Targeted Chemo-Phototherapy in Red Light with Novel Doxorubicin and Iron(III) Complex-Functionalized Gold Nanoconjugate (Dox-Fe@FA-AuNPs)

The anticancer efficacy of doxorubicin, an anthracycline-based and FDA-approved chemotherapeutic drug, is significantly hindered by acquired chemoresistance and severe side effects despite its potent anticancer properties. To overcome these challenges, we developed an innovative therapeutic formulation that integrates targeted chemotherapy and phototherapy within a single platform using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). This novel nanoconjugate, designated as Dox-Fe@FA-AuNPs, is co-functionalized with folic acid, doxorubicin, and an iron(III)-phenolate/carboxylate complex, enabling cancer-specific drug activation. Here, we report the synthesis, characterization, and comprehensive physico-chemical and biological evaluations of Dox-Fe@FA-AuNPs. The nanoconjugate exhibited excellent solubility, stability, and enhanced cellular uptake in folate receptor-positive cancer cells. The nanoconjugate was potently cytotoxic against HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells (HeLa: 105.5±16.52 μg mL-1; MDA-MB-231: 112.0±12.31 μg mL-1; MDA-MB-231 (3D): 156.31±19.35 μg mL-1) while less cytotoxic to the folate(-) cancer cells (MCF-7, A549 and HepG2). The cytotoxicity was attributed to the pH-dependent release of doxorubicin, which preferentially occurs in the acidic tumor microenvironment. Additionally, under red light irradiation, the nanoconjugate generated ROS, inducing caspase-3/7-dependent apoptosis with a photo-index (PI) >50, and inhibited cancer cell migration. Our findings underscore the potential of Dox-Fe@FA-AuNPs as a highly effective and sustainable platform for targeted chemo-phototherapy.

Three water-soluble acylhydrazone tetranuclear transition metal complexes: Crystal structures, DNA/BSA interactions and cytotoxicity studies

2-acetylpyridine-4-chloropyridine-2‑carbonyl hydrazone (C₁₃H₁₁ClN₄O, HL) and its three water-soluble tetranuclear complexes [Cu₄(NO₃)₂(L)₄]·(NO₃)₂ (1), [Co₄(NO₃)₂(H₂O)(C₂H₅OH)(L)₄]·(NO₃)₂ (2) and [Zn₄(NO₃)₂(H₂O)(C₂H₅OH)(L)₄]·(NO₃)₂ (3) were synthesized and characterized showing that 1-3 were all tetranuclear complexes. The interactions of HL, 1-3 with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were explored using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) titration, fluorescence spectroscopy, microcalorimetry and molecular docking techniques. The UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements showed that complexes 1-3 could strongly bind to CT-DNA by the intercalation mode, while HL interacted with CT-DNA through groove binding. From the fluorescence spectroscopy results, the interaction between HL, 1-3 and BSA was a static quenching procedure, in which complexes 1-3 had two binding sites near Trp residues of BSA while HL only had one. The microcalorimetric studies revealed that the interactions of HL and 1-3 to CT-DNA/BSA were all endothermic and the duration of each interaction was all less than 30 min. The in silico molecular docking illustrated intermolecular interactions of 1-3 binding with DNA/BSA included hydrogen bond, halogen bond, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay indicated that complex 1 possessed better cytotoxicity against HeLa, A549, MCF7 and HCT-116 than cisplatin and could be used as an alternative anticancer drug.

Syntheses, crystal structures, and biological evaluations of new dinuclear platinum(ii) complexes with 1,2,4-triazole derivatives as bridging ligands

A series of new dinuclear platinum(ii) complexes with the general formula [Pt₂(μ-HL)₄] (1-4), where H₂L is 4-[(5-chloro-2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-amino]-3-R-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione: R = H (1), methyl (2), ethyl (3) and propyl (4), were synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of 2, 3 and 4 reveal that the two platinum atoms form a paddlewheel core with four chelating triazole ligands as bridges, revealing a radically different structure than those of the traditional anticancer platinum(ii) complexes. These complexes show higher in vitro antiproliferative activity against human liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7) than human lung cancer (A549) and human normal hepatocyte (HL-7702) cell lines. In particular, 3 exhibits antiproliferative activity (IC₅₀ = 5.5 μM) against HepG2 cells comparable to that of cisplatin. Different from the traditional anticancer platinum(ii) complexes with high DNA affinity, 3 binds very weakly to DNA. Upon comparison, it exhibits potent inhibiting activity against protein tyrosine phosphatases 1B (PTP1B, IC₅₀ = 16 μM) through possible binding to its active sites and its binding constant is 5.28 × 10⁴ M^-1. The results suggest that the antiproliferative mechanism of 3 against HepG2 cells may be different from that of cisplatin.

