Novel Octahedral Nickel (II) Complex with Flexible Piperazinyl Moiety Exhibits Potent Cytotoxic Effect Along with Anti-Migratory and Anti-Metastatic Effect on Human Cancer Cells

Synthesis of non-platinum transition metal complexes with N,O donor chelating ligand for application against pathogenesis of cancer with higher efficacy and selectivity is currently an important field of research. We assessed the anti-cancer effect of a mixed ligand Ni(II) complex on human breast and lung cancer cell lines in this investigation. Mononuclear mixed ligand octahedral Ni(II) complex [NiIIL(NO3)(MeOH)] complex (1), with tri-dentate phenol-based ligand 2,4-dichloro-6-((4-methylpiperazin-1-yl) methyl) phenol (HL) along with methanol and nitrate as ancillary ligand was prepared. Piperazine moiety of the ligand exists as boat conformation in this complex as revealed from single crystal X-ray study. UV-visible spectrum of complex (1) exhibits three distinct d-d bands due to spin-allowed 3 A2 g→3T1 g (P), 3 A2 g→3T1 g(F) and 3 A2 g→3T2 g(F) transitions as expected in an octahedral d8 system. Our study revealed that Complex (1) induces apoptotic cell death in mouse and human cancer cells such as mcf-7, A549 and MDA-MB-231 through transactivation of p53 and its pro-apoptotic downstream targets in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, complex (1) was able to slow the migratory rate of MDA-MB-231 cells' in vitro as well as epithelia -mesenchymal transition (EMT), the key step for metastatic transition and malignancy. Over all our results suggest complex (1) as a potential agent in anti-tumor treatment regimen showing both cytotoxic and anti-metastatic activity against malignant neoplasia.

From the Design of Innovative Ti-Pt Heterometallic Complexes to the Development of Highly Anti-Proliferative Water-Soluble Cationic Titanocenes

Two innovative early/late Ti-Pt-heterobimetallic complexes were synthesized, characterized, and screened in cell-based assays using several human (SW480 and MDA-MB-231) and murine cancer cell lines (CT26 and EMT6) as well as a non-cancerous cell line (HMEC). The combination of the two metals - titanium(IV) and platinum (IV) - in a single molecule led to a synergistic biological activity (higher anti-proliferative properties than a mixture of each of the corresponding monometallic complexes). This study also investigated the benefits of associating a metal-free terpyridine moiety (with intrinsic biological activity) with a water-soluble titanocene fragment. The present work reveals that these combinations results in water-soluble titanocene compounds displaying an anti-proliferative activity down to the submicromolar level. One of these complexes induced an antitumor effect in vivo in CT26 tumor bearing BALB/C mice. The terpyridine moiety was also used to track the complex in vitro by multiphoton microscopy imaging.

Scope of organometallic compounds based on transition metal-arene systems as anticancer agents: starting from the classical paradigm to targeting multiple strategies

The advent of the clinically approved drug cisplatin started a new era in the design of metallodrugs for cancer chemotherapy. However, to date, there has not been much success in this field due to the persistence of some side effects and multi-drug resistance of cancer cells. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the design of metal chemotherapeutics using organometallic complexes due to their good stability and unique properties in comparison to normal coordination complexes. Their intermediate properties between that of traditional inorganic and organic materials provide researchers with a new platform for the development of more promising cancer therapeutics. Classical metal-based drugs exert their therapeutic potential by targeting only DNA, but in the case of organometallic complexes, their molecular target is quite distinct to avoid drug resistance by cancer cells. Some organometallic drugs act by targeting a protein or inhibition of enzymes such as thioredoxin reductase (TrRx), while some target mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. In this review, we mainly discuss organometallic complexes of Ru, Ti, Au, Fe and Os and their mechanisms of action and how new approaches improve their therapeutic potential towards various cancer phenotypes. Herein, we discuss the role of structure-reactivity relationships in enhancing the anticancer potential of drugs for the benefit of humans both in vitro and in vivo. Besides, we also include in vivo tumor models that mimic human physiology to accelerate the development of more efficient clinical organometallic chemotherapeutics.

