Cobalt(II) Diphenylazodioxide Complexes Induce Apoptosis in SK-HEP-1 Cells

An Update Overview on Mechanistic Data and Biomarker Levels in Cobalt and Chromium-Induced Neurodegenerative Diseases

There is increasing evidence that the imbalance of metals as cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) may increase the risk of development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). The human exposure to Co and Cr is derived mostly from industry, orthopedic implants, and polluted environments. Neurological effects of Co and Cr include memory deficit, olfactory dysfunction, spatial disorientation, motor neuron disease, and brain cancer. Mechanisms of Co and Cr neurotoxicity included DNA damage and genomic instability, epigenetic changes, mitochondrial disturbance, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. This paper seeks to overview the Co and Cr sources, the mechanisms by which these metals induce NDDs, and their levels in fluids of the general population and patients affected by NDDs. To this end, evidence of Co and Cr unbalance in the human body, mechanistic data, and neurological symptoms were collected using in vivo mammalian studies and human samples.

Exploiting Co(III)-Cyclopentadienyl Complexes To Develop Anticancer Agents

In recent years, organometallic complexes have attracted much attention as anticancer therapeutics aiming at overcoming the limitations of platinum drugs that are currently marketed. Still, the development of half-sandwich organometallic cobalt complexes remains scarcely explored. Four new cobalt(III)-cyclopentadienyl complexes containing N,N-heteroaromatic bidentate, and phosphane ligands were synthesized and fully characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic techniques, and DFT methods. The cytotoxicity of all complexes was determined in vitro by the MTS assay in colorectal (HCT116), ovarian (A2780), and breast (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) human cancer cell lines and in a healthy human cell line (fibroblasts). The complexes showed high cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines, mostly due to ROS production, apoptosis, autophagy induction, and disruption of the mitochondrial membrane. Also, these complexes were shown to be nontoxic in vivo in an ex ovo chick embryo yolk sac membrane (YSM) assay.

Exploring the Mechanisms behind the Anti-Tumoral Effects of Model C-Scorpionate Complexes

The growing worldwide cancer incidence, coupled to the increasing occurrence of multidrug cancer resistance, requires a continuous effort towards the identification of new leads for cancer management. In this work, two C-scorpionate complexes, [FeCl₂(κ³-Tpm)] (1) and [Co(κ³-Tpm^OH)₂](NO₃)₂ (2), (Tpm = hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane and Tpm^OH = 2,2,2-tris(pyrazol-1-yl)ethanol), were studied as potential scaffolds for future anticancer drug development. Their cytotoxicity and cell migration inhibitory activity were analyzed, and an untargeted metabolomics approach was employed to elucidate the biological processes significantly affected by these two complexes, using two tumoral cell lines (B16 and HCT116) and a non-tumoral cell line (HaCaT). While [FeCl₂(κ³-Tpm)] did not display a significant cytotoxicity, [Co(κ³-Tpm^OH)₂](NO₃)₂ was particularly cytotoxic against the HCT116 cell line. While [Co(κ³-Tpm^OH)₂](NO₃)₂ significantly inhibited cell migration in all tested cell lines, [FeCl₂(κ³-Tpm)] displayed a mixed activity. From a metabolomics perspective, exposure to [FeCl₂(κ³-Tpm)] was associated with changes in various metabolic pathways involving tyrosine, where iron-dependent enzymes are particularly relevant. On the other hand, [Co(κ³-Tpm^OH)₂](NO₃)₂ was associated with dysregulation of cell adhesion and membrane structural pathways, suggesting that its antiproliferative and anti-migration properties could be due to changes in the overall cellular adhesion mechanisms.

Structural, Theoretical Investigations, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis, and Cytotoxicity Profile of a Neocuproine-Co(II)-Based Discrete Homodinuclear Complex

In this work, we aimed to synthesize a new cobalt(II) complex, namely [Co₂(μ-HIPA)(NC)₂(H₂O)₃(NO₃)]·(NO₃)(C₂H₅OH)(1) (where H₃IPA = 5-hydroxy isophthalic acid and NC = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline or neocuproine), as a promising chemotherapeutic agent. The diffraction (single crystal-XRD and powder-XRD), spectroscopic (FTIR and UV-visible), molar conductance, and thermal techniques were used to characterize complex 1. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that Co(II) exists in an octahedral geometry, with the ligation of four oxygen atoms, and two nitrogen atoms. Topological analysis of complex 1 reveals 2,6C6 topological type as an underlying net. The plausible intermolecular interactions within complex 1 that control the crystal packing were analyzed by Hirshfeld surface analysis. In vitro cytotoxicity of complex 1 was evaluated against acute myeloid leukemia (THP-1), colorectal (SW480), and prostate (PC-3) cancer cell lines by utilizing an MTT assay. The result shows that complex 1 can inhibit the growth of cancer cells (THP-1, SW480, and PC-3) at lower inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of > 100, 43.6, and 95.1 µM respectively. The morphological changes induced by complex 1 on THP-1 and SW480 cancer cell lines were carried out with acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining methods. Additionally, comprehensive molecular docking studies were performed to understand the potential binding interactions of complex 1 with different bio-macromolecules.

