Gold(I) analogues of a platinum-acridine antitumor agent are only moderately cytotoxic but show potent activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Turning on the Antimicrobial Activity of Gold Nanoclusters Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

In this work, we show that the addition of thiourea (TU) initiated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of otherwise inactive D-maltose-capped gold nanoclusters (AuNC-Mal). For example, AuNC-Mal/TU was effective against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 μg mL-1 (2.5 μM [Au]) while having 30-60 times lower in vitro cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. The reaction of AuNC-Mal and TU generated the antimicrobial species of [Au(TU)2 ]+ and smaller AuNCs. TU increased the accumulation of Au in bacteria and helped maintain the oxidation state as AuI (vs. AuIII ). The modes of action included the inhibition of thioredoxin reductase, interference with the CuI regulation and depletion of ATP. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity did not change in the presence of colistin or carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone, suggesting that AuNC-Mal/TU was indifferent to the outer membrane barrier and to bacterial efflux pumps.

The Cytotoxic Effect of Copper (II) Complexes with Halogenated 1,3-Disubstituted Arylthioureas on Cancer and Bacterial Cells

A series of eight copper (II) complexes with 3-(4-chloro-3-nitrophenyl)thiourea were designed and synthesized. The cytotoxic activity of all compounds was assessed in three human cancer cell lines (SW480, SW620, PC3) and human normal keratinocytes (HaCaT). The complexes 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8 were cytotoxic to the studied tumor cells in the low micromolar range, without affecting the normal cells. The complexes 1, 3, 7 and 8 induced lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in all cancer cell lines, but not in the HaCaT cells. They provoked early apoptosis in pathological cells, especially in SW480 and PC3 cells. The ability of compounds 1, 3, 7 and 8 to diminish interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in a cell was established. For the first time, the influence of the most promising Cu (II) complexes on intensities of detoxifying and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging the enzymes of tumor cells was studied. The cytotoxic effect of all copper (II) conjugates against standard and hospital bacterial strains was also proved.

Bacterial Nosocomial Infections: Multidrug Resistance as a Trigger for the Development of Novel Antimicrobials

Nosocomial bacterial infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality, posing a huge burden to healthcare systems worldwide. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with the raised hospitalization of patients and the increased use of antimicrobial agents, boosted the emergence of difficult-to-treat multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in hospital settings. Therefore, current available antibiotic treatments often have limited or no efficacy against nosocomial bacterial infections, and novel therapeutic approaches need to be considered. In this review, we analyze current antibacterial alternatives under investigation, focusing on metal-based complexes, antimicrobial peptides, and antisense antimicrobial therapeutics. The association of new compounds with older, commercially available antibiotics and the repurposing of existing drugs are also revised in this work.

Silver (I) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: A Winning and Broad Spectrum of Antimicrobial Properties

The evolution of antibacterial resistance has arisen as the main downside in fighting bacterial infections pushing researchers to develop novel, more potent and multimodal alternative drugs.Silver and its complexes have long been used as antimicrobial agents in medicine due to the lack of silver resistance and the effectiveness at low concentration as well as to their low toxicities compared to the most commonly used antibiotics. N-Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs) have been extensively employed to coordinate transition metals mainly for catalytic chemistry. However, more recently, NHC ligands have been applied as carrier molecules for metals in anticancer applications. In the present study we selected from literature two NHC-carbene based on acridinescaffoldand detailed nonclassicalpyrazole derived mono NHC-Ag neutral and bis NHC-Ag cationic complexes. Their inhibitor effect on bacterial strains Gram-negative and positivewas evaluated. Imidazolium NHC silver complex containing the acridine chromophore showed effectiveness at extremely low MIC values. Although pyrazole NHC silver complexes are less active than the acridine NHC-silver, they represent the first example of this class of compounds with antimicrobial properties. Moreover all complexesare not toxic and they show not significant activity againstmammalian cells (Hek lines) after 4 and 24 h. Based on our experimental evidence, we are confident that this promising class of complexes could represent a valuable starting point for developing candidates for the treatment of bacterial infections, delivering great effectiveness and avoiding the development of resistance mechanisms.

