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Although immunogenic cell death (ICD) has garnered significant attention in the realm of “cold” tumor therapies, effectively stimulating strong immune responses with minimal side effects, their real-time monitoring in deep-seated tumors remains challenging. There is no available drug that covers these two bases with one swing. Herein, we report a proof-of-concept for the rational design and synthesis of a novel class of five redox-active iron(III) complexes, ([FeIII(L1–L5)2]), based on sirtinol analogs bearing adamantane moieties. These complexes show potential as modest stimulators of ICD, as indicated by the expression of key ICD markers. The lead compound, Fe(L1)2, exhibits promiscuous nanoscale aggregation in RPMI-1640 cell culture media, characterized by a stable hydrodynamic effective diameter ranging from 50 nm to 70 nm over 48 hours. Fe(L1)2 nanoaggregates with enhanced efficacy against MCF-7 cells undergo an energy-dependent endocytic cellular-uptake pathway. In our proposed two-for-one approach, the DAMP marker indicates that our Fe(L1)2 nanoaggregates are iron-based complexes that warm up the tumor environment by maximizing the antitumor immune response, and Fe(L1–L3)2 display well-defined photoacoustic NIR-II spectra that underscore their suitability in future for high-resolution imaging applications. Show less

Rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes are widely studied for their cell imaging properties and anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities, but the complexes with S-donor ligands remain relatively unexplored. A series of six fac-[Re(NN)(CO)3(SR)] complexes, where (NN) is 2,2′-bipyridyl (bipy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and RSH is a series of thiocarboxylic acid methyl esters, have been synthesized and characterized. Cellular uptake and anti-proliferative activities of these complexes in human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) were generally lower than those of the previously described fac-[Re(NN)(CO)3(OH2)]+ complexes; however, one of the complexes, fac-[Re(CO)3(phen)(SC(Ph)CH2C(O)OMe)] (3b), was active (IC50 ∼ 10 μM at 72 h treatment) in thiol-depleted MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, unlike fac-[Re(CO)3(phen)(OH2)]+, this complex did not lose activity in the presence of extracellular glutathione. Taken together these properties show promise for further development of 3b and its analogues as potential anti-cancer drugs for co-treatment with thiol-depleting agents. Conversely, the stable and non-toxic complex, fac-[Re(bipy)(CO)3(SC(Me)C(O)OMe)] (1a), predominantly localized in the lysosomes of MDA-MB-231 cells, as shown by live cell confocal microscopy (λex = 405 nm, λem = 470–570 nm). It is strongly localized in a subset of lysosomes (25 μM Re, 4 h treatment), as shown by co-localization with a Lysotracker dye. Longer treatment times with 1a (25 μM Re for 48 h) resulted in partial migration of the probe into the mitochondria, as shown by co-localization with a Mitotracker dye. These properties make complex 1a an attractive target for further development as an organelle probe for multimodal imaging, including phosphorescence, carbonyl tag for vibrational spectroscopy, and Re tag for X-ray fluorescence microscopy. Show less

Herein, we present the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro investigation of cytotoxic activity against cancer (HepG-2, MCF-7) and non-cancerous (Hek-293, MRC-5) cell lines of six copper(II) complexes with 1H-tetrazole-5-acetic acid (H2L) and secondary ligands, such as olygopyridines (dmphen – 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, phendione – 1,10 phenanthroline-5,6-dione, 5-Cl-phen – 5-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline, phen – 1,10 phenanthroline, dmbipy – 2,2′-bi-4-picoline, bipy – 2,2′-bipyridine). These compounds were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, elemental, and thermogravimetric analysis. The behavior of the complexes in solution was studied by optical spectroscopy, conductometry, and EPR. The DNA binding constant has been obtained for complex 5 using UV–vis spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of the complexes has been investigated against E. coli, S. aureus, P. italicum, and C. steinii. In addition, eight new crystal structures were obtained: [Cu(5-Cl-phen)L]n·0.5DMSO·1.5H2O (3a), [Cu(phen)L]n·2.5nH2O (4·2.5nH2O), [Cu3(phen)2(H2O)(HL)2L2]n·6nH2O (4a), [Cu(dmbipy)L]n (5), [Cu(dmbipy)(HL)2] (5a), [Cu3(dmpiby)2(HL)2L2]n·2nH2O·2nC2H5OH (5b), [Cu(bipy)L]n (6), and [Cu(bipy)(H2O)L] (6a). Show less

A new diaminocarbene cis-palladium(II) complex containing a 2-aminobenzoxazole ligand was synthesized by reacting cis-[PdCl2(CNCy)2] and 2-aminobenzoxazole. The structure and composition of the obtained complex were proven by NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The cytotoxicities of the obtained complex and structurally similar palladium(II) complexes containing a 2-aminothiazole ligand were tested against human cancer cells of various histogenesis (MCF-7, HL60, HeLa, DLD1, A431). The activities of several complexes against cancer cells were higher than those of the reference drug cisplatin and the free ligands, i.e., 2-aminooxazole and substituted 2-aminothiazoles. Show less

