Counterion Affects Interaction with Interfaces: The Antidiabetic Drugs Metformin and Decavanadate

Repurposing Therapeutic Drugs Complexed to Vanadium in Cancer

Repurposing drugs by uncovering new indications for approved drugs accelerates the process of establishing new treatments and reduces the high costs of drug discovery and development. Metal complexes with clinically approved drugs allow further opportunities in cancer therapy-many vanadium compounds have previously shown antitumor effects, which makes vanadium a suitable metal to complex with therapeutic drugs, potentially improving their efficacy in cancer treatment. In this review, covering the last 25 years of research in the field, we identified non-oncology-approved drugs suitable as ligands to obtain different vanadium complexes. Metformin-decavanadate, vanadium-bisphosphonates, vanadyl(IV) complexes with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and cetirizine and imidazole-based oxidovanadium(IV) complexes, each has a parent drug known to have different medicinal properties and therapeutic indications, and all showed potential as novel anticancer treatments. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms of action for these vanadium compounds against cancer are still not fully understood.

Polyoxometalates Impact as Anticancer Agents

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are oxoanions of transition metal ions, such as V, Mo, W, Nb, and Pd, forming a variety of structures with a wide range of applications. Herein, we analyzed recent studies on the effects of polyoxometalates as anticancer agents, particularly their effects on the cell cycle. To this end, a literature search was carried out between March and June 2022, using the keywords "polyoxometalates" and "cell cycle". The effects of POMs on selected cell lines can be diverse, such as their effects in the cell cycle, protein expression, mitochondrial effects, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, cell death and cell viability. The present study focused on cell viability and cell cycle arrest. Cell viability was analyzed by dividing the POMs into sections according to the constituent compound, namely polyoxovanadates (POVs), polyoxomolybdates (POMos), polyoxopaladates (POPds) and polyoxotungstates (POTs). When comparing and sorting the IC₅₀ values in ascending order, we obtained first POVs, then POTs, POPds and, finally, POMos. When comparing clinically approved drugs and POMs, better results of POMs in relation to drugs were observed in many cases, since the dose required to have an inhibitory concentration of 50% is 2 to 200 times less, depending on the POMs, highlighting that these compounds could become in the future an alternative to existing drugs in cancer therapy.

Functionalization of decavanadate anion by coordination to cobalt(II): Binding to proteins, cytotoxicity, and water oxidation catalysis

A series of five decavanadates (V₁₀) using a simple, one-pot synthesis, adhering to the model template: transition metal ion - decavanadate - ligands:(Hnicotinamide)₂{[Co(H₂O)₃(nicotinamide)₂]₂[μ-V₁₀O₂₈]}.6H₂O (1), {[Co(H₂O)₄(isonicotinamide)₂]₃}V₁₀O₂₈·4H₂O (2), {[Co(H₂O)₄]₂[Co(H₂O)₂(μ-pyrazinamide)₂][μ-V₁₀O₂₈]}·4H₂O (3) {[Co(H₂O)₄(μ-pyrazinamide)]₃.V₁₀O₂₈}·4H₂O (4), and (NH₄)₂{[Ni(H₂O)₄(2-hydroxyethylpyridine)]₂}V₁₀O₂₈·2H₂O (5) was synthesized. X-ray analysis reveals that 1 and 3 are decavanadato complexes, while 2, 4 and 5 are decavanadate complex salts. Moreover, 3 is the first example of a polymeric decavanadato complex, employing direct coordination with the metal center and the organic ligand, in toto. From the solution studies using ⁵¹V NMR spectroscopy, it was decoded that 1 and 3 stay stable in the model buffer solution and aqueous media. Binding to model proteins, cytotoxicity and water oxidation catalysis (WOC) was studied primarily for 1 and 3 and concluded that neither 1 nor 3 have an interaction with the model proteins thaumatin, lysozyme and proteinase K, because of the presence of the organic ligands in the Co(II) center, any further interplay with the proteins was blocked. Cytotoxicity studies reveal that 1 is 40% less toxic (0.05 mM) and 26% less toxic (0.1 mM) than the uncoordinated V₁₀ with human cell lines A549 and HeLa respectively. In WOC, 1 performed superior activity, by evolving 143.37 nmol of O₂ which is 700% (9-fold) increase than the uncoordinated V₁₀.