Enhanced Bactericidal Effects of Pyrazinamide Toward Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis upon Conjugation to a {Au(I)-triphenylphosphine}+ Moiety

As part of the quest for new gold drugs, we have explored the efficacy of three gold complexes derived from the tuberculosis drug pyrazinamide (PZA), namely, the gold(I) complex [Au(PPh₃)(PZA)]OTf (1, OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) and two gold(III) complexes [Au(PZA)Cl₂] (2) and [Au(PZO)Cl₂] (3, PZO = pyrazinoic acid, the metabolic product of PZA) against two mycobacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Only complex 1 with the {Au(PPh₃)}⁺ moiety exhibits significant bactericidal activity against both strains. In the presence of thiols, 1 gives rise to free PZA and {Au(PPh₃)}-thiol polymeric species. A combination of PZA and the {Au(PPh₃)}-thiol polymeric species appears to lead to enhanced efficacy of 1 against M. tuberculosis.

Therapeutic host-directed strategies to improve outcome in tuberculosis

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only licenced tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, but has limited efficacy against pulmonary TB disease development and modest protection against extrapulmonary TB. Preventative antibiotic treatment for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections in high-prevalence settings is unfeasible due to unclear treatment durability, drug toxicity, logistical constraints related to directly observed treatment strategy (DOTS) and the lengthy treatment protocols. Together, these factors promote non-adherence, contributing to relapse and establishment of drug-resistant Mtb strains. Although antibiotic treatment of drug-susceptible Mtb is generally effective, drug-resistant TB has a treatment efficacy below 50% and can, in a proportion, develop into progressive, untreatable disease. Other immune compromising co-infections and/or co-morbidities require more complex prevention/treatment approaches, posing huge financial burdens to national health services. Novel TB treatment strategies, such as host-directed therapeutics, are required to complement pathogen-targeted approaches. Pre-clinical studies have highlighted promising candidates that enhance endogenous pathways and/or limit destructive host responses. This review discusses promising pre-clinical candidates and forerunning compounds at advanced stages of clinical investigation in TB host-directed therapeutic (HDT) efficacy trials. Such approaches are rationalized to improve outcome in TB and shorten treatment strategies.

Acridine-decorated cyclometallated gold(iii) complexes: synthesis and anti-tumour investigations

(C^N) and (C^N^C) cyclometalated Au(iii) represent a highly promising class of potential anticancer agents. We report here the synthesis of seven new cyclometalated Au(iii) complexes with five of them bearing an acridine moiety attached via (N^O) or (N^N) chelates, acyclic amino carbenes (AAC) and N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC). The antiproliferative properties of the different complexes were evaluated in vitro on a panel of cancer cells including leukaemia, lung and breast cancer cells. We observed a trend between the cytotoxicity and the intracellular gold uptake of some representative compounds of the series. Some of the acridine-decorated complexes were demonstrated to interact with ds-DNA using FRET-melting techniques.

Synthesis, structural and antimicrobial studies of type II topoisomerase-targeted copper(II) complexes of 1,3-disubstituted thiourea ligands

A series of Cu(II) complexes of 3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylthiourea derivatives was synthesized. Their structural properties were investigated by spectroscopic techniques (infrared and electron paramagnetic resonance), as well as molecular modeling. All studied coordination compounds are mononuclear complexes containing two chelating ligands bonded to the metal cation via S and deprotonated N atoms. The new chelates were evaluated for their antimicrobial potency. The complex of 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]thiourea (3) presented the highest activity against Gram-positive pathogens, even stronger than the activity of its non-complexed counterpart and the reference drug. The compound also prevented the biofilm formation of methicillin-resistant and standard strains of staphylococcal cocci. The title derivatives were found to be effective inhibitors of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV isolated from Staphylococcus aureus. The binding modes of the ligand L3 with DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV were presented.

