👤 Walsh F

With the aim of expanding the structure-activity relationship investigation, the series of Ru(II) half sandwich coordination compounds of the type [Ru([9]aneS3)(chel)(L)](n+) previously described by us (where [9]aneS3 is the neutral face-capping ligand 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane, chel is a neutral or anonic chelating ligand, L = Cl(-) or dmso-S, n = 0-2) was extended to 1,4,7-triazacyclononane ([9]aneN3). In addition, new neutral N-N, and anionic N-O and O-O chelating ligands, i.e. dach (trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane), pic(-) (picolinate), and acac(-) (acetylacetonate), were investigated in combination with both [9]aneS3 and [9]aneN3. Overall, ten new half-sandwich complexes were prepared and fully characterized and their chemical behaviour in aqueous solution was established. The single-crystal X-ray structures of eight of them, including the versatile precursor [Ru([9]aneN3)(dmso-S)(2)Cl]Cl (9), were also determined. The results of in vitro antiproliferative tests performed on selected compounds against MDA-MB-231 human mammary carcinoma cells confirmed that, in this series, only compounds that hydrolyse the monodentate ligand at a reasonable rate show moderate activity, provided that the chelate ligand is a hydrogen bond donor. Show less

A new family of "RuCp" (Cp=η(5)-C(5)H(5)) derivatives with bidentate N,O and N,N'-heteroaromatic ligands revealed outstanding cytotoxic properties against several human cell lines namely, A2780, A2780CisR, HT29, MCF7, MDAMB231, and PC3. IC(50) values were much lower than those found for cisplatin. Crystal structure of compound 4 was determined by X-ray diffraction studies. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations performed for compound 1 showed electronic flow from the ruthenium center to the coordinated bidentate ligand, in agreement with the electrochemical studies and the existence of a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) band evidenced by spectroscopic data. Show less

Following our strategy of coupling cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors with organometallic moieties to improve their physicochemical properties and bioavailability, five organoruthenium complexes (1c-5c) of the general formula [RuCl(η(6)-arene)(L)]Cl have been synthesized in which the arene is 4-formylphenoxyacetyl-η(6)-benzylamide and L is a Cdk inhibitor [3-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines (L1-L3) and indolo[3,2-d]benzazepines (L4 and L5)]. All of the compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. Upon prolonged standing (2-3 months) at room temperature, the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions of 1c and 2c(-HCl) afforded residues, which after recrystallization from EtOH and EtOH/H(2)O, respectively, were shown by X-ray diffraction to be cis,cis-[Ru(II)Cl(2)(DMSO)(2)(L1)]·H(2)O and mer-[Ru(II)Cl(DMSO)(3)(L2-H)]·H(2)O. Compound 5c, with a coordinated amidine unit, undergoes E/Z isomerization in solution. The antiproliferative activities and effects on the cell cycle of the new compounds were evaluated. Complexes 1c-5c are moderately cytotoxic to cancer cells (CH1, SW480, A549, A2780, and A2780cisR cell lines). Therefore, in order to improve their antiproliferative effects, as well as their drug targeting and delivery to cancer cells, 1c-5c were conjugated to recombinant human serum albumin, potentially exploiting the so-called "enhanced permeability and retention" effect that results in the accumulation of macromolecules in tumors. Notably, a marked increase in cytotoxicity of the albumin conjugates was observed in all cases. Show less

The synthesis and characterization of a number of organometallic ruthenium(II) complexes containing a series of bidentate thiosemicarbazone ligands derived from piperonal is reported. The structure of compounds have been confirmed by spectroscopic analysis (IR and NMR) as well as X-ray crystallographic analysis of [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(pPhTSC)Cl]Cl (4) (pPhTSC is piperonal-N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone). The interaction of the complexes ([(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(pEtTSC)Cl]Cl) (3) (pEtTSC is piperonal-N(4)-ethylthiosemicarbazone) and 4 with calf thymus DNA, human serum albumin (HSA) and pBR322 plasmid DNA were studied by spectroscopic, gel electrophoresis and hydrodynamic methods. The apparent binding constant for the interaction with DNA was determined to be 3.97×10³ M⁻¹ and 4.07×10³ M⁻¹ at 293 K for 3 and 4 respectively. The complexes bind strongly to HSA with binding constants of 2.94×10⁴ M⁻¹ and 12.2×10⁴ M⁻¹ at 296 K for 3 and 4 respectively. The in vitro anticancer activity of 3 and 4 has been evaluated against two human colon cancer cell line (HCT-116 and Caco-2) with IC50 values in the range of 26–150 μM. Both 3 and 4 show good activity as a catalytic inhibitor of human topoisomerase II at concentrations as low as 20 μM. The proficiency of 3 and 4 to act as antibacterial agents was also evaluated against six pathogenic bacterial strains with the best activity seen against Gram-positive strains. Show less