Decavanadate and metformin-decavanadate effects in human melanoma cells

Decavanadate is a polyoxometalate (POMs) that has shown extensive biological activities, including antidiabetic and anticancer activity. Importantly, vanadium-based compounds as well as antidiabetic biguanide drugs, such as metformin, have shown to exert therapeutic effects in melanoma. A combination of these agents, the metformin-decavanadate complex, was also recognized for its antidiabetic effects and recently described as a better treatment than the monotherapy with metformin enabling lower dosage in rodent models of diabetes. Herein, we compare the effects of decavanadate and metformin-decavanadate on Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles from rabbit skeletal muscles and on cell signaling events and viability in human melanoma cells. We show that unlike the decavanadate-mediated non-competitive mechanism, metformin-decavanadate inhibits Ca²⁺-ATPase by a mixed-type competitive-non-competitive inhibition with an IC₅₀ value about 6 times higher (87 μM) than the previously described for decavanadate (15 μM). We also found that both decavanadate and metformin-decavanadate exert antiproliferative effects on melanoma cells at 10 times lower concentrations than monomeric vanadate. Western blot analysis revealed that both, decavanadate and metformin-decavanadate increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and serine/threonine protein kinase AKT signaling proteins upon 24 h drug exposure, suggesting that the anti-proliferative activities of these compounds act independent of growth-factor signaling pathways.

Biological Properties of Transition Metal Complexes with Metformin and Its Analogues

Metformin is a widely prescribed medication for the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of biguanides, which are characterized by a wide range of diverse biological properties, including anticancer, antimicrobial, antimalarial, cardioprotective and other activities. It is known that biguanides serve as excellent N-donor bidentate ligands and readily form complexes with virtually all transition metals. Recent evidence suggests that the mechanism of action of metformin and its analogues is linked to their metal-binding properties. These findings prompted us to summarize the existing data on the synthetic strategies and biological properties of various metal complexes with metformin and its analogues. We demonstrated that coordination of biologically active biguanides to various metal centers often resulted in an improved pharmacological profile, including reduced drug resistance as well as a wider spectrum of activity. In addition, coordination to the redox-active metal centers, such as Au(III), allowed for various activatable strategies, leading to the selective activation of the prodrugs and reduced off-target toxicity.

Polyoxometalates function as indirect activators of a G protein-coupled receptor

A series of multivalent polyoxovanadates were found to activate signaling of a G protein coupled receptor, the luteinizing hormone receptor.

A Versatile Polyoxovanadate in Diverse Cation Matrices: A Supramolecular Perspective

A series of decavanadate based compounds, formulated as [Co(H₂O)₆][{Na₄(H₂O)₁₄}{V₁₀O₂₈}]·4H₂O (1), [Zn(H₂O)₆][Na₃(H₂O)₁₄] [HV₁₀O₂₈]·4H₂O (2), [HMTAH]₂ [{Zn(H₂O)₄}₂{V₁₀O₂₈}]·2H₂O (3), [{Co(3-amp)(H₂O)₅}]₂ [3-ampH]₂ [V₁₀O₂₈] · 6H₂O (4), [4-ampH]₁₀[{Na(H₂O)₆}{HV₁₀O₂₈}][V₁₀O₂₈]·15H₂O (5), [{4-ampH}₆ {Co(H₂O)₆}₃][V₁₀O₂₈]₂·14H₂O (6), and [{4-ampH}₁₀{Zn(H₂O)₆}][V₁₀O₂₈]₂·10H₂O (7), have been synthesized (where HMTAH = mono-protonated hexamethylenetetramine, 3-ampH = protonated 3-amino pyridine and 4-ampH= protonated 4-aminopyridine) from the relevant aqueous sodium-vanadate solution, by varying the pH of the solution and amino pyridine/hexamine derivatives as well as transition metal salts (Co(II)- and Zn(II)-salts). In this series of compounds 1-7, the polyoxovanadate (POV) cluster [V₁₀O₂₈]^6- is the common cluster anion, stabilized by diverse cations. The diverse supramolecular patterns around the decavanadate cluster anion in different cationic matrices have been described to understand the microenvironment in the decavanadate-based minerals. All of these compounds have solvent water molecules in their respective crystal lattices. Since water can interact directly with cations and anions, providing an additional stability and structural diversity, we have analyzed supramolecular water structures in all these compounds to comprehend the role of the lattice water in the formation of natural decavanadate containing minerals. Compounds 1-7, that are isolated at an ambient condition from aqueous solution, are characterized by routine spectral analysis, elemental analyses and finally unambiguously by single crystal X-ray crystallography.

