Discovery of polyoxometalate-based HDAC inhibitors with profound anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo

A Novel Class I HDAC Inhibitor, AW01178, Inhibits Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Metastasis of Breast Cancer

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) refers to the transformation of polar epithelial cells into motile mesenchymal cells under specific physiological or pathological conditions, thus promoting the metastasis of cancer cells. Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) is a protein that plays an important role in the acquisition of tumor cell motility and serves as a key EMT epithelial marker. In the present study, AW01178, a small-molecule compound with potential therapeutic efficacy, was identified via in-cell Western high-throughput screening technology using E-cadherin as the target. The compound induced the upregulation of E-cadherin at both mRNA and protein levels and inhibited the EMT of breast cancer cells in vitro as well as metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, AW01178 is a novel benzacetamide histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) mainly targeting class I histone deacetylases. AW01178 promoted the transcription and expression of E-cadherin through enhancing the acetylation level of histone H3 in the E-cadherin promoter region, thereby inhibiting the metastasis of breast cancer cells. The collective findings support the potential utility of the novel HDACi compound identified in this study, AW01178, as a therapeutic drug for breast cancer and highlight its value for the future development of HDACi structures as anticancer drugs.

Mechanism of melanogenesis inhibition by Keggin-type polyoxometalates

Abnormal melanin overproduction can result in hyperpigmentation syndrome in human skin diseases and enzymatic browning of fruits and vegetables. Recently, our group found that Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POMs) can efficiently inhibit tyrosinase activity. However, it remains unclear whether Keggin-type POMs exhibit optimal effects in vivo. Additionally, the inhibitory effect and mechanism of action of POMs on cellular tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis have been rarely reported. Here we demonstrate that our screened and synthesised PMo11Zn and GaMo12 show superior inhibitory effects on melanin formation as well as inhibition of cellular tyrosinase activity compared to other Keggin-type POMs. Intriguingly, we reveal that Keggin-type POMs competitively bind to tyrosinase mainly through more interactions with Cu2+ ions and the amino acid residue is capable of forming van der Waals, cation-π and hydrogen bonds, resulting in a reversible non-covalent complex formation. Our findings provide valuable insights into the design, synthesis and screening of polyoxometalates as multifunctional metallodrugs and food preservatives against hyperpigmentation.

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.

Polyoxometalate-based nanocomposites for antitumor and antibacterial applications

Polyoxometalates (POMs), as emerging inorganic metal oxides, have been shown to have significant biological activity and great medicinal value. Nowadays, biologically active POM-based organic-inorganic hybrid materials have become the next generation of antibacterial and anticancer drugs because of their customizable molecular structures related to their highly enhanced antitumor activity and reduced toxicity to healthy cells. In this review, the current developed strategies with POM-based materials for the purpose of antibacterial and anticancer activities from different action principles inducing cell death and hyperpolarization, cell plasma membrane destruction, interference with bacterial respiratory chain and inhibiting bacterial growth are overviewed. Moreover, specific interactions between POM-based materials and biomolecules are highlighted for a better understanding of their antibacterial and anticancer mechanisms. POMs have great promise as next-generation antibacterial and anticancer drugs, and this review will provide a valuable systematic reference for the further development of POM-based nanomaterials.

Facile high yield, excellent catalytic performance of polyoxometalate-based lanthanide phosphine oxide complexes: Syntheses, structures, photocatalysis and THz spectra

Water pollution, which continuously threatens human health and the sustainable development of society, has become a major concern. Photocatalytic degradation is an effective strategy to remove organic dyes from wastewater. For this strategy, it is crucial to select the appropriate catalyst. Using triphenylphosphine oxide (OPPh₃) as the ligand, phosphomolybdic acid as the anion template, three new lanthanide complexes [Ln(OPPh₃)₄(H₂O)₃](PMo₁₂O₄₀)∙4C₂H₅OH (1-3) (Ln = Sm, Gd, Tb) were synthesized. The raw materials for the reaction are cheap and readily available. The convenient synthesis method is environmentally friendly, with high yield (70%-80%). Complexes 1-3 are all seven-coordinated mononuclear structures centered on lanthanide ions, [PMo₁₂O₄₀]^3- anions and solvent molecules are not coordinated with metal ions. These mononuclear structures eventually form complicated 3D supramolecular structures through hydrogen bonds, Mo-O ^… π or C-H ^… π weak interactions. Complexes 1-3 photocatalytic degradation of MB have high removal rates, as catalysts have enough stability to be reused, and can be used as excellent catalysts for the degradation of dye molecules in sewage. Among them, the removal rate of MB by photodegradation of complex 2 was highest (99.50%). In addition, the effects of different initial concentrations of MB solution and different types of organic dyes on the photocatalysis experiment were investigated. The photocatalytic reaction mechanism of complexes 1-3 was also studied. Due to the similar structures of complexes 1-3, they have almost the same THz absorption spectra with different absorption intensity, which may be attributed to the difference of the number of weak interactions. Therefore, terahertz spectroscopy can be used as a sensitive method to distinguish and determine small differences between lanthanide-organic complexes. This is the first time that this spectrum has been used to characterize lanthanide phosphine oxide complexes modified by [PMo₁₂O₄₀]^3-.

