - J Ceramella
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, I-87036, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - R Troiano
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, I-84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - A Mariconda
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, I-85100, Potenza, Italy.
| | - A Catalano
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Via Orabona 4, 70126, Bari, Italy.
| | - M Marra
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, I-87036, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - C Saturnino
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, I-85100, Potenza, Italy
| | - C Rosano
- U.O. Proteomica e Spettrometria di Massa, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo R. Benzi 10, 16132, Genova, Italy
| | - M S Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci, I-87036, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - P Longo
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, I-84084, Fisciano, SA, Italy
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3
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Esarev IV, Karge B, Zeng H, Lippmann P, Jones PG, Schrey H, Brönstrup M, Ott I. Silver Organometallics that are Highly Potent Thioredoxin and Glutathione Reductase Inhibitors: Exploring the Correlations of Solution Chemistry with the Strong Antibacterial Effects. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1753-1766. [PMID: 38606463 PMCID: PMC11091889 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
The antibacterial activity of silver species is well-established; however, their mechanism of action has not been adequately explored. Furthermore, issues of low-molecular silver compounds with cytotoxicity, stability, and solubility hamper their progress to drug leads. We have investigated silver N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) halido complexes [(NHC)AgX, X = Cl, Br, and I] as a promising new type of antibacterial silver organometallics. Spectroscopic studies and conductometry established a higher stability for the complexes with iodide ligands, and nephelometry indicated that the complexes could be administered in solutions with physiological chloride levels. The complexes showed a broad spectrum of strong activity against pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. However, there was no significant activity against Gram-positive strains. Further studies clarified that tryptone and yeast extract, as components of the culture media, were responsible for this lack of activity. The reduction of biofilm formation and a strong inhibition of both glutathione and thioredoxin reductases with IC50 values in the nanomolar range were confirmed for selected compounds. In addition to their improved physicochemical properties, the compounds with iodide ligands did not display cytotoxic effects, unlike the other silver complexes. In summary, silver NHC complexes with iodide secondary ligands represent a useful scaffold for nontoxic silver organometallics with improved physicochemical properties and a distinct mechanism of action that is based on inhibition of thioredoxin and glutathione reductases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor V. Esarev
- Institute
of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Beethovenstraße 55, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Bianka Karge
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research, Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Haoxuan Zeng
- Department
of Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research GmbH and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover/Braunschweig,
Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute
of Microbiology, Technische Universität
Braunschweig, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Petra Lippmann
- Institute
of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Beethovenstraße 55, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Peter G. Jones
- Institute
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Technische
Universität Braunschweig, Hagenring 30, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Hedda Schrey
- Department
of Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research GmbH and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover/Braunschweig,
Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Institute
of Microbiology, Technische Universität
Braunschweig, Spielmannstraße 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Mark Brönstrup
- Department
of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for
Infection Research, Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ingo Ott
- Institute
of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Beethovenstraße 55, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
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Isbel SR, Patil SA, Bugarin A. NHCs silver complexes as potential antimicrobial agents. Inorganica Chim Acta 2024; 563:121899. [PMID: 38292701 PMCID: PMC10824532 DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2023.121899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
NHCs (N-heterocyclic carbenes) are generally used as organic ligands that can coordinate with metal ions like silver to form stable complexes. These complexes have shown enhanced antimicrobial properties compared to silver alone. This document provides an overview of the reported NHC-based silver derivatives (acetates, chlorides, bromides, and iodides) who possess antimicrobial activity. This review covers articles published between the first report (2006) and 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R. Isbel
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965, USA
| | - Siddappa A. Patil
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965, USA
- Centre for Nano & Material Sciences, Jain University, Jain Global Campus, Bangalore 562112, Karnataka, India
| | - Alejandro Bugarin
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965, USA
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Varna D, Geromichalos G, Gioftsidou DK, Tzimopoulos D, Hatzidimitriou AG, Dalezis P, Papi R, Trafalis D, Angaridis PA. N-heterocyclic-carbene vs diphosphine auxiliary ligands in thioamidato Cu(I) and Ag(I) complexes towards the development of potent and dual-activity antibacterial and apoptosis-inducing anticancer agents. J Inorg Biochem 2024; 252:112472. [PMID: 38215535 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Group 11 metal complexes exhibit promising antibacterial and anticancer properties which can be further enhanced by appropriate ligands. Herein, a series of mononuclear thioamidato Cu(I) and Ag(I) complexes bearing either a diphosphine (P^P) or a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) auxiliary ligand (L) was synthesized, and the impact of the co-ligand L on the in vitro antibacterial and anticancer properties of their complexes was assessed. All complexes effectively inhibited the growth of various bacterial strains, with the NHC-Cu(I) complex found to be particularly effective against the Gram (+) bacteria (IC50 = 1-4 μg mL-1). Cytotoxicity studies against various human cancer cells revealed their high anticancer potency and the superior activity of the NHC-Ag(I) complex (IC50 = 0.95-4.5 μΜ). Flow cytometric analysis on lung and breast cancer cells treated with the NHC-Ag(I) complex suggested an apoptotic cell-death pathway; molecular docking calculations provided mechanistic insights, proving the capacity of the complex to bind on apoptosis-regulating proteins and affect their functionalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Despoina Varna
- Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - George Geromichalos
- Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitra K Gioftsidou
- Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Demetrios Tzimopoulos
- Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Antonios G Hatzidimitriou
- Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Dalezis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Rigini Papi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Trafalis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527 Athens, Greece.
