Microwave-assisted synthesis of arene ruthenium(II) complexes that induce S-phase arrest in cancer cells by DNA damage-mediated p53 phosphorylation

Synthesis and molecular structure of arene ruthenium(ii) benzhydrazone complexes: impact of substitution at the chelating ligand and arene moiety on antiproliferative activity

A series of ruthenium(ii) arene complexes have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activities. The complexes exhibit promising anticancer activities in human cancer cells.

Ruthenium(ii) arene complexes containing benzhydrazone ligands: synthesis, structure and antiproliferative activity

Six new Ru(ii) arene anthracene benzhydrazone complexes have been synthesized and show excellent cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines. The results of apoptosis assays demonstrated that complexes4and6are able to induce apoptosis in human cancer cells.

New dinuclear ruthenium arene complexes containing thiosemicarbazone ligands: synthesis, structure and cytotoxic studies

Ruthenium arene complexes incorporating TSC in two types of coordination modes are reported. B-type complexes are the first di-nuclear TSC ruthenium arene complexes with a special four-membered chelate ring.

Mixed-ligand ruthenium polypyridyl complexes as apoptosis inducers in cancer cells, the cellular translocation and the important role of ROS-mediated signaling

Ruthenium (Ru) polypyridyl complexes have emerged as leading players among the potential metal-based candidates for cancer treatment. However, the roles of cellular translocation in their action mechanisms remain elusive. Herein we present the synthesis and characterization of a series of ruthenium (Ru) complexes containing phenanthroline derivatives with varying lipophilicities, and examine their mechanism of anticancer action. Results showed that increasing the lipophilicity of complexes can enhance the rates of cellular uptake. The in vitro anticancer efficacy of these complexes depended on the levels of ROS overproduction, rather than on cellular Ru uptake levels. The introduction of a phenolic group on the ligand effectively enhanced their intracellular ROS generation and anticancer activities. In particular, complex 4, with an ortho-phenolic group on the ligand, exhibited better selectivity between cancer and normal cells in comparison with cisplatin. Notably, complex 4 entered the cancer cells partially through transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis, and then it translocated from lysosomes to the mitochondria, where it activated mitochondrial dysfunction by regulation of Bcl-2 family proteins, thus leading to intracellular ROS overproduction. Excess ROS amplified apoptotic signals by activating many downstream pathways such as p53 and MAPK pathways to promote cell apoptosis. Overall, this study provides a drug design strategy for discovery of Ru-based apoptosis inducers, and elucidates the intracellular translocation of these complexes.

Anticancer Activities of Mononuclear Ruthenium(II) Coordination Complexes

Ruthenium compounds are highly regarded as potential drug candidates. The compounds offer the potential of reduced toxicity and can be tolerated in vivo. The various oxidation states, different mechanism of action, and the ligand substitution kinetics of ruthenium compounds give them advantages over platinum-based complexes, thereby making them suitable for use in biological applications. Several studies have focused attention on the interaction between active ruthenium complexes and their possible biological targets. In this paper, we review several ruthenium compounds which reportedly possess promising cytotoxic profiles: from the discovery of highly active compounds imidazolium [trans-tetrachloro(dmso)(imidazole)ruthenate(III)] (NAMI-A), indazolium [trans-tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)](KP1019), and sodium trans-[tetrachloridobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)] (NKP-1339) to the recent work based on both inorganic and organometallic ruthenium(II) compounds. Half-sandwich organometallic ruthenium complexes offer the opportunity of derivatization at the arene moiety, while the three remaining coordination sites on the metal centre can be functionalised with various coordination groups of various monoligands. It is clear from the review that these mononuclear ruthenium(II) compounds represent a strongly emerging field of research that will soon culminate into several ruthenium based antitumor agents.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Ruthenium(II) Complexes with Trimethylsilylacetylene as Inhibitors against the Migration of Breast Cancer Cells

In the present study, two novel chiral ruthenium(ii) complexes with trimethylsilylacetylene (TMSA), Λ- and Δ-[Ru(bpy)2(p-TEPIP)](ClO4)2 (bpy = 2,2-bipyridine; p-TEPIP = 5-(2-(p-trimethylsilyl propargyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline) (Λ-1 and Δ-1) were prepared using Sonogashira coupling reaction under microwave irradiation. We found that both Λ-1 and Δ-1 could inhibit the growth of highly metastatic human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 32.1 and 36.9 µM, respectively. Wound healing assay demonstrated that both isomers inhibited the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. Both Λ-1 and Δ-1 compounds were found throughout the cell and were particularly enriched in the nucleus. Furthermore, we observed fragmentation of the nucleus leading to apoptosis. To conclude, it is clear that this type of chiral ruthenium(ii) complex with TMSA can induce apoptosis and thus inhibit the growth and migration of tumour cells.

Imaging of the nuclei of living tumor cells by novel ruthenium(ii) complexes coordinated with 6-chloro-5-hydroxylpyrido[3,2-a]phenazine

Novel ruthenium(ii) complex 1 can be developed as a low toxicity fluorescence probe for living cell nuclei in future.