Niobium polyoxometalate–folic acid conjugate as a hybrid drug for cancer therapeutics

In this work, covalently bonded folic acid to niobium substituted Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate, (Bu4N)5H4[P2W15Nb3O62]-folic acid, has been synthesized and characterized. Afterward, the bioactivity behavior of this hybrid compound against cervical (HeLa)...

Electrochemical sensor based on polyoxometalate immobilized using a layer-by-layer assembly process to detect 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine

An electrochemical sensor for the detection of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine was developed by utilizing the reversible redox properties of W-containing polyoxometalates.

Poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) modification mitigates plasma protein corona formation on phosphomolybdate-based nanoparticles

Phosphomolybdate-based nanoparticles (PMo₁₂-based NPs) have been commonly applied in nanomedicine. However, upon contact with biofluids, proteins are quickly adsorbed onto the NPs surface to form a protein corona, which induces the opsonization and facilitates the rapid clearance of the NPs by macrophage uptake. Herein, we introduce a family of structurally homologous PMo₁₂-based NPs (CDS-PMo₁₂@PVP_x(x = 0 ~ 1) NPs) capping diverse content of zwitterionic polymer poly (N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) to regulate the protein corona formation on PMo₁₂-based NPs. The fluorescence quenching data indicate that the introduction of PVP effectively reduces the number of binding sites of proteins on PMo₁₂-based NPs. Molecular docking simulations results show that the contact surface area and binding energy of proteins to CDS-PMo₁₂@PVP₁ NPs are smaller than the CDS-PMo₁₂@PVP₀ NPs. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) is further applied to analyze and quantify the compositions of the human plasma corona formation on CDS-PMo₁₂@PVP_x(x = 0 ~ 1) NPs. The number of plasma protein groups adsorption on CDS-PMo₁₂@PVP₁ NPs, compared to CDS-PMo₁₂@PVP₀ NPs, decreases from 372 to 271. In addition, 76 differentially adsorption proteins are identified between CDS-PMo₁₂@PVP₀ and CDS-PMo₁₂@PVP₁ NPs, in which apolipoprotein is up-regulated in CDS-PMo₁₂@PVP₁ NPs. The apolipoprotein adsorption onto the NPs is proposed to have dysoponic activity and enhance the circulation time of NPs. Our findings demonstrate that PVP grafting on PMo₁₂-based NPs is a promising strategy to improve the anti-biofouling property for PMo₁₂-based nanodrug design.

Supramolecular assemblies of organo-functionalised hybrid polyoxometalates: from functional building blocks to hierarchical nanomaterials

This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the supramolecular organisation and hierarchical self-assembly of organo-functionalised hybrid polyoxometalates (hereafter referred to as hybrid POMs), and their emerging role as multi-functional building blocks in the construction of new nanomaterials. Polyoxometalates have long been studied as a fascinating outgrowth of traditional metal-oxide chemistry, where the unusual position they occupy between individual metal oxoanions and solid-state bulk oxides imbues them with a range of attractive properties (e.g. solubility, high structural modularity and tuneable properties/reactivity). Specifically, the capacity for POMs to be covalently coupled to an effectively limitless range of organic moieties has opened exciting new avenues in their rational design, while the combination of distinct organic and inorganic components facilitates the formation of complex molecular architectures and the emergence of new, unique functionalities. Here, we present a detailed discussion of the design opportunities afforded by hybrid POMs, where fine control over their size, topology and their covalent and non-covalent interactions with a range of other species and/or substrates makes them ideal building blocks in the assembly of a broad range of supramolecular hybrid nanomaterials. We review both direct self-assembly approaches (encompassing both solution and solid-state approaches) and the non-covalent interactions of hybrid POMs with a range of suitable substrates (including cavitands, carbon nanotubes and biological systems), while giving key consideration to the underlying driving forces in each case. Ultimately, this review aims to demonstrate the enormous potential that the rational assembly of hybrid POM clusters shows for the development of next-generation nanomaterials with applications in areas as diverse as catalysis, energy-storage and molecular biology, while providing our perspective on where the next major developments in the field may emerge.