Bis-ADC complexes cis-[Pd{C(NHC6H4NH2)N(H)R}2]Cl2 (R = Xyl 4a, Cy 4b, C6H4-4-F 4c) and cis-[Pt{C(NHC6H4NH2)N(H)R}2]Cl2 (R = Xyl 5a, Cy 5b, C6H4-4-F 5c) were synthesized via the metal-mediated coupling of two isocyanide ligands in cis-[MCl2(CNR)2] (M = Pd, Pt; R = Xyl, Cy, C6H4-4-F) and 1,2-diaminobenzene. New compounds 4c and 5a–c were characterized by HR ESI+-MS, IR, and 1H, 13C{1H} and 195Pt{1H} NMR spectroscopy; the structures of 4a and 5a were elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The stability of the ADC complexes in aqueous media (5 mM NaCl) was monitored by UV absorption spectroscopy, HR ESI+ mass spectrometry, and 195Pt{1H} NMR spectroscopy (for 5a). Molar conductivity measurements in MeOH (ΛM = 167–173 Ω−1 mol−1 cm2) indicate that, in this solvent, the ADC complexes exist as dicationic species of [A][Q]2 type. The ADC complexes binding to CT DNA was investigated by means of spectroscopic and hydrodynamic techniques including UV absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, low-gradient viscometry, flow birefringence, and AFM imaging. As a result, complexes 4a and 5a were shown to bind double-stranded DNA predominantly via the formation of monofunctional adducts in the major groove of the macromolecule. Binding of the ADC complexes also provokes the formation of a large number of intermolecular DNA–DNA contacts in solution. The antiproliferative activity of all prepared ADC complexes 4a–c and 5a–c was evaluated in vitro against three human carcinoma cell lines (HT-29, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-7) and two non-tumorigenic cell lines (L929 and RC-124) and compared to that of cisplatin. Among the compounds studied, complexes 4a and 5a appeared to be the most active species with IC50 values in MCF-7 cells of about 10 μM. Show less

Four new complexes of Au(III), Pd(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) ions were synthesized, derived from a novel heterocyclic ligand (L) that has both triazole and tetrazole rings. The ligand synthesis was through successive steps to achieve both heterocyclic rings. The synthesized compounds were characterized using conventional techniques like infrared, ultra violet—visible and proton/carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, metal and thermal analyses, and molar conductivity. All complexes were suggested to have square planar geometry, gold, nickel, and palladium complexes were salts while copper neutral complexes have the chemical formulas; [AuL2]Cl.2H2O, [PdL2]Cl2.2H2O, [NiL2]Cl2.2H2O, and [CuL2]. The cytotoxic effect was studied on breast cancer cell line (MCF‐7 cell line) at different concentrations by using the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay method, for the ligand (L) and complexes. The results showed that gold(III) and nickel(II) complexes have the highest cytotoxicity among all compounds against cancer cell lines. Show less

Abstract2‐(1H‐Tetrazol‐5‐yl)pyridine (L) has been reacted separately with Me2NCH2CH2Cl⋅HCl and ClCH2CH2OH to yield two regioisomers in each case,N,N‐dimethyl‐2‐[5‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐yl]ethanamine (L1)/N,N‐dimethyl‐2‐[5‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐2H‐tetrazol‐2‐yl]ethanamine (L2) and 2‐[5‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐tetrazol‐1‐yl]ethanol (L3)/2‐[5‐(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐2H‐tetrazol‐2‐yl]ethanol (L4), respectively. These ligands,L1–L4, have been coordinated with CuCl2⋅H2O in 1 : 1 composition to furnish the corresponding complexes1–4. EPR Spectra of Cu complexes1and3were characteristic of square planar geometry, with nuclear hyperfine spin 3/2. Single X‐ray crystallographic studies of3revealed that the Cu center has a square planar structure. DNA binding studies were carried out by UV/VIS absorption; viscosity and thermal denaturation studies revealed that each of these complexes are avid binders of calf thymus DNA. Investigation of nucleolytic cleavage activities of the complexes was carried out on double‐stranded pBR322 circular plasmid DNA by using a gel electrophoresis experiment under various conditions, where cleavage of DNA takes place by oxidative free‐radical mechanism (OH⋅).In vitroanticancer activities of the complexes against MCF‐7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cells revealed that the complexes inhibit the growth of cancer cells. TheIC50values of the complexes showed that Cu complexes exhibit comparable cytotoxic activities compared to the standard drug cisplatin. Show less

Hypoxia is a stress that causes alterations in signal transduction and gene instability. In the cancer microenvironment, hypoxia plays a significant role in forming a tumor phenotype and tumor progression. We aimed to identify the genes upregulated by hypoxia in human breast cancer cell lines, a hormone-dependent MCF-7 and a hormone-independent MDA-MB-231, using microarray analysis. These cells were exposed to two oxygen concentrations such as 21% and 1% in a time-course. Out of 12625 genes, 26 genes were identified as commonly upregulated in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Some of these genes were already reported as hypoxia-related, but some of those were identified newly. These commonly upregulated genes between hormone-dependent and hormone-independent cells would be a clue to study hypoxia-related events and to explore the novel therapeutic targets in human breast cancer. Show less