Structural modeling, in vitro antiproliferative activity, and the effect of substituents on the DNA fastening and scission actions of heteroleptic copper(ii) complexes with terpyridines and naproxen

A new series of heteroleptic copper(ii) complexes with terpyridines and naproxen are reported. The results of biological activity are laying a foundation for the design of new anticancer agents.

Antiangiogenic ruthenium(ii) benzimidazole complexes, structure-based activation of distinct signaling pathways

A series of ruthenium(ii) benzimidazole complexes has been synthesized and identified as antiangiogenic agents with distinct structure-based action mechanisms.

Arene ruthenium(ii) complex, a potent inhibitor against proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells, reduces stress fibers, focal adhesions and invadopodia

Effective chemotherapy drugs for cancer that would inhibit tumor growth and suppress metastasis are currently lacking. In this study, a series of arene ruthenium complexes, [(η6-arene)Ru(H2iip)Cl]Cl (arene = p-cymene, RAWQ03; CH3C6H5, RAWQ04; and C6H6, RAWQ11), were synthesized and their inhibitory activity against tumor cells were evaluated. The results showed that the complex RAWQ11 inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by inducing S-phase arrest, which is closely related to the inhibition of cell mitosis-mediated cell nucleus damage. Further studies showed that RAWQ11 can inhibit the invasion and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cells. The morphology of MDA-MB-231 cells changed, the number of focal adhesions decreased, and the stress fibers de-polymerized upon dealing with the complex RAWQ11. The FITC-gelatin assay confirmed that the formation of invadopodia in MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly blocked by RAWQ11. Furthermore, RAWQ11 can block the AKT signal pathway by upregulating the PTEN expression through binding and downregulating miR-21. These results demonstrated that this type of arene ruthenium(ii) complex can block the invadopodia formation by regulating the PTEN/AKT signal pathway mediated by miR-21 to inhibit the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Therefore, this complex can be used as a potential dual functional agent to inhibit the growth and metastasis of tumor cells.

Investigation of the pharmacological profiles of dinuclear metal complexes as novel, potent and selective cytotoxic agents against ras-transformed cells

Around the world scientists try to design successful cures against still incurable diseases, especially cancers. New targets for prevention and new agents for therapy need to be identified. We synthesized novel metal complexes [Au(L1)(L2)Pt]Cl2 and [Ru(L1)2(L2)Pt]Cl2 for determining their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects. The complexes are synthesized by using 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (L1), and bis-1,4-di[([1,10]phenanthroline-5-il)aminomethyl]cyclohexane (L2) as ligands. This is the first study to examine these metals and these molecules in cancer treatment. We elucidated the effects of test compounds with embryonic rat fibroblast-like cells (F2408) and H-ras oncogene activated embryonic rat fibroblast-like cancer cells (5RP7). Results showed that our complexes are more effective than cisplatin to kill ras-transformed cells. Although the [Au(L1)(L2)Pt]Cl2 compound showed a cytotoxic potency higher than [Ru(L1)2(L2)Pt]Cl2 against cancer cells, it proved to be almost five times less effective in decreasing cell viability over healthy cells. Au(III) compound selectively targets the cancer cells but not the healthy cells.

Ruthenium(II) complexes as apoptosis inducers by stabilizing c-myc G-quadruplex DNA

Two ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(L)2(p-tFMPIP)](ClO4)2 (L = bpy, 1; phen, 2; p-tFMPIP = 2-(4-(trifluoromethyphenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5f][1,10] phenanthroline)), were prepared by microwave-assisted synthesis technology. The inhibitory activity evaluated by MTT assay shown that 2 can inhibit the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells with inhibitory activity (IC50) of 16.3 μM, which was related to the induction of apoptosis. Besides, 2 exhibit low toxicity against normal HAcat cells. The inhibitory growth activity of both complexes related to the induction of apoptosis was also confirmed. Furthermore, the studies on the interaction of both complexes with c-myc G4 DNA shown that 1 and 2 can stabilize the conformation of c-myc G4 DNA in groove binding mode, which has been rational explained by using DFT theoretical calculation methods. In a word, this type of ruthenium(II) complexes can act as potential apoptosis inducers with low toxicity in clinic by stabilizing c-myc G4 DNA.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of arene ruthenium(ii) complexes [(η6-RC6H5)Ru(m-MOPIP)Cl]Cl (R = -H and -CH3) as groove binder to c-myc G4 DNA

Two arene Ru(ii) complexes are prepared under microwave irradiation and display application potential as small molecule inhibitors of c-myc G4 DNA.

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Arene Ruthenium(II) Complex as Apoptosis Inducer of A549 Cells

An arene ruthenium(ii) complex coordinated with 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline, [(η6-C6H6)Ru(o-ClPIP)Cl]Cl (1), has been prepared by using microwave-assisted synthesis technology. The anti-tumour activity of this complex against various tumour cells has been evaluated by MTT assay and the results show that complex 1 exhibits selective inhibitory activity against the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells with IC50 = 31.58 μM. Further studies by flow cytometric analysis showed that apoptosis of A549 cells was observed when dealt with complex 1. Furthermore, complex 1 exhibits excellent binding affinity with DNA molecules which was confirmed by spectroscopy methods, as well viscosity and melting point experiments. As a result, the conformation of DNA molecules was disturbed by complex 1.