A hybrid HPV capsid protein L1 with giant Mo-containing polyoxometalate improves the stability of virus-like particles and the anti-tumor effect of [Mo154]

We report a bio-inorganic hybrid system, [Mo154]@VLPs, constructed from the virus-like particles (VLPs) of the HPV capsid protein L1 and a giant disc-shaped, molybdenum-containing polyoxometalate of [Mo154]. The hybrid was purified by CsCl gradient centrifugation and further validated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). An assembly with [Mo154] improved the tolerance of VLPs to pH, temperature, and storage time, thereby defining an opportunity to reduce the cost of HPV vaccines. Moreover, the ability of [Mo154] to kill cancer cells was improved by 6% after being encapsulated inside the VLPs, which is mainly attributed to the enhanced biocompatibility of [Mo154]. The irradiation of both [Mo154] and [Mo154]@VLPs with an infrared light of 808 nm further enhanced their ability to destroy cancer cells by 3- and 2-fold, respectively, confirming that [Mo154] is an effective anti-tumor photo-thermal agent. Therefore, the successful hybrid of L1-p and [Mo154] improves the stability of VLPs and simultaneously paves the way to enhance the anti-tumor ability of [Mo154] and further extends its application prospects as a future anti-tumor drug.

Nanolipid-loaded Preyssler polyoxometalate: Synthesis, characterization and invitro inhibitory effects on HepG2 tumor cells

Polyoxometalate-based drugs have been selected by some researchers as alternative antitumor substances with promising results in suppression of tumor growth because of low toxicity towards the human body and high activity. In this research, for the first time, nanolipid-loaded Preyssler polyoxometalate with diameters of 230-250 nm was synthesized and characterized by the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDAX), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The nanoliposomes were found to be nearly spherical, without any agglomeration with the Entrapment Efficiency of 53.8%. In -vitro antitumor activity of the synthesized nanoliposomes was investigated using the MTT method on HepG2 tumor cells. Our findings showed enhanced anticancer activity for the nanolipid-loaded Preyssler (NLP) compared to the Sorafenib as a commercially drug at 72 h. Selectivity of the synthesized NLP and Sorafenib for cancer cells versus primary HFF cells was obtained as 4.2 and 2.2, respectively. The IC50 value of the loaded nanoliposomes for cancer cells and normal cells was equal to 470 and 2000 μg/mL, respectively at 72 h, which was much better compared to that of the Sorafenib (7 and 16 μg/mL, respectively).

Polyoxometalates in Biomedicine: Update and Overview

BACKGROUND

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are negatively charged metal-oxo clusters of early transition metal ions in high oxidation states (e.g., WVI, MoVI, VV). POMs are of interest in the fields of catalysis, electronics, magnetic materials and nanotechnology. Moreover, POMs were shown to exhibit biological activities in vitro and in vivo, such as antitumor, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic.

METHODS

The literature search for this peer-reviewed article was performed using PubMed and Scopus databases with the help of appropriate keywords.

RESULTS

This review gives a comprehensive overview of recent studies regarding biological activities of polyoxometalates, and their biomedical applications as promising anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, and anti-diabetic agents. Additionally, their putative mechanisms of action and molecular targets are particularly considered.

CONCLUSION

Although a wide range of biological activities of Polyoxometalates (POMs) has been reported, they are to the best of our knowledge not close to a clinical trial or a final application in the treatment of diabetes or infectious and malignant diseases. Accordingly, further studies should be directed towards determining the mechanism of POM biological actions, which would enable fine-tuning at the molecular level, and consequently efficient action towards biological targets and as low toxicity as possible. Furthermore, biomedical studies should be performed on solutionstable POMs employing physiological conditions and concentrations.

Research progress on the inhibition of enzymes by polyoxometalates

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a kind of inorganic cluster metal complex with various biological activities, such as anti-Alzheimer's disease, antibacterial, anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, anti-virus and so on.