| | - Panagiotis A Angaridis
- Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Sinicropi MS, Ceramella J, Vanelle P, Iacopetta D, Rosano C, Khoumeri O, Abdelmohsen S, Abdelhady W, El-Kashef H. Novel Thiazolidine-2,4-dione-trimethoxybenzene-thiazole Hybrids as Human Topoisomerases Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:946. [PMID: 37513858 PMCID: PMC10384675 DOI: 10.3390/ph16070946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease and is still one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, mostly as the population ages. Despite the encouraging advances made over the years in chemotherapy, the development of new compounds for cancer treatments is an urgent priority. In recent years, the design and chemical synthesis of several innovative hybrid molecules, which bring different pharmacophores on the same scaffold, have attracted the interest of many researchers. Following this strategy, we designed and synthetized a series of new hybrid compounds that contain three pharmacophores, namely trimethoxybenzene, thiazolidinedione and thiazole, and tested their anticancer properties on two breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) cell lines and one melanoma (A2058) cell line. The most active compounds were particularly effective against the MCF-7 cells and did not affect the viability of the normal MCF-10A cells. Docking simulations indicated the human Topoisomerases I and II (hTopos I and II) as possible targets of these compounds, the inhibitory activity of which was demonstrated by the mean of direct enzymatic assays. Particularly, compound 7e was proved to inhibit both the hTopo I and II, whereas compounds 7c,d blocked only the hTopo II. Finally, compound 7e was responsible for MCF-7 cell death by apoptosis. The reported results are promising for the further design and synthesis of other analogues potentially active as anticancer tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Stefania Sinicropi
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Jessica Ceramella
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Patrice Vanelle
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, ICR UMR 7273, Equipe Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, Faculté de Pharmacie, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, CS30064, CEDEX 05, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Domenico Iacopetta
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Camillo Rosano
- U.O. Proteomica e Spettrometria di Massa, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo R. Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Omar Khoumeri
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, ICR UMR 7273, Equipe Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, Faculté de Pharmacie, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, CS30064, CEDEX 05, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Shawkat Abdelmohsen
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt
| | - Wafaa Abdelhady
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt
| | - Hussein El-Kashef
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Sphinx University, New Assiut 71684, Egypt
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Ciardulli MC, Mariconda A, Sirignano M, Lamparelli EP, Longo R, Scala P, D'Auria R, Santoro A, Guadagno L, Della Porta G, Longo P. Activity and Selectivity of Novel Chemical Metallic Complexes with Potential Anticancer Effects on Melanoma Cells. Molecules 2023; 28:4851. [PMID: 37375406 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28124851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Human malignant melanoma cells from lymph node metastatic site (MeWo) were selected for testing several synthesized and purified silver(I) and gold(I) complexes stabilized by unsymmetrically substituted N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, called L20 (N-methyl, N'-[2-hydroxy ethylphenyl]imidazol-2-ylide) and M1 (4,5-dichloro, N-methyl, N'-[2-hydroxy ethylphenyl]imidazol-2-ylide), having halogenide (Cl- or I-) or aminoacyl (Gly=N-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)glycinate or Phe=(S)-N-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)phenylalaninate) counterion. For AgL20, AuL20, AgM1 and AuM1, the Half-Maximal Inhibitory Concentration (IC50) values were measured, and all complexes seemed to reduce cell viability more effectively than Cisplatin, selected as control. The complex named AuM1 was the most active just after 8 h of treatment at 5 μM, identified as effective growth inhibition concentration. AuM1 also showed a linear dose and time-dependent effect. Moreover, AuM1 and AgM1 modified the phosphorylation levels of proteins associated with DNA lesions (H2AX) and cell cycle progression (ERK). Further screening of complex aminoacyl derivatives indicated that the most powerful were those indicated with the acronyms: GlyAg, PheAg, AgL20Gly, AgM1Gly, AuM1Gly, AgL20Phe, AgM1Phe, AuM1Phe. Indeed, the presence of Boc-Glycine (Gly) and Boc-L-Phenylalanine (Phe) showed an improved efficacy of Ag main complexes, as well as that of AuM1 derivatives. Selectivity was further checked on a non-cancerous cell line, a spontaneously transformed aneuploid immortal keratinocyte from adult human skin (HaCaT). In such a case, AuM1 and PheAg complexes resulted as the most selective allowing HaCaT viability at 70 and 40%, respectively, after 48 h of treatment at 5 μM. The same complexes tested on 3D MeWo static culture induced partial spheroid disaggregation after 24 h of culture, with almost half of the cells dead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Camilla Ciardulli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Annaluisa Mariconda
