Metal-chelating properties and antiviral activity of some 2-hydroxyphenyl amides

Metal Complexes as DNA Synthesis and/or Repair Inhibitors: Anticancer and Antimicrobial Agents

Medicinal inorganic chemistry involving the utilization of metal-based compounds as therapeutics has become a field showing distinct promise. DNA and RNA are ideal drug targets for therapeutic intervention in the case of various diseases, such as cancer and microbial infection. Metals play a vital role in medicine, with at least 10 metals known to be essential for human life and a further 46 nonessential metals having been involved in drug therapies and diagnosis. These metal-based complexes interact with DNA in various ways, and are often delivered as prodrugs which undergo activation in vivo. Metal complexes cause DNA crosslinking, leading to the inhibition of DNA synthesis and repair. In this review, the various interactions of metal complexes with DNA nucleic acids, as well as the underlying mechanism of action, were highlighted. Furthermore, we also discussed various tools used to investigate the interaction between metal complexes and the DNA. The tools included in vitro techniques such as spectroscopy and electrophoresis, and in silico studies such as protein docking and density-functional theory that are highlighted for preclinical development.

What is holding back the development of antiviral metallodrugs? A literature overview and implications for SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics and future viral outbreaks

In light of the Covid-19 outbreak, this review brings together historical and current literature efforts towards the development of antiviral metallodrugs. Classical compounds such as CTC-96 and auranofin are discussed in depth, as pillars for future metallodrug development. From the recent literature, both cell-based results and biophysical assays against potential viral biomolecule targets are summarized here. The comprehension of the biomolecular targets and their interactions with coordination compounds are emphasized as fundamental strategies that will foment further development of metal-based antivirals. We also discuss other possible and unexplored methods for unveiling metallodrug interactions with biomolecules related to viral replication and highlight the specific challenges involved in the development of antiviral metallodrugs.

Biological properties of metal complexes of curcumin

Curcumin, a naturally occurring phenolic compound isolated from Curcuma longa, has different pharmacological effects, including antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. However, curcumin has been found to have a limited bioavailability because of its hydrophobic nature, low-intestinal absorption, and rapid metabolism. Therefore, there is a need for enhancing the bioavailability and its solubility in water in order to increase the pharmacological effects of this bioactive compound. One strategy is curcumin complexation with transition metals to circumvent the abovementioned problems. Curcumin can undergo chelation with various metal ions to form metallo-complexes of curcumin, which may show greater effects as compared with curcumin alone. Promising results with metal curcumin complexes have been observed with regard to antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activity, as well as in treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The present review provides a concise summary of the characterization and biological properties of curcumin-metal complexes. © 2019 BioFactors, 45(3):304-317, 2019.

Metal chelators for the inhibition of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus endonuclease domain

Arenaviridae is a viral family whose members are associated with rodent-transmitted infections to humans responsible of severe diseases. The current lack of a vaccine and limited therapeutic options make the development of efficacious drugs of high priority. The cap-snatching mechanism of transcription of Arenavirus performed by the endonuclease domain of the L-protein is unique and essential, so we developed a drug design program targeting the endonuclease activity of the prototypic Lymphocytic ChorioMeningitis Virus. Since the endonuclease activity is metal ion dependent, we designed a library of compounds bearing chelating motifs (diketo acids, polyphenols, and N-hydroxyisoquinoline-1,3-diones) able to block the catalytic center through the chelation of the critical metal ions, resulting in a functional impairment. We pre-screened 59 compounds by Differential Scanning Fluorimetry. Then, we characterized the binding affinity by Microscale Thermophoresis and evaluated selected compounds in in vitro and in cellula assays. We found several potent binders and inhibitors of the endonuclease activity. This study validates the proof of concept that the endonuclease domain of Arenavirus can be used as a target for anti-arena-viral drug discovery and that both diketo acids and N-hydroxyisoquinoline-1,3-diones can be considered further as potential metal-chelating pharmacophores.