The Synthesis and Biological Function of a Novel Sandwich-Type Complex Based on {SbW9 } and Flexible bpp Ligand

A novel sandwich-type complex [Na(H₂ O)₄ ][{Na₃ (H₂ O)₅ }{Mn₃ (bpp)₃ } (SbW₉ O₃₃ )₂ }]·8H₃ O (MnSbW-bpp) (bpp = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl) propane) is synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The MnSbW-bpp compound is the first sandwich case bridged by a flexible ligand. Its biological function of MnSbW-bpp in antitumor activity is also determined in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory proliferation and induction of apoptosis are performed by flow cytometry assay, S180 (sarcoma) tumor xenograft in ICR mice, the color Doppler ultrasound monitor, and TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay. The results show that the novel compound-MnSbW-bpp-is synthesized and identified by its physical and chemical characteristics, such as the fluorescent and paramagnetic activities. MnSbW-bpp indicates a potency inhibition of human cancer lines, such as SGC-7901, HT-29, HepG2, Hela, U2OS, SaoS2, and HMC cells. MnSbW-bpp also inhibits the growth of tumor xenograft in mice, induced cell apoptosis, and released cytochrome c in vivo and in vitro. Thus, MnSbW-bpp, as a new compound, possesses the potent inhibition of cancer cells, which indicates that the MnSbW-bpp has potential merit for the further evaluation of a novel antitumor agent.

Polyoxometalates as Potential Next-Generation Metallodrugs in the Combat Against Cancer

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are an emerging class of inorganic metal oxides, which over the last decades demonstrated promising biological activities by the virtue of their great diversity in structures and properties. They possess high potential for the inhibition of various tumor types; however, their unspecific interactions with biomolecules and toxicity impede their clinical usage. The current focus of the field of biologically active POMs lies on organically functionalized and POM-based nanocomposite structures as these hybrids show enhanced anticancer activity and significantly reduced toxicity towards normal cells in comparison to unmodified POMs. Although the antitumor activity of POMs is well documented, their mechanisms of action are still not well understood. In this Review, an overview is given of the cytotoxic effects of POMs with a special focus on POM-based hybrid and nanocomposite structures. Furthermore, we aim to provide proposed mode of actions and to identify molecular targets. POMs are expected to develop into the next generation of anticancer drugs that selectively target cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.

Ribosomal Protein L15 is involved in Colon Carcinogenesis

Ribosomal biogenesis is responsible for protein synthesis in all eukaryotic cells. Perturbation of ribosomal biogenesis processes can cause dysfunctions of protein synthesis and varieties of human diseases. In this study, we examine the role of RPL15, a large ribosomal subunit protein, in human colon carcinogenesis. Our results reveal that RPL15 is remarkably upregulated in human primary colon cancer tissues and cultured cell lines when compared with paired non-cancerous tissues and non-transformed epithelium cells. Elevated expression of RPL15 in colon cancer tissues is closely correlated with clinicopathological characteristics in patients. We determine the effects of RPL15 on nucleolar maintenance, ribosomal biogenesis and cell proliferation in human cells. We show that RPL15 is required for maintenance of nucleolar structure and formation of pre-60S subunits in the nucleoli. Depletion of RPL15 causes ribosomal stress, resulting in a G1-G1/S cell cycle arrest in non-transformed human epithelium cells, but apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Together, these results indicate that RPL15 is involved in human colon carcinogenesis and might be a potential clinical biomarker and/or target for colon cancer therapy.

Selective Targeting of Proteins by Hybrid Polyoxometalates: Interaction Between a Bis-Biotinylated Hybrid Conjugate and Avidin

The Keggin-type polyoxometalate [γ-SiW₁₀O₃₆]^8- was covalently modified to obtain a bis-biotinylated conjugate able to bind avidin. Spectroscopic studies such as UV-vis, fluorimetry, circular dichroism, coupled to surface plasmon resonance technique were used to highlight the unique interplay of supramolecular interactions between the homotetrameric protein and the bis-functionalized polyanion. In particular, the dual recognition mechanism of the avidin encompasses (i) a complementary electrostatic association between the anionic surface of the polyoxotungstate and each positively charged avidin subunit and (ii) specific host-guest interactions between each biotinylated arm and a corresponding pocket on the tetramer subunits. The assembly exhibits peroxidase-like reactivity and it was used in aqueous solution for L-methionine methyl ester oxidation by H₂O₂. The recognition phenomenon was then exploited for the preparation of layer-by-layer films, whose structural evolution was monitored in situ by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Finally, cell tracking studies were performed by exploiting the specific interactions with a labeled streptavidin.

Identification of a Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate-based AP-2γ inhibitor with pro-apoptotic activity

AP-2 gamma (AP-2γ) is a transcription factor that plays pivotal roles in breast cancer biology. To search for small molecule inhibitors of AP-2γ, we performed a high-throughput fluorescence anisotropy screen and identified a polyoxometalate compound with Wells-Dawson structure K₆[P₂Mo₁₈O₆₂] (Dawson-POM) that blocks the DNA-binding activity of AP-2γ. We showed that this blocking activity is due to the direct binding of Dawson-POM to AP-2γ. We also provided evidence to show that Dawson-POM decreases AP-2γ-dependent transcription similar to silencing the gene. Finally, we demonstrated that Dawson-POM contains anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in breast cancer cells. In summary, we identified the first small molecule inhibitor of AP-2γ and showed Dawson-POM-mediated inhibition of AP-2γ as a potential avenue for cancer therapy.