Synthesis of Palladium(II) Complexes via Michael Addition: Antiproliferative Effects through ROS-Mediated Mitochondrial Apoptosis and Docking with SARS-CoV-2

Metal complexes have numerous applications in the current era, particularly in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry and catalysis. A novel synthetic approach for the same is always a beneficial addition to the literature. Henceforth, for the first time, we report the formation of three new Pd(II) complexes through the Michael addition pathway. Three chromone-based thiosemicarbazone ligands (SVSL1-SVSL3) and Pd(II) complexes (1-3) were synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic tools. The Michael addition pathway for the formation of complexes was confirmed by spectroscopic studies. Distorted square planar structure of complex 2 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1-3 were subjected to DNA- and BSA-binding studies. The complex with cyclohexyl substituent on the terminal N of thiosemicarbazone (3) showed the highest binding efficacy toward these biomolecules, which was further understood through molecular docking studies. The anticancer potential of these complexes was studied preliminarily by using MTT assay in cancer and normal cell lines along with the benchmark drugs (cisplatin, carboplatin, and gemcitabine). It was found that complex 3 was highly toxic toward MDA-MB-231 and AsPC-1 cancer cells with IC50 values of 0.5 and 0.9 μM, respectively, and was more efficient than the standard drugs. The programmed cell death mechanism of the complexes in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells was confirmed. Furthermore, the complexes induced apoptosis via ROS-mediated mitochondrial signaling pathway. Conveniently, all the complexes showed less toxicity (≥50 μM) against MCF-10a normal cell line. Molecular docking studies were performed with VEGFR2, EGFR, and SARS-CoV-2 main protease to illustrate the binding efficiency of the complexes with these receptors. To our surprise, binding potential of the complexes with SARS-CoV-2 main protease was higher than that with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

Crystal structures and biological properties of aroylhydrazone Ni(II) complexes

Three aroylhydrazone ligands ((Z)-N'-([2,2'-bithiophen]-5-ylmethylene)-2-hydroxybenzohydrazide, HL1; (Z)-N'-([2,2'-bithiophen]-5-ylmethylene)-3-hydroxybenzohydrazide, HL2; and (Z)-N'-([2,2'-bithiophen]-5-ylmethylene)-4-hydroxybenzohydrazide, HL3) and their complexes with nickel (Ni(L1)₂, 1; Ni(L2)₂, 2; Ni(L3)₂∙DMF, 3) were synthesized and characterized by ESI-MS, NMR, IR, UV-vis and elemental analysis techniques. The molecular structure of ligand (HL2) and complexes 1-3 was confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The single crystal X-ray structure of complexes 1-3 showed a distorted square planar geometry around the metal center, and the ligands adopt a bidentate chelating mode. The interaction of calf thymus (ctDNA) with nickel(II) complexes was explored using absorption, emission spectrum, viscosity, and circular dichroism methods. These complexes exhibited moderate affinity for ctDNA through groove binding modes. The most efficient DNA binder was complex 2. The interaction of the complexes with DNA has also been supported by molecular docking study and molecular dynamics simulation. An in vitro cytotoxicity study of the complexes found low activity against human cervical (Hela) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines, with the best results for complex 2, where IC50 values are 86 μM and 92 μM respectively.

Palladium(ii) and platinum(ii) complexes of glyoxalbis(N-aryl)osazone: molecular and electronic structures, anti-microbial activities and DNA-binding study

A new family of palladium(ii) and platinum(ii) complexes of redox non-innocent osazone ligands that exhibit moderate antileishmanial activity were isolated.

Research progress in modern structure of platinum complexes

Since the antitumor activity of cisplatin was discovered in 1967 by Rosenberg, platinum-based anticancer drugs have played an important role in chemotherapy in clinic. Nevertheless, platinum anticancer drugs also have caused severe side effects and cross drug resistance which limited their applications. Therefore, a significant amount of efforts have been devoted to developing new platinum-based anticancer agents with equal or higher antitumor activity but lower toxicity. Until now, a large number of platinum-based complexes have been prepared and extensively investigated in vitro and in vivo. Among them, some platinum-based complexes revealing excellent anticancer activity showed the potential to be developed as novel type of anticancer agents. In this account, we present such platinum-based anticancer complexes which owning various types of ligands, such as, amine carrier ligands, leaving groups, reactive molecule, steric hindrance groups, non-covalently binding platinum (II) complexes, Platinum(IV) complexes and polynuclear platinum complexes. Overall, platinum-based anticancer complexes reported recently years upon modern structure are emphasized.

Three Pt(ii) complexes based on thiosemicarbazone: synthesis, HSA interaction, cytotoxicity, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest

Three new Pt-based complexes with better IC₅₀values than cisplatin displayed different cytotoxicity, cycle arrest and cell uptake manners.

A novel Pd(ii) CNO pincer complex of MR (methyl red): synthesis, crystal structure, interaction with human serum albumin (HSA) in vitro and molecular docking

The C–H activation of methyl red (MR) (MR = 2-{[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]diazenyl}benzoic acid) was achieved by reaction with Pd(OAc)₂under mild conditions.

Vanadium(IV/V) complexes of Triapine and related thiosemicarbazones: Synthesis, solution equilibrium and bioactivity

The stoichiometry and thermodynamic stability of vanadium(IV/V) complexes of Triapine and two related α(N)-heterocyclic thiosemicarbazones (TSCs) with potential antitumor activity have been determined by pH-potentiometry, EPR and (51)V NMR spectroscopy in 30% (w/w) dimethyl sulfoxide/water solvent mixtures. In all cases, mono-ligand complexes in different protonation states were identified. Dimethylation of the terminal amino group resulted in the formation of vanadium(IV/V) complexes with considerably higher stability. Three of the most stable complexes were also synthesized in solid state and comprehensively characterized. The biological evaluation of the synthesized vanadium complexes in comparison to the metal-free ligands in different human cancer cell lines revealed only minimal influence of the metal ion. Thus, in addition the coordination ability of salicylaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (STSC) to vanadium(IV/V) ions was investigated. The exchange of the pyridine nitrogen of the α(N)-heterocyclic TSCs to a phenolate oxygen in STSC significantly increased the stability of the complexes in solution. Finally, this also resulted in increased cytotoxicity activity of a vanadium(V) complex of STSC compared to the metal-free ligand.