We have synthesized and evaluated the biological properties of a compound of the type [η(6)-p-cymene)Ru(EtATSC)Cl]Cl (1) where EtATSC = 2-anthracen-9-ylmethylene-N-ethylhydrazinecarbothioamide, a thiosemicarbazone. The complex has been characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopically (NMR, UV-Vis, and IR) and structurally by XRD. The in vitro anticancer activity of 1 has been evaluated against two human colon cancer cell lines. The IC(50) value for activity against HCT-116 was 224 ± 7 μM and 205 ± 5 μM against the Caco-2 cell line. The proficiency of 1 as an antibacterial agent was also evaluated against six bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration for Bacillus cereus was determined to be 5 μM and for Enterococcus faecalis it was 20 μM. At the maximum concentration tested the complex showed no activity against the Gram-negative strains. The complex binds strongly to human serum albumin with a binding constant of 1.37 ± 0.02 M(-1) at 308 K on a single binding site. It is also a strong binder to DNA with an apparent binding constant of 2.82 × 10(5) M(-1) at 308 K. 1 shows very good activity as a catalytic inhibitor of human topoisomerase II at concentrations as low as 20 μM. Show less

In this study, two isomeric ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)(p-mopip)](2+) (1) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(o-mopip)](2+) (2) (bpy = 2, 2-bipyridine; L: p-mopip = 2-(4-methoxylphenyl) imidazo [4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline, o-mopip = 2-(2-methoxylphenyl) imidazo[4,5-f][1,10] phenan-throline) contained -OCH(3) at different positions on the phenyl ring and their enantiomers Λ-1, -2 and Δ-1, -2 displayed different properties. The cell viability of these ruthenium(II) complexes was evaluated by MTT, and complex Λ-1 has shown significant higher anticancer potency than Δ-1 against all the cell lines screened. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analyses demonstrated that complex Λ-1 was able to induce apoptosis. The interactions of complexes Λ-1, 1, and Δ-1 with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated by fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) measurements. The fluorescence quenching mechanism of BSA by complexes Λ-1, 1, and Δ-1 was determined to be a static process, and the apparent binding constant K(a) values is as follows: Λ-1 >1 > Δ-1. The number of binding sites n for all these complexes was 1. The result of CD showed that the secondary structure of BSA molecules was changed in the presence of the ruthenium(II) complex. Show less

The antiproliferative properties and cellular impact of novel substitutionally inert rhodium(III) complexes of the types [Rh{(CH₃)₂ NCS₂}₂(pp)]Cl 3-5 (pp=5,6-Me₂phen, dpq, dppz) and OC-6-23-[Rh(2-S-py)₂(pp)]Cl 6 and 7 (2-S-py=pyridine-2-thiolate; pp=dpq, dppz) have been investigated for the adherent human cancer cell lines MCF-7 and HT-29 and for non-adherent Jurkat cells. Whereas CD and viscosity measurements indicate that the polypyridyl ligands of 4 and 5 intercalate into CT DNA, this is not the case for the analogous pyridine-2-thiolate complexes 6 and 7. Complexes 3-7 all exhibit a high antiproliferative activity towards MCF-7 and HT-29 cells, with IC(50) values in the range 0.055-0.285 μM. As established by online monitoring with a cell-based sensor chip, the highly cytostatic complex 6 (IC(50)=0.059 and 0.078 μM) invokes an immediate concentration-dependent reduction of MCF-7 cell respiration and a time-delayed decrease in cellular impedance, which can be ascribed to the induction of cell death. Annexin V/PI assays demonstrated that 6 also has a pronounced antiproliferative activity towards Jurkat cells and that it invokes extensive apoptosis and high concentrations of reactive oxygen species in these leukemia cells. The observation of a dose-dependent inhibition of the oxygen consumption of isolated mice mitochondria indicates the involvement of an intrinsic mitochondrial pathway in this process. Show less