Hybrid Assembly toward Enhanced Thermal Stability of Virus-like Particles and Antibacterial Activity of Polyoxometalates

In an effort to improve both the stability of virus-like particles (VLPs) and the medical activity of polyoxometalates (POMs), a new hybrid assembly system between human papillomavirus (HPV) capsid protein L1 and a europium-containing POM (EuW₁₀) has been constructed, for the first time, via the electrostatic interactions between them. The co-assembly of EuW₁₀ and HPV 16 L1-pentamer (L1-p) in buffer solution resulted in the encapsulation of POMs in the cavity of VLPs, which was further confirmed by cesium chloride (CsCl) gradient ultracentrifugation, SDS-PAGE, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy, whereas the post-assembly of EuW₁₀ with the as-prepared VLPs leads to the adsorption of POMs only on the external surface of particles, and both cases improved the thermal and storage stabilities of VLPs obviously. Particularly, the encapsulation of POMs in VLPs largely improved the antibacterial activity of EuW₁₀, and thereby, the present study will be significant for both the stability improvement of protein vaccines and the development of POM medicine.

Air and moisture stable covalently-bonded tin(ii) coordination polymers

Compounds (1)–(4) display 1D, 2D or 3D coordination networks, in which the Sn(ii) cations exhibit distorted disphenoidal geometries due to the stereochemically active electron lone pairs.

HDAC inhibitor PAC-320 induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human prostate cancer

HDAC inhibitors (HDACis) have been demonstrated with profound antiproliferative activities in various tumor types. Previously, we screened several polyoxometalate HDACis based on our p21 luciferase promoter system and demonstrated that such HDACis have antitumor activity. Here, we further investigate the antitumor mechanism of PAC-320, a compound among the polyoxometalates, in human prostate cancer. We demonstrate that PAC-320 is a broad-spectrum HDACi and could inhibit growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we find that PAC-320 induces cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and apoptosis. Mechanically, PAC-320 induced cell cycle arrest is associated with an increase of p21 and decrease of cyclin A and cyclin B1, while PAC-320 induced apoptosis is mediated through mitochondria apoptotic pathway and is closely associated with increase of BH3-only proteins Noxa and Hrk. Meanwhile, we demonstrate that p38 MAPK pathway is involved in PAC-320 induced antiproliferative activities in prostate cancer. Taken together, our data indicates that PAC-320 has potent prostate cancer inhibitory activity in vitro and in vivo, which is mediated by G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

The roles of RRP15 in nucleolar formation, ribosome biogenesis and checkpoint control in human cells

The nucleolus controls ribosome biogenesis and its perturbation induces nucleolar stress that inhibits cell cycle progression and activates checkpoint responses. Here, we investigate the roles of ribosomal RNA processing protein, RRP15, in nucleolar formation, ribosome biogenesis, cell cycle progression and checkpoint control in human cells. RRP15 is localized in the nucleolus and required for nucleolar formation. In contrast to the budding yeast Rrp15p that was reported as a component of pre-60S subunits, RRP15 is found in both pre-40S and pre-60S subunits and involved in regulating rRNA transcription and ribosome biogenesis. Perturbation of RRP15 induces nucleolar stress that activates RPL5/RPL11/5S rRNA (RP)-Mdm2-p53 axis checkpoint response and arrests cells at G1-G1/S in p53-proficient non-transformed RPE1 cells but not in p53-deficient HeLa and MCF7 tumor cells. Instead, p53-deficient HeLa and MCF7 cells with RRP15-dependent nucleolar stress enter S-phase with S-phase perturbation that activates ATR-Chk1- γH2AX axis DNA replication/damage checkpoint response, delaying S-G2/M progression and, ultimately, causing cell death. The selective checkpoint response, cell cycle inhibition and/or cytotoxicity induced by RRP15-dependent nucleolar stress in p53-proficient non-transformed cells and p53-deficient tumor cells suggest that RRP15 might be a potential target for cancer therapy.