Expanding the Therapeutic Potential of the Iron Chelator Deferasirox in the Development of Aqueous Stable Ti(IV) Anticancer Complexes

The recent X-ray structure of titanium(IV)-bound human serum transferrin (STf) exhibiting citrate as a synergistic anion reveals a difference in Ti(IV) coordination versus iron(III), the metal endogenously delivered by the protein to cells. This finding enriches our bioinspired drug design strategy for Ti(IV)-based anticancer therapeutics, which applies a family of Fe(III) chelators termed chemical transferrin mimetic (cTfm) ligands to inhibit Fe bioavailability in cancer cells. Deferasirox, a drug used for iron overload disease, is a cTfm ligand that models STf coordination to Fe(III), favoring Fe(III) binding versus Ti(IV). This metal affinity preference drives deferasirox to facilitate the release of cytotoxic Ti(IV) intracellularly in exchange for Fe(III). An aqueous speciation study performed by potentiometric titration from pH 4 to 8 with micromolar levels of Ti(IV) deferasirox at a 1:2 ratio reveals exclusively Ti(deferasirox)2 in solution. The predominant complex at pH 7.4, [Ti(deferasirox)2]2-, exhibits the one of the highest aqueous stabilities observed for a potent cytotoxic Ti(IV) species, demonstrating little dissociation even after 1 month in cell culture media. UV-vis and 1H NMR studies show that the stability is unaffected by the presence of biomolecular Ti(IV) binders such as citrate, STf, and albumin, which have been shown to induce dissociation or regulate cellular uptake and can alter the activity of other antiproliferative Ti(IV) complexes. Kinetic studies on [Ti(deferasirox)2]2- transmetalation with Fe(III) show that a labile Fe(III) source is required to induce this process. The initial step of this process occurs on the time scale of minutes, and equilibrium for the complete transmetalation is reached on a time scale of hours to a day. This work reveals a mechanism to deliver Ti(IV) compounds into cells and trigger Ti(IV) release by a labile Fe(III) species. Cellular studies including other cTfm ligands confirm the Fe(III) depletion mechanism of these compounds and show their ability to induce early and late apoptosis.

A ubiquitous metal, difficult to track: towards an understanding of the regulation of titanium(iv) in humans

Despite the ubiquitous nature of titanium(iv) and several examples of its beneficial behavior in different organisms, the metal remains underappreciated in biology. There is little understanding of how the metal might play an important function in the human body. Nonetheless, a new insight is obtained regarding the molecular mechanisms that regulate the blood speciation of the metal to maintain it in a nontoxic and potentially bioavailable form for use in the body. This review surveys the literature on Ti(iv) application in prosthetics and in the development of anticancer therapeutics to gain an insight into soluble Ti(iv) influx in the body and its long-term impact. The limitation in analytical tools makes it difficult to depict the full picture of how Ti(iv) is transported and distributed throughout the body. An improved understanding of Ti function and its interaction with biomolecules will be helpful in developing future technologies for its imaging in the body.

In vitro and in vivo trackable titanocene-based complexes using optical imaging or SPECT

Two unprecedented titanocene-based theranostics have been synthesized, characterized, and tracked either in vitro (BODIPY probe) or in vivo (¹¹¹In-DOTA probe).

Anti-cancer applications of titanocene-functionalised nanostructured systems: an insight into cell death mechanisms

A series of alkenyl-substituted titanocene compounds have been supported on the mesoporous silica-based material KIT-6. The corresponding functionalised materials were completely characterised by different techniques (solid-state multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, X-ray fluorescence and diffraction, SEM and TEM) to observe the incorporation of the titanocene derivatives on the external surface of the material KIT-6. Both the titanocene compounds and the materials were tested in vitro against a wide variety of human cancer and normal cell lines. A very high cytotoxicity of the synthesised titanocene derivatives (IC50 values in the range of those described in the literature for the most active cytotoxic titanocene compounds), with selectivity towards cancer cell lines was observed. The cytotoxic activity of the materials is the highest reported to date for titanocene-functionalised materials. In addition, higher Ti uptake (from 4 to 23% of the initial amount of Ti) of the cells treated with materials was observed with respect to those treated with "free" titanocene derivatives (which gave Ti uptake values from 0.4 to 4.6% of the initial amount of Ti). Additional experiments with the titanocene derivatives and the functionalised materials revealed that changes to the morphological and functional dynamics of apoptosis occurred when the active titanocene species were incorporated into mesoporous materials. In addition, the materials could induce programmed cell death in tumour cell populations by impairing the damaged DNA repair mechanisms and by upregulation of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic signalling pathways.

