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Hernández-García S, Guerrero-Rubio MA, Henarejos-Escudero P, Martínez-Rodríguez P, Gandía-Herrero F. Exploring in the classroom the relationship between alcohol intake and behavioral disorders through an animal model. BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EDUCATION : A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 52:474-479. [PMID: 38501696 DOI: 10.1002/bmb.21829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol consumption has profound effects on behavior, such as impaired judgment, addiction or even death. It is estimated that alcohol contributes to around three million deaths worldwide, 13.5% of them in young people with ages between 20 and 39 years. Consequently, it is necessary to raise awareness among college and high school students of the risk related to alcohol drinking. The small nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an animal widely used as a model organism to study nearly all aspects of Biochemistry. It is a powerful tool to test the potential bioactivity and molecular mechanisms of natural compounds and drugs in vivo. Therefore, it is an interesting topic to include in an undergraduate course of Biotechnology, Biochemistry or Biology students among other scientific vocations. C. elegans is also used as a neurobiological model to evaluate substances' neurotoxicity and behavioral effects. The proposed experiment introduces students to the handling of this preclinical model and to the evaluation of behavioral alterations induced by chemicals in scientific research. The effects of different doses of ethanol on C. elegans behavior are studied using a versatile chemotaxis assay. This laboratory experiment is suitable for an undergraduate course. The practical session can be used in the global strategies of information and awareness of educational centres to mitigate the impact of alcohol abuse among students, both in formal courses or in Science fairs or exhibitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samanta Hernández-García
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - M Alejandra Guerrero-Rubio
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paula Henarejos-Escudero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro Martínez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Fernando Gandía-Herrero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Marco A, Ashoo P, Hernández-García S, Martínez-Rodríguez P, Cutillas N, Vollrath A, Jordan D, Janiak C, Gandía-Herrero F, Ruiz J. Novel Re(I) Complexes as Potential Selective Theranostic Agents in Cancer Cells and In Vivo in Caenorhabditis elegans Tumoral Strains. J Med Chem 2024; 67:7891-7910. [PMID: 38451016 PMCID: PMC11129195 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
A series of rhenium(I) complexes of the type fac-[Re(CO)3(N^N)L]0/+, Re1-Re9, was synthesized, where N^N = benzimidazole-derived bidentate ligand with an ester functionality and L = chloride or pyridine-type ligand. The new compounds demonstrated potent activity toward ovarian A2780 cancer cells. The most active complexes, Re7-Re9, incorporating 4-NMe2py, exhibited remarkable activity in 3D HeLa spheroids. The emission in the red region of Re9, which contains an electron-deficient benzothiazole moiety, allowed its operability as a bioimaging tool for in vitro and in vivo visualization. Re9 effectivity was tested in two different C. elegans tumoral strains, JK1466 and MT2124, to broaden the oncogenic pathways studied. The results showed that Re9 was able to reduce the tumor growth in both strains by increasing the ROS production inside the cells. Moreover, the selectivity of the compound toward cancerous cells was remarkable as it did not affect neither the development nor the progeny of the nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Marco
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Universidad
de Murcia, and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pezhman Ashoo
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Universidad
de Murcia, and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Samanta Hernández-García
- Departamento
de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente
de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro Martínez-Rodríguez
- Departamento
de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente
de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Natalia Cutillas
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Universidad
de Murcia, and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Annette Vollrath
- Institut
für Anorganische Chemie und Strukturchemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dustin Jordan
- Institut
für Anorganische Chemie und Strukturchemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christoph Janiak
- Institut
für Anorganische Chemie und Strukturchemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Fernando Gandía-Herrero
- Departamento
de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente
de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - José Ruiz
- Departamento
de Química Inorgánica, Universidad
de Murcia, and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30100 Murcia, Spain
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Henarejos-Escudero P, Méndez-García FF, Hernández-García S, Martínez-Rodríguez P, Gandía-Herrero F. Design, Synthesis and Gene Modulation Insights into Pigments Derived from Tryptophan-Betaxanthin, Which Act against Tumor Development in Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:63. [PMID: 38203234 PMCID: PMC10778952 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The use of betalains, which are nitrogenous plant pigments, by the food industry is widespread and reflects their safety after intake. The recent research showed outstanding results for L-tryptophan-betaxanthin, a phytochemical present in traditional Chinese medicine, as an antitumoral agent when the activity was evaluated in the animal model Caenorhabditis elegans. Thus, L-tryptophan-betaxanthin is now presented as a lead compound, from which eleven novel structurally related betaxanthins have been designed, biotechnologically produced, purified, and characterized. The antitumoral effect of the derived compounds was evaluated on the JK1466 tumoral strain of C. elegans. All the tested molecules significantly reduced the tumoral gonad sizes in a range between 31.4% and 43.0%. Among the novel compounds synthesized, tryptophan methyl ester-betaxanthin and tryptophan benzyl ester-betaxanthin, which are the first betalains to contain an ester group in their structures, caused tumor size reductions of 43.0% and 42.6%, respectively, after administration to the model animal. Since these were the two most effective molecules, their mechanism of action was investigated by microarray analysis. Differential gene expression analysis showed that tryptophan methyl ester-betaxanthin and tryptophan benzyl ester-betaxanthin were able to down-regulate the key genes of the mTOR pathway, such as daf-15 and rict-1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Fernando Gandía-Herrero
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology A, Faculty of Biology, Regional Campus of International Excellence, Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (P.H.-E.); (F.F.M.-G.); (S.H.-G.); (P.M.-R.)