Anticancer Activity of Polyoxometalate-Bisphosphonate Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization, In Vitro and In Vivo Results

We synthesized a series of polyoxometalate-bisphosphonate complexes containing MoVIO6 octahedra, zoledronate, or an N-alkyl (n-C6 or n-C8) zoledronate analogue, and in two cases, Mn as a heterometal. Mo6L2 (L = Zol, ZolC6, ZolC8) and Mo4L2Mn (L = Zol, ZolC8) were characterized by using single-crystal X-ray crystallography and/or IR spectroscopy, elemental and energy dispersive X-ray analysis and 31P NMR. We found promising activity against human nonsmall cell lung cancer (NCI-H460) cells with IC50 values for growth inhibition of ∼5 μM per bisphosphonate ligand. The effects of bisphosphonate complexation on IC50 decreased with increasing bisphosphonate chain length: C0 ≈ 6.1×, C6 ≈ 3.4×, and C8 ≈ 1.1×. We then determined the activity of one of the most potent compounds in the series, Mo4Zol2Mn(III), against SK-ES-1 sarcoma cells in a mouse xenograft system finding a ∼5× decrease in tumor volume than found with the parent compound zoledronate at the same compound dosing (5 μg/mouse). Overall, the results are of interest since we show for the first time that heteropolyoxomolybdate-bisphosphonate hybrids kill tumor cells in vitro and significantly decrease tumor growth, in vivo, opening up new possibilities for targeting both Ras as well as epidermal growth factor receptor driven cancers.

Inhibitory effects of different substituted transition metal-based krebs-type sandwich structures on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

POMs induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells, which indicated sub-G1 hypodiploid cell population before the G1 phase via flow cytometry. POM3 showed the highest apoptotic rate of these POMs. This reveals the structure–function relationship of bioactive transition metal ions.

19-Tungstodiarsenate(III) Functionalized by Organoantimony(III) Groups: Tuning the Structure-Bioactivity Relationship

A family of three discrete organoantimony(III)-functionalized heteropolyanions-[Na{2-(Me2HN(+)CH2)C6H4Sb(III)}As(III)2W19O67(H2O)](10-) (1), [{2-(Me2HN(+)CH2)C6H4Sb(III)}2As(III)2W19O67(H2O)](8-) (2), and [{2-(Me2HN(+)CH2)C6H4Sb(III)}{WO2(H2O)}{WO(H2O)}2(B-β-As(III)W8O30)(B-α-As(III)W9O33)2](14-) (3)-have been prepared by one-pot reactions of the 19-tungstodiarsenate(III) precursor [As(III)2W19O67(H2O)](14-) with 2-(Me2NCH2)C6H4SbCl2. The three novel polyanions crystallized as the hydrated mixed-alkali salts Cs3KNa6[Na{2-(Me2HN(+)CH2)C6H4Sb(III)}As(III)2W19O67(H2O)]·43H2O (CsKNa-1), Rb2.5K5.5[{2-(Me2HN(+)CH2)C6H4Sb(III)}2As(III)2W19O67(H2O)]·18H2O·Me2NCH2C6H5 (RbK-2), and Rb2.5K11.5[{2-(Me2HN(+)CH2)C6H4Sb(III)}{WO2(H2O)}{WO(H2O)}2(B-β-As(III)W8O30)(B-α-As(III)W9O33)2]·52H2O (RbK-3), respectively. The number of incorporated {2-(Me2HN(+)CH2)C6H4Sb(III)} units could be tuned by careful control of the experimental parameters. Polyanions 1 and 2 possess a dimeric sandwich-type topology, whereas 3 features a trimeric, wheel-shaped structure, representing the largest organoantimony-containing polyanion. All three compounds were fully characterized in the solid state via single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis, and their aqueous solution stability was validated by ultraviolet-visible light (UV-vis) and multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C, and (183)W) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Effective inhibition against six different types of bacteria was observed for 1 and 2, and we could extract a structure-bioactivity relationship for these polyanions.

Controlled H2O2 release via long-lived electron-hole separation mediated to induce tumor cell apoptosis

Flexible films of polytungstate (PT) as active ingredients were fabricated in PDMS as a "band-Aid" to achieve controllable H₂O₂ release. In these different systems of an amorphous PT building block, the lengthened lifetime (bleaching process) of photo-electron-hole separation is attributed to the electron trapping of the PT network and the existence of hole scavengers. The hole scavengers further prevent recombination of electrons and holes, so that the long-lived photoelectron could provide sustainable reactive oxygen species (ROS) by trapped electrons. Transient absorption illustrates the kinetic competition between the process of photohole induced bleaching and coloration induced by weak irradiation, which suggests that the hole scavenger is vital for ROS generation. The signals of electron spin resonance further confirm the existence of ROS. The profiles of controllable H₂O₂ with various release efficiency were obtained via fluorescence studies. The results indicate that the H₂O₂ release efficiency is related to both the hole scavenger and the tungstate cluster. The released H₂O₂ on the responses of tumor cells were evaluated. Compared with a cancer drug, the controllable and reversible released H₂O₂ delivery is highly efficient in preventing the proliferation and inducing apoptosis of A375 melanoma cells.