Decavanadate Salts of Cytosine and Metformin: A Combined Experimental-Theoretical Study of Potential Metallodrugs Against Diabetes and Cancer

Cytosine, a DNA and RNA building-block, and Metformin, the most widely prescribed drug for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes mellitus were made to react separately with ammonium or sodium metavanadates in acidic aqueous solutions to obtain two polyoxovanadate salts with a 6:1 ratio of cation-anion. Thus, compounds [HCyt]6[V10O28]·4H2O, 1 and [HMetf]6[V10O28]·6H2O, 2 (where HCyt = Cytosinium cation, [C4H6N3O]+ and HMetf = Metforminium cation, [C4H12N5]+) were obtained and characterized by elemental analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman), solution 51V-NMR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTGA), as well as, theoretical methods. Both compounds crystallized in P1 ¯   space group with Z' = 1/2, where the anionic charge of the centrosymmetric ion [V10O28]6- is balanced by six Cytosinium and six Metforminium counterions, respectively. Compound 1 is stabilized by π-π stacking interactions coming from the aromatic rings of HCyt cations, as denoted by close contacts of 3.63 Å. On the other hand, guanidinium moieties from the non-planar HMetf in Compound 2 interact with decavanadate μ2-O atoms via N-H···O hydrogen bonds. The vibrational spectroscopic data of both IR and Raman spectra show that the dominant bands in the 1000-450 cm-1 range are due to the symmetric and asymmetric ν(V-O) vibrational modes. In solution, 51V-NMR experiments of both compounds show that polyoxovanadate species are progressively transformed into the monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric oxovanadates. The thermal stability behavior suggests a similar molecular mechanism regarding the loss of water molecules and the decomposition of the organic counterions. Yet, no changes were observed in the TGA range of 540-580°C due to the stability of the [V10O28]6- fragment. Dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D) calculations were carried out to model the compounds in aqueous phase using a polarized continuum model calculation. Optimized structures were obtained and the main non-covalent interactions were characterized. Biological activities of these compounds are also under investigation. The combination of two therapeutic agents opens up a window toward the generation of potential metalopharmaceuticals with new and exciting pharmacological properties.

Confinement Effects on Chemical Equilibria: Pentacyano(Pyrazine)Ferrate(II) Stability Changes within Nanosized Droplets of Water

Nanoscale confinement is known to impact properties of molecules and we observed changes in the reactivity of an iron coordination complex, pentacyano(pyrazine)ferrate(II). The confinement of two coordination complexes in a sodium AOT/isooctane reverse micellar (RM) water droplet was found to dramatically increase the hydrolysis rate of [Fe(CN)₅pyz]3- and change the monomer-dimer equilibria between [Fe(CN)₅pyz]3- and [Fe₂(CN)10pyz]6-. Combined UV-Vis and ¹H-NMR spectra of these complexes in RMs were analyzed and the position of the monomer-dimer equilibrium and the relative reaction times were determined at three different RM sizes. The data show that the hydrolysis rates (loss of pyrazine) are dramatically enhanced in RMs over bulk water and increase as the size of the RM decreases. Likewise, the monomer-dimer equilibrium changes to favor the formation of dimer as the RM size decreases. We conclude that the effects of the [Fe(CN)₅pyz]3- stability is related to its solvation within the RM.