The synthesis and full characterization of new half-sandwich ruthenium(II) complexes containing κ(3)(N,N,N)-hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate (κ(3)(N,N,N)-Tp) and the water-soluble phosphanes 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1(3,7)]decane (PTA) and 1-methyl-3,5-diaza-1-azonia-7-phosphatricyclo[3.3.1.1(3,7)]decane (1-CH(3)-PTA) has been explored. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis for complex [RuCl{κ(3)(N,N,N)-Tp}(PMe(2)Ph)(1-CH(3)-PTA)][CF(3)SO(3)]·2NCMe is also reported. DNA binding properties of the ruthenium complexes have been evaluated by mobility shift assay and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The in vitro antitumor activity of these compounds was assessed by examining their ability to inhibit cell proliferation in a number of human cancer cell lines (NCI-H460, SF-268, MCF-7) and non-tumor human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Some of these new compounds show promising cytotoxic activity with IC(50) values in the low micromolar range, and display differential effects on cancer and normal cell growth. Show less

The synthesis of new modified indolo[3,2-c]quinoline ligands L(1)-L(8) with metal-binding sites is reported. By coordination to ruthenium- and osmium-arene moieties 16 complexes of the type [(η(6)-p-cymene)M(L)Cl]Cl (1a,b-8a,b), where M is Ru(II) or Os(II) and L is L(1)-L(8), have been prepared. All compounds were comprehensively characterized by elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, IR, UV-vis, and NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (2a, 4a, 4b, 5a, 7a, and 7b). The complexes were tested for antiproliferative activity in vitro in three human cancer cell lines, namely, CH1 (ovarian carcinoma), SW480 (colon adenocarcinoma), and A549 (non-small-cell lung cancer), yielding IC(50) values in the submicromolar or low micromolar range. Show less

The synthesis, structural characterization and biological activity of eight ortho-quinone(N-aryl)-oximine rhenium(I) complexes are described. The reaction of the halogenido complexes (CO)(5)ReX (X = Cl (4), Br (5)) with 2-nitroso-N-arylanilines {(C(6)H(3)ClNO)NH(C(6)H(4)R)} (R = p-Cl, p-Me, o-Cl, H) (3a-d) in tetrahydrofurane (THF) yields the complexes fac-(CO)(3)XRe{(C(6)H(3)ClNO)NH(C(6)H(4)R)} (6a-d, 7a-d) with the tautomerized ligand acting as a N,N'-chelate. The substitution of two carbonyl ligands leads to the formation of a nearly planar 5-membered metallacycle. During coordination the amino-proton is shifted to the oxygen of the nitroso group which can be observed in solution for 6 and 7 by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and in solid state by crystal structure analysis. After purification, all compounds have been fully characterized by their (1)H and (13)C NMR, IR, UV/visible (UV/Vis) and mass spectra. The X-ray structure analyses revealed a distorted octahedral coordination of the CO, X and N,N'-chelating ligands for all Re(I) complexes. Biological activity of four oximine rhenium(I) complexes was assessed in vitro in two highly aggressive cancer cell lines: human metastatic melanoma A375 and human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562. Chlorido complexes (6a and 6c) were more efficient than bromido compounds (7d and 7b) in inducing apoptotic cell death of both types of cancer cells. Melanoma cells were more susceptible to tested rhenium(I) complexes than leukemia cells. None of the ligands (3a-d) showed any significant anticancer activity. Show less

Three Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes with potential high DNA-binding ability have been designed and synthesized by extending the conjugated plane of the intercalative ligand and introducing electropositive pendants to the ancillary ligand. Spectral titration, DNA thermal denaturation, viscosity experiments, and quantum chemistry calculations were performed, and the complexes were found to intercalate into DNA base pairs with very high affinity even at high salt concentrations. Benefiting from their high DNA-binding ability, the complexes can effectively inhibit the DNA transcription activity by blocking the binding of T7 RNA polymerase to the template DNA. As efficient transcription inhibitors, the complexes demonstrated high in vitro antitumor activity against four selected tumor cell lines. Show less