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Marco Sirignano
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Erwin Pavel Lamparelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Raffaele Longo
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Pasqualina Scala
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Raffaella D'Auria
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Antonietta Santoro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Interdepartment Centre BIONAM, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Liberata Guadagno
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Giovanna Della Porta
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Interdepartment Centre BIONAM, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Pasquale Longo
- Department of Chemistry and Biology "Adolfo Zambelli", University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
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8
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Biological Activities of Ruthenium NHC Complexes: An Update. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12020365. [PMID: 36830276 PMCID: PMC9952499 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12020365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes have unique physico-chemical properties as catalysts and a huge potential in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, exhibiting a variety of notable biological activities. In this review, the most recent studies on ruthenium NHC complexes are summarized, focusing specifically on antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. Ruthenium NHC complexes are generally active against Gram-positive bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Listeria monocytogenes and are seldom active against Gram-negative bacteria, including Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli and fungal strains of Candida albicans. The antiproliferative activity was tested against cancer cell lines of human colon, breast, cervix, epidermis, liver and rat glioblastoma cell lines. Ruthenium NHC complexes generally demonstrated cytotoxicity higher than standard anticancer drugs. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanism of action of these interesting compounds.
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9
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Longo R, Raimondo M, Vertuccio L, Ciardulli MC, Sirignano M, Mariconda A, Della Porta G, Guadagno L. Bottom-Up Strategy to Forecast the Drug Location and Release Kinetics in Antitumoral Electrospun Drug Delivery Systems. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021507. [PMID: 36675021 PMCID: PMC9861055 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrospun systems are becoming promising devices usable for topical treatments. They are eligible to deliver different therapies, from anti-inflammatory to antitumoral. In the current research, polycaprolactone electrospun membranes loaded with synthetic and commercial antitumoral active substances were produced, underlining how the matrix-filler affinity is a crucial parameter for designing drug delivery devices. Nanofibrous membranes loaded with different percentages of Dacarbazine (the drug of choice for melanoma) and a synthetic derivative of Dacarbazine were produced and compared to membranes loaded with AuM1, a highly active Au-complex with low affinity to the matrix. AFM morphologies showed that the surface profile of nanofibers loaded with affine substances is similar to one of the unloaded systems, thanks to the nature of the matrix-filler interaction. FTIR analyses proved the efficacy of the interaction between the amidic group of the Dacarbazine and the polycaprolactone. In AuM1-loaded membranes, because of the weak matrix-filler interaction, the complex is mainly aggregated in nanometric domains on the nanofiber surface, which manifests a nanometric roughness. Consequently, the release profiles follow a Fickian behavior for the Dacarbazine-based systems, whereas a two-step with a highly prominent burst effect was observed for AuM1 systems. The performed antitumoral tests evidence the high-cytotoxic activity of the electrospun systems against melanoma cell lines, proving that the synthetic substances are more active than the commercial dacarbazine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Longo
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Marialuigia Raimondo
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Luigi Vertuccio
- Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Roma 29, 813031 Aversa, Italy
| | - Maria Camilla Ciardulli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Marco Sirignano
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Annaluisa Mariconda
- Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Giovanna Della Porta
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Interdepartment Centre BIONAM, Università di Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo I, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
| | - Liberata Guadagno
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
- Correspondence:
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