Organoantimony(III)-Containing Tungstoarsenates(III): From Controlled Assembly to Biological Activity

A family of three sandwich-type, phenylantimony(III)-containing tungstoarsenates(III), [(PhSb(III) ){Na(H2 O)}As(III) 2 W19 O67 (H2 O)](11-) (1), [(PhSb(III) )2 As(III) 2 W19 O67 (H2 O)](10-) (2), and [(PhSb(III) )3 (B-α-As(III) W9 O33 )2 ](12-) (3), have been synthesized by one-pot procedures and isolated as hydrated alkali metal salts, Cs3 K3.5 Na4.5 [(PhSb(III) ){Na(H2 O)}As(III) 2 W19 O67 (H2 O)]⋅41H2 O (CsKNa-1), Cs4.5 K5.5 [(PhSb(III) )2 As(III) 2 W19 O67 (H2 O)]⋅35H2 O (CsK-2), and Cs4.5 Na7.5 [(PhSb(III) )3 (B-α-As(III) W9 O33 )2 ]⋅42H2 O (CsNa-3). The number of incorporated {PhSb(III) } units could be selectively tuned from one to three by careful control of the reaction parameters. The three compounds were characterized in the solid state by single-crystal XRD, IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The aqueous solution stability of sandwich polyanions 1-3 was also studied by multinuclear ((1) H, (13) C, (183) W) NMR spectroscopy. Effective inhibitory activity against six different kinds of bacteria was identified for all three polyanions, for which the activity increased with the number of incorporated {PhSb(III) } groups.

Polyoxometalate-Based Organic-Inorganic Hybrids as Antitumor Drugs

Polyoxometalates (POMs) have shown encouraging antitumor activity. However, their cytotoxicity in normal cells and unspecific interactions with biomolecules are two major obstacles that impede the practical applications of POMs in clinical cancer treatment. Derivatization of POMs with more biocompatible organic ligands is expected to cause a synergetic effect and achieve improved bioactivity and biospecificity. Herein, the synthesis of an amphiphilic organic-inorganic hybrid is reported by grafting a long-chain organoalkoxysilane lipid onto a POM. The amphiphilic POM hybrid could spontaneously assemble into the vesicles and exhibits enhanced antitumor activity for human colorectal cancer cell lines (HT29) compared to that of parent POMs. This detailed study reveals that the amphiphilic nature of POM hybrids enables the as-formed vesicles to easily bind to the cell membranes and then be uptaken by the cells, thus leading to a substantial increase in antitumor activity. Such prominent antitumor action is mostly accomplished via cell apoptosis, which ultimately results in cell death. Our finding demonstrates that novel POM hybrids-based drugs with increased bioactivity could be obtained by decorating POMs with selective organic ligands.

Encapsulation and stabilization of polyoxometalates in self-assembled supramolecular hydrogels

We have encapsulated the polyoxoanions [P2W18O62](6-) and [P2W15V3O62](9-) in a self-assembled carboxy-methyl-chitosan (CMC) hydrogel, exhibiting a regular superstructure in water at physiological pH. We performed stability studies as a function of temperature and polyoxometalate (POM) loading, and observed exceptional Tgel properties. This work is a step forward towards developing biologically active polyoxometalate-based materials.

Synthesis of chitosan-coated polyoxometalate nanoparticles against cancer and its metastasis

HeLa cells, before and after treatment with nanoparticles.

Exploring the utility of organo-polyoxometalate hybrids to inhibit SOX transcription factors

Background

SOX transcription factors constitute an attractive target class for intervention with small molecules as they play a prominent role in the field of regenerative biomedicine and cancer biology. However, rationally engineering specific inhibitors that interfere with transcription factor DNA interfaces continues to be a monumental challenge in the field of transcription factor chemical biology. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are inorganic compounds that were previously shown to target the high-mobility group (HMG) of SOX proteins at nanomolar concentrations. In continuation of this work, we carried out an assessment of the selectivity of a panel of newly synthesized organo-polyoxometalate hybrids in targeting different transcription factor families to enable the usage of polyoxometalates as specific SOX transcription factor drugs.

Results

The residual DNA-binding activities of 15 different transcription factors were measured after treatment with a panel of diverse polyoxometalates. Polyoxometalates belonging to the Dawson structural class were found to be more potent inhibitors than the Keggin class. Further, organically modified Dawson polyoxometalates were found to be the most potent in inhibiting transcription factor DNA binding activity. The size of the polyoxometalates and its derivitization were found to be the key determinants of their potency.