The organoruthenium complex [(eta(6)-hmb)Ru(en)(Cl)][PF6] (hmb is hexamethylbenzene, en is ethylenediamine) undergoes facile aquation and then reacts with KSCN in unbuffered solution to give the S-coordinated thiocyanato product [(eta(6)-hmb)Ru(en)(S-SCN)]+ which slowly converts to the thermodynamically favored N-bound complex [(eta(6)-hmb)Ru(en)(N-NCS)]+ (1+). Complex 1 was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography and mass spectrometry. Despite its lack of hydrolysis over 24 h, complex 1 exhibits moderate cytotoxicity (IC(50) 24 microM) towards the human ovarian cancer cell line A2780, comparable with that of the chlorido analogue which is thought to be activated (towards potential target DNA) via a rapid aquation (Wang et. al. in Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102:18269-18274, 2005). Detailed kinetic studies suggest that complex 1 binds to guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) through direct N7 substitution of the N-bound SCN ligand. In the presence of a high concentration of chloride (104 mM), however, complex 1 may bind partly to GMP via Cl substitution. Show less

The synthesis and in vitro anticancer activity of dihalogenido(eta6-p-cymene)(3,5,6-bicyclophosphite-alpha-D-glucofuranoside)ruthenium(II) complexes are described. The compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry, and the molecular structures of dichlorido-, dibromido- and diiodido(eta6-p-cymene)(3,5,6-bicyclophosphite-1,2-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranoside)ruthenium(II) were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The complexes were shown to undergo aquation of the first halido ligand in aqueous solution, followed by hydrolysis of a P--O bond of the phosphite ligand, and finally formation of dinuclear species. The hydrolysis mechanism was confirmed by DFT calculations. The aquation of the complexes was markedly suppressed in 100 mM NaCl solution, and notably only very slow hydrolysis of the P--O bond was observed. The complexes showed affinity towards albumin and transferrin and monoadduct formation with 9-ethylguanine. In vitro studies revealed that the 3,5,6-bicyclophosphite-1,2-O-cyclohexylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranoside complex is the most cytotoxic compound in human cancer cell lines (IC50 values from 30 to 300 microM depending on the cell line). Show less

The aim of this study was to investigate cellular response to several ruthenium(III), chromium(III) and rhodium(III) compounds carrying bidentate beta-diketonato ligands: [(acac)--acetylacetonate ligand, (tfac)--trifluoroacetylacetonate ligand]. Cell sensitivity studies were performed on several cell lines (A2780, cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant U2-OS and U2-OS/Pt, HeLa, B16) using growth-inhibition assay. Effect of intracellular GSH depletion on cell sensitivity to the agents was analyzed in A2780 cells. Flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis by Annexin-V-FITC/PI staining, and to analyze induction of caspase-3 activity. Possible DNA binding/damaging affinity was investigated, by inductively coupled mass spectrometry, and by 14C-thymidine / 3H-uridine incorporation assay. Cell sensitivity studies showed that the pattern of sensitivity to Ru(tfac)3 complex of the two cisplatin-sensitive/-resistant osteosarcoma cell lines, U2-OS and U2-OS/Pt, was similar to that of A2780 cells (72 h exposure), with the IC50 being around 40 microM. The growth-inhibitory effect of Ru(acac)3 ranged over 100 microM, while Cr(III) and Rh(III) complexes were completely devoid of antitumor action in vitro. Ru(tfac)3 exhibited strong potential for apoptosis induction on A2780 cells (up to 40%) and caused cell cycle arrest in the S phase as well as decrease of the percent of G1 and G2 cells. Ru(acac)3-induced apoptosis was slightly higher than 10%, whereas activation of caspase-3 in HeLa cells was moderate. DNA binding study revealed that only Cr(acac)3 was capable of binding DNA, while Cr(III) and Ru(III) compounds possess potential to inhibit DNA/RNA synthesis. In conclusion, only Ru(III) complexes showed potential for antitumor action. Show less