Equilibria of complexes in the aqueous cobalt(II)-N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)phenylalanine system and their biological activity compared to analogous Schiff base structures

Due to their excellent prospects in biological applications, Schiff bases and their complexes are a source of continuing interest. The present study examines the formation of four cobalt(II) complexes with the reduced Schiff base N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)phenylalanine (PhAlaSal) in alkaline aqueous solution by pH-metry. UV-Vis and ESI-MS studies confirmed the model of proposed species. Kinetic analysis indicated that the single- and bi-ligand cobalt(II) complexes transitioned from octahedral to tetrahedral structures. The Schiff base and its complexes detected under physiological pH were tested for antimicrobial abilities and compared with analogous structures of the Schiff base derivative, N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine (AlaSal). The ability of these structures to influence cell growth was tested on L929 mouse fibroblasts and on cervix and gastric adenocarcinoma cancer cell lines. N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)phenylalanine demonstrates greater antimicrobial efficacy than N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)alanine but also higher cytotoxicity; however, it is nonetheless effective against cancer cells. In turn, AlaSal demonstrates low cytotoxicity for fibroblasts and high cytotoxicity for gastric adenocarcinoma epithelial cells at bacteriostatic concentration for Helicobacter pylori and Candida strains. The presence of these microorganisms in the gastric milieu supports the development of gastritis and gastric cancer; AlaSal therapy may be simultaneously effective against both. Due to their cytotoxicity, Schiff base complexes are not suitable for use against fungal and bacterial infections, but may effectively prevent cancer cell growth.

Data availability

Data will be made available on request.

Cobalt (III) complex exerts anti-cancer effects on T cell lymphoma through induction of cell cycle arrest and promotion of apoptosis

PURPOSE

Cobalt-based compounds are emerging as a non-platinum-based anti-cancer effective therapeutic agent. However, there is a limited study regarding the therapeutic efficacy of Cobalt-based drugs against Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHLs) such as T cell lymphoma. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the anti-tumor role of cobalt(III) complex [Co(ptsm)NH₃(o-phen)]·CH₃OH on Dalton's Lymphoma (DL) cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cytotoxicity of the cobalt complex was estimated by MTT assay. Analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle and Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and Annexin V/PI staining was done by Flow cytometry, while AO/EtBr staining by fluorescence microscopy in cobalt complex treated DL cell. Expression of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory protein was analyzed by Western blotting. In addition, in vivo study of the cobalt complex was evaluated in well-established DL bearing mice by monitoring physiological parameters and mean survival time.

RESULTS

Our study showed that cobalt complex triggered apoptosis and induced cell cycle arrest in DL cells. Furthermore, this also decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and increased intracellular ROS generation in cancer cells. In addition, changed expression of cell cycle and apoptosis regulatory protein was found with enhanced activity of caspase-3 and 9 in the treated cells. Additionally, administration of cobalt complex showed a significant increase in the survivability of tumor-bearing host, which was accomplished by decreasing physiological parameters.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these data revealed anti-tumor potential of cobalt complex against DL cells through cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis. Henceforth, cobalt-based drugs could be a new generation therapeutic drug to treat hematological malignancies.

Metal Complexes in Diagnosis and Therapy

The use of metal complexes for health and healing has been in use for over the last several millennia and perhaps longer [...].

Inspirations of Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticle Based Anticancer Therapeutics

Cobalt is essential to the metabolism of all animals due to its key role in cobalamin, also known as vitamin B12, the primary biological reservoir of cobalt as an ultra-trace element. Current cancer treatment strategies, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have been seriously restricted by their side effects and low efficiency for a long time, which urges us to develop new technologies for more effective and much safer anticancer therapies. Novel nanotechnologies, based on different kinds of functional nanomaterials, have been proved to act as effective and promising strategies for anticancer treatment. Based on the important biological roles of cobalt, cobalt oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely developed for their attractive biomedical applications, especially their potential for anticancer treatments due to their selective inhibition of cancer cells. Thus, more and more attention has been attracted to the preparation, characterization and anticancer investigation of cobalt oxide nanoparticles in recent years, which is expected to introduce novel anticancer treatment strategies. In this review, we summarize the synthesis methods of cobalt oxide nanoparticles to discuss the advantages and restrictions for their preparation. Moreover, we emphatically discuss the anticancer functions of cobalt oxide nanoparticles as well as their underlying mechanisms to promote the development of cobalt oxide nanoparticles for anticancer treatments, which might finally benefit the current anticancer therapeutics based on functional cobalt oxide nanoparticles.

Fragmentation Study, Dual Anti-Bactericidal and Anti-Viral Effects and Molecular Docking of Cobalt(III) Complexes

Considering our previous findings on the remarkable activity exhibited by cobalt(III) with 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-R-thiosemicarbazone (Hatc-R) compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the present study aimed to explored new structure features of the complexes of the type [Co(atc--R)₂]Cl, where R = methyl (Me, 1) or phenyl (Ph, 2) (¹³C NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS, fragmentation study) together with its antibacterial and antiviral biological activities. The minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) were determined, as well as the antiviral potential of the complexes on chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in vitro and cell viability. [Co(atc-Ph)₂]Cl revealed promising MIC and MBC values which ranged from 0.39 to 0.78 µg/mL in two strains tested and presented high potential against CHIKV by reducing viral replication by up to 80%. The results showed that the biological activity is strongly influenced by the peripheral substituent groups at the N(4) position of the atc-R^1- ligands. In addition, molecular docking analysis was performed. The relative binding energy of the docked compound with five bacteria strains was found in the range of -3.45 and -9.55 kcal/mol. Thus, this work highlights the good potential of cobalt(III) complexes and provide support for future studies on this molecule aiming at its antibacterial and antiviral therapeutic application.