Differences in Interactions of Benzoic Acid and Benzoate with Interfaces

The interaction of benzoic acid and benzoate with model membrane systems was characterized to understand the molecular interactions of the two forms of a simple aromatic acid with the components of the membrane. The microemulsion system based on bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT) allowed determination of the molecular positioning using 1D NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopic methods. Benzoic acid and benzoate were both found to penetrate the membrane/water interfaces; however, the benzoic acid was able to penetrate much deeper and thus is more readily able to traverse a membrane. The Langmuir monolayer model system, using dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, was used as a generic membrane lipid for a cell. Compression isotherms of monolayers demonstrated a pH dependent interaction with a lipid monolayer and confirming the pH dependent observations shown in the reverse micellar model system. These studies provide an explanation for the antimicrobial activity of benzoic acid while benzoate is inactive. Furthermore, these studies form the framework upon which we are investigating the mode of bacterial uptake of pyrazinoic acid, the active form of pyrazinamide, a front line drug used to combat tuberculosis.

Size and shape trump charge in interactions of oxovanadates with self-assembled interfaces: application of continuous shape measure analysis to the decavanadate anion

Using ⁵¹V NMR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and continuous shape analysis to characterize two polyoxometalate-encapsulation in reverse micelles.

Hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering and metabolic regulation activities of metforminium decavanadate (H2Metf)3 [V10O28]·8H2O using hypercaloric-induced carbohydrate and lipid deregulation in Wistar rats as biological model

Because of the increasing global spread of type 2 diabetes mellitus, there is a need to develop new antidiabetic agents. Recently we have synthesized new decavanadates using metformin as counterion. In particular, the compound containing three metforminium dications has been obtained in high yield and has been completely characterized. Biological studies using Wistar rats that have been fed with a high caloric diet inducing insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome were carried out. Results of the impact on key biochemical parameters mediated by metformin alone and the new compound are here presented. The metforminium decavanadate (H2Metf)3[V10O28]·8H2O, abbreviated as Metf-V10O28, was shown to have pharmacological potential as a hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering and metabolic regulator, since the resulting compound made of the two components with antidiabetic activities, reduces both dosage and time of administration (twice a week). Hence, due to the beneficial effects induced by the metforminium decavanadate we recommend to continue the exploration into the mechanism and toxicology of this new compound.

Synthesis and characterization of fluoride-incorporated polyoxovanadates

The speciation studies of oxovanadates are essential to clarify their biological activities. We surveyed the distribution of oxovanadate species in the presence of halide anions with various acid concentrations in an aqueous mixed-solvent system. The presence of chloride, bromide, and iodide anions has no effects on the appearance of polyoxovanadate species observed in (51)V NMR. Those are the precedent formation of metavanadate species and decavanadates. The presence of fluoride anion during the addition of acids exhibits strong intervention in the polyoxovanadate equilibria and we found the subsequent formation of two polyoxovanadate species by (51)V NMR observation. From the estimated experimental condition, we isolated fluoride-incorporated polyoxovanadates {Et4N}4[V7O19F] and {Et4N}4[HV11O29F2], successfully. Polyanion [V7O19F](4-) is the fluoride-incorporated all V(V) state polyoxovanadate which has two different coordination environments of tetrahedral and square pyramidal vanadium units within the one anionic structural integrity. The structural gap between tetrahedral-unit-based metavanadate and octahedral-unit-based decavanadate structures may be linked by this hybrid complex.

Reactivity-activity relationships of oral anti-diabetic vanadium complexes in gastrointestinal media: an X-ray absorption spectroscopic study