Amino acid or peptide conjugates of acridine/acridone and quinoline/quinolone-containing drugs. A critical examination of their clinical effectiveness within a twenty-year timeframe in antitumor chemotherapy and treatment of infectious diseases

Acridines/acridones, quinolines/quinolones (chromophores) and their derivatives constitute extremely important family of compounds in current medicine. Great significance of the compounds is connected with antimicrobial and antitumor activities. Combining these features together in one drug seems to be long-term benefit, especially in oncology therapy. The attractiveness of the chromophore drugs is still enhanced by elimination their toxicity and improvement not only selectivity, specificity but also bioavailability. The best results are reached by conjugation to natural peptides. This paper highlights significant advance in the study of amino acid or peptide chromophore conjugates that provide highly encouraging data for novel drug development. The structures and clinical significance of amino acid or peptide chromophore conjugates are widely discussed.

New Acridine Thiourea Gold(I) Anticancer Agents: Targeting the Nucleus and Inhibiting Vasculogenic Mimicry

Two new 1-acridin-9-yl-3-methylthiourea Au(I) DNA intercalators [Au(ACRTU)₂]Cl (2) and [Au(ACRTU) (PPh₃)]PF₆ (3) have been prepared. Both complexes were highly active in the human ovarian carcinoma cisplatin-sensitive A2780 cell line, exhibiting IC₅₀ values in the submicromolar range. Compounds 2 and 3 are also cytotoxic toward different phenotypes of breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 (triple negative), SK-BR-3 (HER2+, ERα-, and ERβ-), and MCF-7 (ER+). Both complexes induce apoptosis through activation of caspase-3 in vitro. While inhibition of some proteins (thiol-containing enzymes) seems to be the main mechanism of action for cytotoxic gold complexes, 2 and 3 present a DNA-dependent mechanism of action. They locate in the cell nucleus according to confocal microscopy and transmission electronic microscopy. The binding to DNA resulted to be via intercalation as shown by spectroscopic methods and viscometry, exhibiting a dose-dependent response on topoisomerase I mediated DNA unwinding. In addition, 2 and 3 exhibit potent antiangiogenic effects and are also able to inhibit vasculogenic mimicry of highly invasive MDA-MB-231 cells.

Human Serum Albumin-Delivered [Au(PEt3)]+ Is a Potent Inhibitor of T Cell Proliferation

Using a modular library format in conjunction with cell viability (MTS) and flow cytometry assays, 90 cationic complexes [AuPL] ⁿ⁺ (P = phosphine ligand; L = thiourea derivative or chloride) were studied for their antiproliferative activity in CD8⁺ T lymphocyte cells. The activity of the compounds correlates with the steric bulk of the phosphine ligands. Thiourea serves as a leaving group that is readily replaced by cysteine thiol (NMR, ESI-MS). Taking advantage of selective thiourea ligand exchange, the fragments [Au(PEt₃)]⁺ and [Au(JohnPhos)]⁺ (JohnPhos = 1,1'-biphenyl-2-yl)di-tert-butylphosphine) in compounds 1 and 2 were transferred to recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA). PEt₃ promoted efficient modification of Cys34 in HSA (HSA-1), whereas use of bulky JohnPhos as a carrier ligand led to serum protein nonspecifically modified with multiple gold adducts (HSA-2) (Ellman's test, ESI-TOF MS). HSA-1, but not HSA-2, strongly inhibits T cell proliferation at nanomolar doses. The potential role of HSA as a delivery vehicle in gold-based autoimmune disease treatment is discussed.

A review on acridinylthioureas and its derivatives: biological and cytotoxic activity

Acridines possess two characteristics that have led many researchers to consider the agents interesting targets for future development as potential farmacophores: the planar acridine skeleton, which is able to intercalate into DNA, and the intense fluorescence of the agents. This review offers a study of the multifunctional character of acridines and the synthesis of novel acridine derivatives, with particular focus being placed on isothiocyanates and their congeners, e.g. thioureas, isothioureas, quaternary ammonium salts and platinum/gold conjugates. The review provides an overview of the structure, spectral properties, DNA binding and biological activity of acridinylthiourea congeners. These acridinylthiourea derivatives display significant cytotoxic activities against different types of cancer cell lines at micromolar concentrations. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Polynuclear cage-like Au(i) phosphane complexes based on a S2− template: observation of multiple luminescence in coordinated polyaromatic systems

Sulfido-phosphane Au(i) complexes display multiple emissions, the nature of which is determined by the distance between Au(i) and the chromophoric center.