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Infante-Tadeo S, Rodríguez-Fanjul V, Vequi-Suplicy CC, Pizarro AM. Fast Hydrolysis and Strongly Basic Water Adducts Lead to Potent Os(II) Half-Sandwich Anticancer Complexes. Inorg Chem 2022; 61:18970-18978. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c03246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Infante-Tadeo
- IMDEA Nanociencia, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | | | | | - Ana M. Pizarro
- IMDEA Nanociencia, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Faraday 9, Madrid 28049, Spain
- Unidad Asociada de Nanobiotecnología CNB-CSIC-IMDEA, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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Ortega-Forte E, Hernández-García S, Vigueras G, Henarejos-Escudero P, Cutillas N, Ruiz J, Gandía-Herrero F. Potent anticancer activity of a novel iridium metallodrug via oncosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:510. [PMID: 36066676 PMCID: PMC9448686 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04526-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Oncosis (from Greek ónkos, meaning "swelling") is a non-apoptotic cell death process related to energy depletion. In contrast to apoptosis, which is the main form of cell death induced by anticancer drugs, oncosis has been relatively less explored but holds potential to overcome drug resistance phenomena. In this study, we report a novel rationally designed mitochondria-targeted iridium(III) complex (OncoIr3) with advantageous properties as a bioimaging agent. OncoIr3 exhibited potent anticancer activity in vitro against cancer cells and displayed low toxicity to normal dividing cells. Flow cytometry and fluorescence-based assays confirmed an apoptosis-independent mechanism involving energy depletion, mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular swelling that matched with the oncotic process. Furthermore, a Caenorhabditis elegans tumoral model was developed to test this compound in vivo, which allowed us to prove a strong oncosis-derived antitumor activity in animals (with a 41% reduction of tumor area). Indeed, OncoIr3 was non-toxic to the nematodes and extended their mean lifespan by 18%. Altogether, these findings might shed new light on the development of anticancer metallodrugs with non-conventional modes of action such as oncosis, which could be of particular interest for the treatment of apoptosis-resistant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Ortega-Forte
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia, and Murcia BioHealth Research Institute (IMIB-Arrixaca), 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Samanta Hernández-García
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Gloria Vigueras
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia, and Murcia BioHealth Research Institute (IMIB-Arrixaca), 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Paula Henarejos-Escudero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Natalia Cutillas
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia, and Murcia BioHealth Research Institute (IMIB-Arrixaca), 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - José Ruiz
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia, and Murcia BioHealth Research Institute (IMIB-Arrixaca), 30071 Murcia, Spain
| | - Fernando Gandía-Herrero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A. Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30071 Murcia, Spain
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Novel Nickel(II), Palladium(II), and Platinum(II) Complexes with O, S Bidendate Cinnamic Acid Ester Derivatives: An In Vitro Cytotoxic Comparison to Ruthenium(II) and Osmium(II) Analogues. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126669. [PMID: 35743112 PMCID: PMC9224311 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Since the discovery of cisplatin’s cytotoxic properties, platinum(II) compounds have attracted much interest in the field of anticancer drug development. Over the last few years, classical structure−activity relationships (SAR) have been broken by some promising new compounds based on platinum or other metals. We focus on the synthesis and characterization of 17 different complexes with β-hydroxydithiocinnamic acid esters as O,S bidendate ligands for nickel(II), palladium(II), and platinum(II) complexes. (2) Methods: The bidendate compounds were synthesized and characterized using classical methods including NMR spectroscopy, MS spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography, and their cytotoxic potential was assessed using in vitro cell culture assays. Data were compared with other recently reported platinum(II), ruthenium(II), and osmium(II) complexes based on the same main ligand system. (3) Results: SAR analyses regarding the metal ion (M), and the alkyl-chain position (P) and length (L), revealed the following order of the effect strength for in vitro activity: M > P > L. The highest activities have Pd complexes and ortho-substituted compounds. Specific palladium(II) complexes show lower IC50 values compared to cisplatin, are able to elude cisplatin resistance mechanisms, and show a higher cancer cell specificity. (4) Conclusion: A promising new palladium(II) candidate (Pd3) should be evaluated in further studies using in vivo model systems, and the identified SARs may help to target platinum-resistant tumors.