The reactions of oral V(V/IV) anti-diabetic drugs within the gastrointestinal environment (particularly in the presence of food) are a crucial factor that affects their biological activities, but to date these have been poorly understood. In order to build up reactivity-activity relationships, the first detailed study of the reactivities of typical V-based anti-diabetics, Na3V(V)O4 (A), [V(IV)O(OH2)5](SO4) (B), [V(IV)O(ma)2] (C, ma = maltolato(-)) and (NH4)[V(V)(O)2(dipic)] (D, dipic = pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylato(2-)) with simulated gastrointestinal (GI) media in the presence or absence of food components has been performed by the use of XANES (X-ray absorption near edge structure) spectroscopy. Changes in speciation under conditions that simulate interactions in the GI tract have been discerned using correlations of XANES parameters that were based on a library of model V(V), V(IV), and V(III) complexes for preliminary assessment of the oxidation states and coordination numbers. More detailed speciation analyses were performed using multiple linear regression fits of XANES from the model complexes to XANES obtained from the reaction products from interactions with the GI media. Compounds B and D were relatively stable in the gastric environment (pH ∼ 2) in the absence of food, while C was mostly dissociated, and A was converted to [V10O28](6-). Sequential gastric and intestinal digestion in the absence of food converted A, B and D to poorly absorbed tetrahedral vanadates, while C formed five- or six-coordinate V(V) species where the maltolato ligands were likely to be partially retained. XANES obtained from gastric digestion of A-D in the presence of typical food components converged to that of a mixture of V(IV)-aqua, V(IV)-amino acid and V(III)-aqua complexes. Subsequent intestinal digestion led predominantly to V(IV) complexes that were assigned as citrato or complexes with 2-hydroxyacidato donor groups from other organic compounds, including certain carbohydrates. The absence of strong reductants (such as ascorbate) in the food increased the V(V) component in gastrointestinal digestion products. These results can be used to predict the oral bioavailability of various types of V(V/IV) anti-diabetics, and the effects of taking such drugs with food.

Interaction of a biguanide compound with membrane model interface systems: probing the properties of antimalaria and antidiabetic compounds

Since membrane penetration is important for drug efficacy, how antimalarial precursor material 1-phenylbiguanide (PBG) interacts with an interface was characterized using a reverse micelle (RM) model system. (1)H NMR studies show that PBG partitions across the membrane interface. Specifically, the (1)H NMR studies showed that the 1-phenylbiguanide compound in an aqueous environment changed when placed near an interface. PBG is known to affect hydrogen bonding in water, and as the size of the RMs changes, the water organization in the water pool is changed. The NOESY spectrum of PBG in AOT RM contains cross-peak signals between the PBG protons and AOT protons, which is consistent with the penetration of the PBG into the interface. At the same time, there is a cross peak between the biguanide moiety and the HOD signal. This shows that these NH protons are near the HOD protons, placing the biguanide functional group in the water pool. Preliminary differential FTIR spectroscopic studies confirmed this location. In summary, we found that PBG interacts with different regions of the interface, with the phenyl group penetrating the hydrophobic interface while the biguanide remains in the water pool.

Metal speciation in health and medicine represented by iron and vanadium

The influence of metals in biology has become more and more apparent within the past century. Metal ions perform essential roles as critical scaffolds for structure and as catalysts in reactions. Speciation is a key concept that assists researchers in investigating processes that involve metal ions. However, translation of the essential area across scientific fields has been plagued by language discrepancies. To rectify this, the IUPAC Commission provided a framework in which speciation is defined as the distribution of species. Despite these attempts, contributions from inorganic chemists to the area of speciation have not fully materialized in part because the past decade's contributions focused on technological advances, which are not yet to the stage of measuring speciation distribution in biological solutions. In the following, we describe how speciation influences the area of metals in medicine and how speciation distribution has been characterized so far. We provide two case studies as an illustration, namely, vanadium and iron. Vanadium both has therapeutic importance and is known as a cofactor for metalloenzymes. In addition to being a cation, vanadium(V) has analogy with phosphorus and as such is a potent inhibitor for phosphorylases. Because speciation can change the metal's existence in cationic or anionic forms, speciation has profound effects on biological systems. We also highlight how speciation impacts iron metabolism, focusing on the rather low abundance of biologically relevant iron cation that actually exists in biological fluids. fluids. Furthermore, we point to recent investigations into the mechanism of Fenton chemistry, and that the emerging results show pH dependence. The studies suggest formation of Fe(IV)-intermediates and that the generally accepted mechanism may only apply at low pH. With broader recognition toward biological speciation, we are confident that future investigations on metal-based systems will progress faster and with significant results. Studying metal complexes to explore the properties of a potential "active species" and further uncovering the details associated with their specific composition and geometry are likely to be important to the action.