Au-ACRAMTU-PEt3 Alters Redox Balance To Inhibit T Cell Proliferation and Function

Although T cells play a critical role in protection from viruses, bacteria, and tumors, they also cause autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Unwanted T cell responses during organ transplant, graft-versus-host disease, and allergies are also major clinical problems. Although drugs are available to suppress unwanted immune responses, they have limited efficacy with serious side effects. Thus, new therapeutics limiting T cell activation, proliferation, and function can make an immediate clinical impact. To identify new suppressors of lymphocyte activation, proliferation, and function, we examined the immunosuppressive activity of gold(I) analogs of platinum-acridine antitumor agents. We found that the gold complex Au-ACRAMTU-PEt3 is a potent suppressor of murine and human T cell activation. Preincubation with Au-ACRAMTU-PEt3 suppresses the proliferation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells at a similar concentration as pharmaceutical grade cyclosporine A. Au-ACRAMTU-PEt3 pretreatment decreases the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-17 by human and murine CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. When mice were treated with Au-ACRAMTU-PEt3 during viral infection, the expansion of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells was decreased 10-fold and viral load was elevated. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Au-ACRAMTU-PEt3 has potent immunosuppressive activity that could be used to suppress immune responses during transplantation and autoimmunity.

Speciation in Metal Toxicity and Metal-Based Therapeutics

Metallic elements, ions and compounds produce varying degrees of toxicity in organisms with which they come into contact. Metal speciation is critical to understanding these adverse effects; the adjectives "heavy" and "toxic" are not helpful in describing the biological properties of individual elements, but detailed chemical structures are. As a broad generalization, the metallic form of an element is inert, and the ionic salts are the species that show more significant bioavailability. Yet the salts and other chelates of a metal ion can give rise to quite different toxicities, as exemplified by a range of carcinogenic potential for various nickel species. Another important distinction comes when a metallic element is organified, increasing its lipophilicity and hence its ability to penetrate the blood brain barrier, as is seen, for example, with organic mercury and tin species. Some metallic elements, such as gold and platinum, are themselves useful therapeutic agents in some forms, while other species of the same element can be toxic, thus focusing attention on species interconversions in evaluating metal-based drugs. The therapeutic use of metal-chelating agents introduces new species of the target metal in vivo, and this can affect not only its desired detoxification, but also introduce a potential for further mechanisms of toxicity. Examples of therapeutic iron chelator species are discussed in this context, as well as the more recent aspects of development of chelation therapy for uranium exposure.

Synthesis, reactivity, and biological activity of gold(I) complexes modified with thiourea-functionalized tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Thiourea-modified 3-chloro-4-fluoroanilino-quinazoline derivatives have been studied as potential receptor-targeted carrier ligands in linear gold(I) complexes. The molecules mimic the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase-targeted inhibitor gefitinib. Thiourea groups were either directly attached to quinazoline-C6 (compounds 4, 5, and 7) or linked to this position via a flexible ethylamino chain (compound 9). Compound 7 acts as a thiourea-S/quinazoline-N1 mixed-donor ligand, giving the unexpected dinuclear complex [{Au(μ-7-S,N)}2]X2 (X = Cl(-), SCN(-)) (12a,b) (X-ray crystallography, electrospray mass spectrometry). Derivative 9 forms a stable linear complex, [Au(PEt3)(9-S)](NO3) (13). The biological activity of the carrier ligands and corresponding gold(I) complexes was studied in NCI-H460 and NCI-H1975 lung cancer cells. Compound 9 partially overcomes resistance to gefitinib in NCI-H1975, a lung cancer cell line characterized by a L858R/T790M mutation in EGFR (IC50 values of 1.7 and 30 μM, respectively). The corresponding gold complex (13) maintains activity in the low-micromolar concentration range similar to the metal-free carrier. Compound 9 and the corresponding [Au(PEt3)] complex, 13, inhibit EGFR kinase-mediated phosphorylation with sub-micromolar IC50 values similar to those observed for gefitinib under the same assay conditions. Potential mechanisms of action and reactions in biological media of this new type of hybrid agent, as well as shortcomings of the current design are discussed.