Conclusion

Polyoxometalates are highly potent, nanomolar range inhibitors of the DNA binding activity of the Sox-HMG family. However, binding assays involving a limited subset of structurally diverse polyoxometalates revealed a low selectivity profile against different transcription factor families. Further progress in achieving selectivity and deciphering structure-activity relationship of POMs require the identification of POM binding sites on transcription factors using elaborate approaches like X-ray crystallography and multidimensional NMR. In summary, our report reaffirms that transcription factors are challenging molecular architectures and that future polyoxometalate chemistry must consider further modification strategies, to address the substantial challenges involved in achieving target selectivity.

Cytotoxicity and enzyme inhibition studies of polyoxometalates and their chitosan nanoassemblies

Polyoxometalates (POMs) have become very significant in biomedical research for their structural diversity which renders them highly active against bacterial, viral and cancer diseases. In this study three different POMs were synthesized and nanoassemblies were made with chitosan (CTS), a natural biodegradable polymer with excellent drug carrier properties. The compounds were tested on two isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatases including tissue specific calf intestine alkaline phosphatase (CIAP) and tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). Compound [TeW₆O₂₄]⁶⁻ (TeW₆) showed the highest activity (45.4 ± 11.3 nM) among tested compounds against TNAP. Similarly, chitosan-[TeW₆O₂₄]⁶⁻ (CTS-TeW₆) was proved to be a potent inhibitor of CIAP with K_i value of 22 ± 7 nM. A comparative study was made to evaluate their cytotoxic potential against HeLa cells. Among all tested compounds, Chitosan-[NaP₅W₃₀O₁₁₀]¹⁴⁻ (CTS-P₅W₃₀) has showed higher percent cytotoxicity (88 ± 10%) at 10 μM when compared with the standard anticancer drug vincristine (72 ± 7%). The study revealed that selected POMs proved excellent anticancer potential and were equally effective against alkaline phosphatase enzyme, an increased level of which may indicate cancer metastasis.

Mo polyoxometalate nanoparticles inhibit tumor growth and vascular endothelial growth factor induced angiogenesis

Tumor growth depends on angiogenesis, which can furnish the oxygen and nutrients that proliferate tumor cells. Thus, blocking angiogenesis can be an effective strategy to inhibit tumor growth. In this work, three typical nanoparticles based on polyoxometalates (POMs) have been prepared; we investigated their capability as antitumor and anti-angiogenesis agents. We found that Mo POM nanoparticles, especially complex 3, inhibited the growth of human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cells (HepG2) through cellular reactive oxygen species levels' elevation and mitochondrial membrane potential damage. Complex 3 also suppressed the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro and chicken chorioallantoic membrane development ex vivo. Furthermore, western blot analysis of cell signaling molecules indicated that Mo POMs blocked the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2-mediated ERK1/2 and AKT signaling pathways in endothelial cells. Using transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrated their cellular uptake and localization within the cytoplasm of HepG2 cells. These results indicate that, owing to the extraordinary physical and chemical properties, Mo POM nanoparticles can significantly inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis, which makes them potential drug candidates in anticancer and anti-angiogenesis therapies.

Nona-copper(II)-containing 18-tungsto-8-arsenate(III) exhibits antitumor activity

The nona-Cu(II)-containing tungstoarsenate(III) [H4{Cu(II)9As(III)6O15(H2O)6}(α-As(III)W9O33)2](8-) (1a) has been synthesized and characterized. Polyanion 1a comprises a unique, cylindrical {Cu(II)9As(III)6O15(H2O)6}(6+) cluster, which forms a large central cavity and is capped on either end by an [α-As(III)W9O33](9-) capping group. It exhibits remarkable activity against K562 leukaemia cells, as well as induces HepG2 cell apoptosis and autophagy.

Cancer Epigenetics: Mechanisms and Crosstalk of a HDAC Inhibitor, Vorinostat

In recent years, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis), a novel class of agents that targets mechanistic abnormalities in cancers, have shown promising anti-cancer activity in both hematological and solid cancers. Among them, vorinostat was approved by FDA to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and is being evaluated in other cancer types. Although initially designed to target histone deacetylase, vorinostat were found to have additional effects on other epigenetic machineries, for example acetylation of non-HDAC, methylation and microRNA (miRNA) expression. In this review, we examined all known mechanisms of action for vorinostat. We also summarized the current findings on the `crosstalk' between different epigenetic machineries. These findings suggest that improved understanding of epigenetic regulatory role of vorinostat and/or other HDACis will provide novel insights in improving utilization of this class of novel agents.