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Hildebrandt J, Häfner N, Kritsch D, Görls H, Dürst M, Runnebaum IB, Weigand W. Highly Cytotoxic Osmium(II) Compounds and Their Ruthenium(II) Analogues Targeting Ovarian Carcinoma Cell Lines and Evading Cisplatin Resistance Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094976. [PMID: 35563367 PMCID: PMC9102668 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Ruthenium and osmium complexes attract increasing interest as next generation anticancer drugs. Focusing on structure-activity-relationships of this class of compounds, we report on 17 different ruthenium(II) complexes and four promising osmium(II) analogues with cinnamic acid derivatives as O,S bidentate ligands. The aim of this study was to determine the anticancer activity and the ability to evade platin resistance mechanisms for these compounds. (2) Methods: Structural characterizations and stability determinations have been carried out with standard techniques, including NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. All complexes and single ligands have been tested for cytotoxic activity on two ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780, SKOV3) and their cisplatin-resistant isogenic cell cultures, a lung carcinoma cell line (A549) as well as selected compounds on three non-cancerous cell cultures in vitro. FACS analyses and histone γH2AX staining were carried out for cell cycle distribution and cell death or DNA damage analyses, respectively. (3) Results: IC50 values show promising results, specifically a high cancer selective cytotoxicity and evasion of resistance mechanisms for Ru(II) and Os(II) compounds. Histone γH2AX foci and FACS experiments validated the high cytotoxicity but revealed diminished DNA damage-inducing activity and an absence of cell cycle disturbance thus pointing to another mode of action. (4) Conclusion: Ru(II) and Os(II) compounds with O,S-bidentate ligands show high cytotoxicity without strong effects on DNA damage and cell cycle, and this seems to be the basis to circumvent resistance mechanisms and for the high cancer cell specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Hildebrandt
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena, Humboldtstraße 8, 07743 Jena, Germany; (J.H.); (H.G.)
- Department of Gynecology, Jena University Hospital—Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany; (N.H.); (D.K.); (M.D.)
| | - Norman Häfner
- Department of Gynecology, Jena University Hospital—Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany; (N.H.); (D.K.); (M.D.)
| | - Daniel Kritsch
- Department of Gynecology, Jena University Hospital—Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany; (N.H.); (D.K.); (M.D.)
| | - Helmar Görls
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena, Humboldtstraße 8, 07743 Jena, Germany; (J.H.); (H.G.)
| | - Matthias Dürst
- Department of Gynecology, Jena University Hospital—Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany; (N.H.); (D.K.); (M.D.)
| | - Ingo B. Runnebaum
- Department of Gynecology, Jena University Hospital—Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany; (N.H.); (D.K.); (M.D.)
- Correspondence: (I.B.R.); (W.W.); Tel.: +49-3641-9329101 (I.B.R.); +49-3641-948160 (W.W.)
| | - Wolfgang Weigand
- Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena, Humboldtstraße 8, 07743 Jena, Germany; (J.H.); (H.G.)
- Correspondence: (I.B.R.); (W.W.); Tel.: +49-3641-9329101 (I.B.R.); +49-3641-948160 (W.W.)
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Therapeutic strategies to overcome cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 232:114205. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Ortega E, Pérez-Arnaiz C, Rodríguez V, Janiak C, Busto N, García B, Ruiz J. A 2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-phenolato platinum(II) complex as potential photosensitizer for combating bacterial infections in lung cancer chemotherapy†. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 222:113600. [PMID: 34144355 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer and antibiotic resistance are two global health threats that usually hamper clinical chemotherapeutic efficacy. Particularly for lung cancer, bacterial infections frequently arise thereby complicating the course of cancer treatment. In this sense, three new neutral luminescent cycloplatinated(II) photosensitizers of the type [Pt(dmba)(L)] (dmba = N,N-dimethylbenzylamine-κN,κC; L = 2-(benzo[d]oxazol-2-yl)-phenolato-κN,κO1, 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-phenolato-κN,κO2, and 2-(1-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-yl)phenolato-κN,κO3) have been characterized and developed to potentially eliminate both resistant bacteria and lung cancer cells. The phototherapeutic effects of complex 2 have been evaluated using low doses of blue light irradiation. Complex 2 exerted promising photoactivity against pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria strains of clinical interest, displaying a phototoxic index (PI) of 15 for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, one of the major microorganisms predominating lung infections. Likewise, the anticancer activity of 2 was also increased upon light irradiation in human lung A549 cancer cells (PI = 36). Further in vitro experiments with this platinum(II) complex suggest that ROS-generating photodynamic reactions were involved upon light irradiation, thus providing a reasonable mechanism for its dual anticancer and antibacterial activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique Ortega
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30071, Murcia, Spain
| | - Cristina Pérez-Arnaiz
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Burgos, Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/n, E-09001, Burgos, Spain
| | - Venancio Rodríguez
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30071, Murcia, Spain
| | - Christoph Janiak
- Institut für Anorganische Chemie und Strukturchemie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Natalia Busto
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Burgos, Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/n, E-09001, Burgos, Spain.
| | - Begoña García
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Burgos, Plaza Misael Bañuelos S/n, E-09001, Burgos, Spain.
| | - José Ruiz
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Universidad de Murcia and Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), E-30071, Murcia, Spain.
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