One pot synthesis of acridine analogues from 1,2-diols as key reagents

Lead tetraacetate is an efficient reagent for the one pot synthesis of acridines from a variety of 1,2-diols, dimedone and ammonium acetate.

Gold complexes as antimicrobial agents: an overview of different biological activities in relation to the oxidation state of the gold ion and the ligand structure

Interest in antimicrobial gold complexes originated from the work of Robert Koch at the end of 19th century, who demonstrated that potassium dicyanidoaurate(I), K[Au(CN)2], showed activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a causative agent of tuberculosis. Subsequently, a large number of gold(I) and gold(III) complexes have been evaluated as possible antimicrobial agents against a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi and parasites. The first part of the present review article summarizes the results achieved in the field of antibacterial and antifungal activity of gold(I) and gold(III) complexes. The represented gold(I) complexes have been divided into three distinct classes based on the type of coordinated ligand: (i) complexes with phosphine-type ligands, (ii) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and (iii) various other gold(I) complexes, while the results related to the antibacterial and antifungal gold(III) complexes have been mainly focused on the organometallic-type of complexes. The second section of this article represents findings obtained from the evaluation of antimalarial activity of gold complexes against chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Antimalarial gold(I) and gold(III) complexes have been divided into the following classes, based on the nature of the coordinated ligand: (i) complexes with chloroquine and its derivatives, (ii) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands, (iii) complexes containing functionalised alkynes and (iv) thiosemicarbazonato ligands, as well as (v) other gold(I) and gold(III) complexes. In the last section of the review, gold(I) and gold(III) complexes have been reported to be potential agents against parasites that cause amoebiasis, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis. A systematic summary of these results could contribute to the future design of new gold(I) and gold(III) complexes as potential antimicrobial agents.

Synthesis and Characterisation of [(en)2Co]3+ Complexes Coordinated by Substituted Thiourea Ligands

Substituted thiourea ligands bind in a bidentate manner forming a four-membered ring through the sulfur atom and a deprotonated thiourea nitrogen atom when reacted with [(en)2Co(OSO2CF3)2]+ in tetramethylene sulfone. Reaction of unsymmetrical ligands results in the formation of coordination isomers, some of which can be separated by column chromatography using Sephadex SPC-25. Coordination isomers are easily distinguishable based on visible and 1H NMR spectroscopy . Twelve para-substituted and one meta-substituted ligands were studied: N,N′-dibenzylthiourea (1a); N-(R)phenyl-N′-benzylthiourea {R = H (2a), NO2 (2b), CH3 (2c)}; N-(R)phenyl-N′-(R′)phenylthiourea {R, R′: H, H (3a), H, CH3 (3b), OCH3, NO2 (3c), CH3, NO2 (3d)}; N-methyl-N′-(R)phenylthiourea {R = H (4a), CH3 (4b), OCH3 (4c), NO2 (4d), 3-CH3 (4e)}. The solid state structure (X-ray) of one isomer of Co-4a as its perchlorate salt confirms the coordination mode suggested by 1H NMR spectroscopy and shows that the Co–N bond trans to the coordinated thiourea sulfur induces a structural trans effect of 0.019 Å.