On the discovery, biological effects, and use of Cisplatin and metallocenes in anticancer chemotherapy

The purpose of this paper is to summarize mode of action of cisplatin on the tumor cells, a brief outlook on the metallocene compounds as antitumor drugs as well as the future tendencies for the use of the latter in anticancer chemotherapy. Molecular mechanisms of cisplatin interaction with DNA, DNA repair mechanisms, and cellular proteins are discussed. Molecular background of the sensitivity and resistance to cisplatin, as well as its influence on the efficacy of the antitumor immune response was evaluated. Furthermore, herein are summarized some metallocenes (titanocene, vanadocene, molybdocene, ferrocene, and zirconocene) with high antitumor activity.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of achiral indole-substituted titanocene dichloride derivatives

Six new titanocene compounds have been isolated and characterised. These compounds were synthesised from their fulvene precursors using Super Hydride (LiBEt₃H) followed by transmetallation with titanium tetrachloride to yield the corresponding titanocene dichloride derivatives. These complexes are bis-[((1-methyl-3-diethylaminomethyl)indol-2-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] titanium (IV) dichloride (5a), bis-[((5-methoxy-1-methyl,3-diethylaminomethyl)indol-2-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] titanium (IV) dichloride (5b), bis-[((1-methyl,3-diethylaminomethyl)indol-4-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] titanium (IV) dichloride (5c), bis-[((5-bromo-1-methyl)indol-3-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] titanium (IV) dichloride (5d), bis-[((5-chloro-1-methyl)indol-3-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] titanium (IV) dichloride (5e), and bis-[((5-fluoro-1-methyl)indol-3-yl)methylcyclopentadienyl] titanium (IV) dichloride (5f). All six titanocenes 5a–5f were tested for their cytotoxicity through MTT-based in vitro tests on CAKI-1 cell lines using DMSO and Soluphor P as solubilising agents in order to determine their IC₅₀ values. Titanocenes 5a–5f were found to have IC₅₀ values of 10 (±2), 21 (±3), 29 (±4), 140 (±6), and 450 (±10) μM when tested using DMSO.

Multimodal radio- (PET/SPECT) and fluorescence imaging agents based on metallo-radioisotopes: current applications and prospects for development of new agents

This perspective focuses on complexes of radioactive metal ions applied in multimodal radio- and optical imaging. The application of metal ions in radioimaging techniques such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) has advantages over lighter nuclei in terms of half-life, but there are particular issues related to their speciation (particularly leaching from complexes) and with the combination of certain ions with fluorescent systems. The basic coordination chemistry of the ions involved and issues relating to biological conditions and their compatibility with optical imaging techniques are reviewed, the current literature presented in context, and the prospect of exploiting the intrinsic luminescence of certain metal-ligand complexes is discussed.

Water-soluble molybdenocene complexes with both proliferative and antiproliferative effects on cancer cell lines and their binding interactions with human serum albumin

Two water-soluble molybdenocene complexes containing oxygen chelating ligands, maltolato and malonate, have been synthesized to elucidate the role of the ancillary ligands in the molybdenocene cytotoxic activity. The structural characterizations of these species by 1H NMR and IR spectroscopies suggest that both molybdenocene complexes contain the ligands in a bidentate fashion and elemental analysis and mass spectrometry corroborate the proposed formula for the species to be Cp2Mo(malonate) and [Cp2Mo(maltolato)]Cl (Cp is cyclopentadienyl). Metal-albumin binding studies were pursued using UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetric techniques. Whereas metal-albumin binding studies using UV-vis spectroscopy did not show any evidence of interaction, cyclic voltammetry experiments showed that molybdenocene complexes may be involved in weak binding interactions with albumin, most likely in hydrophobic interactions. The cytotoxic activities of Cp2Mo(malonate) and [Cp2Mo(maltolato)]Cl alone with Cp2MoCl2 were investigated in HT-29 colon cancer and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell viability assay. Cp2Mo(malonate) and [Cp2Mo(maltolato)]Cl showed slight improvement in terms of cytotoxic activity as compared with Cp2MoCl2 in the HT-29 colon cancer cell line, whereas for MCF-7 all the molybdenocene species exhibited a proliferative profile. The molybdenocene-containing chelating ligands showed stronger proliferative effects than Cp2MoCl2. There is no correlation between the binding affinity of molybdenocenes for human serum albumin and cytotoxic activity toward HT-29 and MCF-7 cancer cells.

Functionalised cyclopentadienyl zirconium compounds as potential anticancer drugs

New neutral and ionic functionalised zirconocene dichloride compounds have been isolated and characterised. The ionic zirconocene exhibits excellent cytotoxicity against a range of human tumour cell lines, which represents the first active anticancer zirconocene dichloride compound.