KP1019 [indazolium trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate (III)] (FFC14A) is a metal complex with promising anticancer activity. Since chemoresistance is a major obstacle in chemotherapy, this study investigated the influence of several drug resistance mechanisms on the anticancer activity of KP1019. Here we demonstrate that the cytotoxic effects of KP1019 are neither substantially hampered by overexpression of the drug resistance proteins multidrug resistance-related protein 1, breast cancer resistance protein, and lung resistance protein nor the transferrin receptor and only marginally by the cellular p53 status. In contrast, P-glycoprotein overexpression weakly but significantly (up to 2-fold) reduced KP1019 activity. P-glycoprotein-related resistance was based on reduced intracellular KP1019 accumulation and reversible by known P-glycoprotein modulators. KP1019 dose dependently inhibited ATPase activity of P-glycoprotein with a K(i) of approximately 31 microM. Furthermore, it potently blocked P-glycoprotein-mediated rhodamine 123 efflux under serum-free conditions (EC(50), approximately 8 microM), however, with reduced activity at increased serum concentrations (EC(50) at 10% serum, approximately 35 microM). Moreover, P-glycoprotein-mediated daunomycin resistance could only be marginally restored by KP1019 in serum-containing medium, also indicating an influence of serum proteins on the interaction between KP1019 and P-glycoprotein. Acquired KP1019 resistance was investigated by selecting KB-3-1 cells against KP1019 for more than 1 year. Only an approximately 2-fold KP1019 resistance could be induced, which unexpectedly was not due to overexpression of P-glycoprotein or other efflux pumps. Accordingly, KP1019-resistant cells did not display reduced drug accumulation. Their unique cross-resistance pattern confirmed an ABC transporter-independent resistance phenotype. In summary, the likeliness of acquiring insensitivity to KP1019 during therapy is expected to be low, and resistance should not be based on overexpression of drug efflux transporters. Show less

The reaction of trans-[RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(3)] (Ph = C(6)H(5)) with 2-thio-1,3-pyrimidine (HTPYM) and 6-thiopurines (TPs) produced mainly crystalline solids that consist of cis,cis,trans-[Ru(PPh(3))(2)(N,S-TPYM)(2)] (1) and cis,cis,trans-[Ru(PPh(3))(2)(N(7),S-TPs)(2)]X(2) (X = Cl(-), CF(3)SO(3)(-)). In the case of TPs, other coordination isomers have never been isolated and reported. Instead, the mother liquor obtained after filtration of 1 produced red single crystals of trans,cis,cis-[Ru(PPh(3))(2)(N,S-TPYM)(2)].2H(3)O(+).2Cl(-) (2.2H(3)O(+).2Cl(-)). Selected ruthenium(II)-thiobase complexes were studied for their structural, reactivity, spectroscopic, redox, and cytotoxic properties. Single crystals of 1 contain thiopyrimidinato anions chelated to the metal center via N and S. The Ru[bond]N bonds are significantly elongated for 1 [2.122(2) and 2.167(2) A] with respect to 2 [2.063(3) A] because of the trans influence from PPh(3). The coordination pseudo-octahedron for 2 is significantly elongated at the apical sites (PPh(3) ligands). Solutions of cis,cis,trans isomers in air are stable for weeks, whereas those of 2 turn green within 24 h, in agreement with the respective redox potentials. cis,cis,trans- and trans,cis,cis-[Ru(PH(3))(2)(N,S-TPYM)(2)], as optimized through the DFT methods at the Becke3LYP level are in good agreement with experimental geometrical parameters (1 and 2), with cis,cis,trans being more stable than trans,cis,cis by 3.88 kcal. The trend is confirmed by molecular modeling based on semiempirical (ZINDO/1) and molecular mechanics (MM) methods. Cytotoxic activity measurements for cis,cis,trans-[Ru(PPh(3))(N-THZ)(N(7),S -H(2)TP)(2)]Cl(2) (4) (THZ = thiazole, H(2)TP = 6-thiopurine) and cis,cis,trans-[Ru(PPh(3))(2)(N(7),S-HTPR)2]Cl(2) (5) (HTPR = 6-thiopurine riboside) against ovarian cancer cells A2780/S gave IC(50) values of 17 +/- 1 and 29 +/- 9 microM, respectively. Furthermore, the spectral analysis of HTPYM, TPs, and their Ru(II) complexes in solution shows that intense absorptions occur in the UVA/vis region of light, whereas standard nucleobases absorb in the UVB region. Show less