Luminescent di- and polynuclear organometallic gold(I)-metal (Au2, {Au2Ag}n and {Au2Cu}n) compounds containing bidentate phosphanes as active antimicrobial agents

The reaction of new dinuclear gold(I) organometallic complexes containing mesityl ligands and bridging bidentate phosphanes [Au(2)(mes)(2)(μ-LL)] (LL=dppe: 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphano)ethane 1a, and water-soluble dppy: 1,2-bis(di-3-pyridylphosphano)ethane 1b) with Ag(+) and Cu(+) lead to the formation of a family of heterometallic clusters with mesityl bridging ligands of the general formula [Au(2)M(μ-mes)(2) (μ-LL)][A] (M=Ag, A=ClO(4)(-), LL=dppe 2a, dppy 2b; M=Ag, A=SO(3)CF(3)(-), LL=dppe 3a, dppy 3b; M=Cu, A=PF(6)(-), LL=dppe 4a, dppy 4b). The new compounds were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques and mass spectrometry The crystal structures of [Au(2)(mes)(2)(μ-dppy)] (1b) and [Au(2)Ag(μ-mes)(2)(μ-dppe)][SO(3)CF(3)] (3a) were determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. 3a in solid state is not a cyclic trinuclear Au(2)Ag derivative but it gives an open polymeric structure instead, with the {Au(2)(μ-dppe)} fragments "linked" by {Ag(μ-mes)(2)} units. The very short distances of 2.7559(6) Å (Au-Ag) and 2.9229(8) Å (Au-Au) are indicative of gold-silver (metallophilic) and aurophilic interactions. A systematic study of their luminescence properties revealed that all compounds are brightly luminescent in solid state, at room temperature (RT) and at 77 K, or in frozen DMSO solutions with lifetimes in the microsecond range and probably due to the self-aggregation of [Au(2)M(μ-mes)(2)(μ-LL)](+) units (M=Ag or Cu; LL=dppe or dppy) into an extended chain structure, through Au-Au and/or Au-M metallophilic interactions, as that observed for 3a. In solid state the heterometallic Au(2)M complexes with dppe (2a-4a) show a shift of emission maxima (from ca. 430 to the range of 520-540 nm) as compared to the parent dinuclear organometallic product 1a while the complexes with dppy (2b-4b) display a more moderate shift (505 for 1b to a max of 563 nm for 4b). More importantly, compound [Au(2)Ag(μ-mes)(2)(μ-dppy)]ClO(4) (2b) resulted luminescent in diluted DMSO solution at room temperature. Previously reported compound [Au(2)Cl(2)(μ-LL)] (LL dppy 5b) was also studied for comparative purposes. The antimicrobial activity of 1-5 and Ag[A] (A=ClO(4)(-), SO(3)CF(3)(-)) against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and yeast was evaluated. Most tested compounds displayed moderate to high antibacterial activity while heteronuclear Au(2)M derivatives with dppe (2a-4a) were the more active (minimum inhibitory concentration 10 to 1 μg mL(-1)). Compounds containing silver were ten times more active to gram-negative bacteria than the parent dinuclear compound 1a or silver salts. Au(2)Ag compounds with dppy (2b, 3b) were also potent against fungi.

In vitro and in vivo antitumor activities and DNA binding mode of five coordinated cyclometalated organoplatinum(II) complexes containing biphosphine ligands

New complexes [Pt(C(∧)N)Cl(dppa)] (1), and [Pt(C(∧)N)Cl(dppm)] (2), (C(∧)N. deprotonated 2-phenylpyridine; dppa. bis(diphenylphosphino)amine; dppm. bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) were suggested to have pentacoordinated geometry as investigated by NMR and conductometry. Pharmacological effects of 1 and 2 were evaluated for their proteasome-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing activities under in vitro and in vivo conditions, showing significant proteasome-inhibitory activity against purified 20S proteasome, while 2 demonstrated superior inhibitory activity against cellular 26S proteasome. Consistently, this effect was associated with higher levels of proteasome target proteins and apoptosis induction in breast cancer cells. Importantly, preliminary studies show 1 and 2 were able to exert a similar effect in vivo by inhibiting the growth of breast cancer xenografts in mice, which was associated with proteasome inhibition and apoptosis induction. Interaction of 1 and 2 with herring sperm DNA was investigated by fluorimeteric emission, suggesting that Pt(II)-containing biphosphine complexes with DNA binding capabilities can also target and inhibit the tumor proteasome.