A dual-targeting ruthenium nanodrug that inhibits primary tumor growth and lung metastasis via the PARP/ATM pathway

Background

Many studies have found that ruthenium complexes possess unique biochemical characteristics and inhibit tumor growth or metastasis.

Results

Here, we report the novel dual-targeting ruthenium candidate 2b, which has both antitumor and antimetastatic properties and targets tumor sites through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and transferrin/transferrin receptor (TF/TFR) interaction. The candidate 2b is composed of ruthenium-complexed carboline acid and four chloride ions. In vitro, 2b triggered DNA cleavage and thus blocked cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis via the PARP/ATM pathway. In vivo,2b inhibited not only Lewis lung cancer (LLC) tumor growth but also lung metastasis. We detected apoptosis and decreased CD31 expression in tumor tissues, and ruthenium accumulated in the primary tumor tissue of C57BL/6 mice implanted with LLC cells.

Conclusions

Thus, we conclude that 2b targets tumors, inhibits tumor growth and prevents lung metastasis.

Stereospecific ligands and their complexes: Synthesis and characterization of the s-cis-K[Ru(S,S-eddp)Cl2]·3H2O

In the reaction of ruthenium(III) chloride and an edda-like ligand ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-S,S-2-propionic acid (S,S-eddp) in aqueous solution led to the formation of only one of the three possible geometrical isomers potassium- s-cis-dichlorido-(ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-S,S-2-propionato)-ruthenate(III)- -trihydrate, s-cis-K[Ru(S,S-eddp)Cl2]?3H2O. The assumed geometry of the complex was based on its electronic absorption and infrared spectra.

Synthesis, interaction with double-helical DNA and biological activity of the water soluble complex cis-dichloro-1,2-propylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetato ruthenium (III) (RAP)

The effects exerted by the new complex cis-dichloro-1,2-propylenediaminetetraacetato ruthenium (III), H[RuCl(2)(PDTA-H(2))] [1, RAP], on DNA and cultured tumor cells (ovarian carcinoma TG cell line) were studied. The comparative study of circular dichroism (CD) spectra obtained from DNA and RAP-DNA system evidences the interaction of the complex with DNA. Compound 1 also interacted with tumor TG cells to slow their proliferation rate. BrdU incorporation was enhanced in cells treated with compound 1, as evidenced by a single-cell electrophoresis method (comet assay), in accordance with RAP-induced DNA damage. DNA migration of compound 1-treated cells was similar to that induced by noxious agents other than cross-linking chemicals. The stability of [RuCl(2)(PDTA-H(2))]-DNA binding is suggested by the high degree of damage that persisted after removal of compound 1 from the culture medium.

Synthesis, characterization, interaction with DNA and cytotoxicity of the new potential antitumour drug cis-K[Ru(eddp)Cl2]

The new potential antitumour soluble drug K[Ru(eddp)Cl(2)].3H(2)O, (eddp=ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-3-propionate) has been isolated and characterized. The analysis of the interaction of this complex with pBR322 plasmid DNA by circular dichroism spectroscopy shows that the ruthenium complex initially induces alteration of both CD positive and negative features resembling those previously observed for monofunctional platinum complexes. Further addition of drug at r(i) higher than 0.50 suggests appreciable conformational alterations of typical secondary structure of B-type DNA, implying loss of DNA helicity and unwinding of the double helix. The results reported herein about the binding of K[Ru(eddp)Cl(2)] to the named plasmid performed by electrophoresis indicate that the Ru(III) center preferentially forms initial monofunctional adducts with this plasmid. In addition, the DNA binding data suggest that the plasmid is cleaved by K[Ru(eddp)Cl(2)] in the presence of physiological concentrations of ascorbate. These results support the hypothesis that reactive Ru(II) species may be formed from Ru(III) upon incubation with a reductant agent such as ascorbate. The testing of the cytotoxic activity of this complex against several human cancer cell lines evidenced that K[Ru(eddp)Cl(2)] complex had a remarkable and selective antiproliferative effect against the cervix carcinoma HeLa and colon adenocarcinoma HT-29, behaving in these two cases as an antineoplastic drug.

Solution studies of the antitumor complex dichloro 1,2-propylendiaminetetraacetate ruthenium (III) and of its interactions with proteins

A mixed complex of ruthenium (III) with 1,2-propylendiaminetetraacetate (PDTA) and chloride--RAP hereafter--has been found to exhibit favorable anticancer properties in vivo. To get some insight into the possible mechanism of action of this ruthenium (III) complex, its solution behavior and reactivity with proteins were investigated through absorption, circular dichroism and 1H NMR spectroscopies. Under physiological conditions RAP slowly looses the two coordinated chlorine atoms to produce a number of ruthenium (III) reactive species; a description of the distribution of these species on the dependence of pH has been obtained through 1H NMR studies of the hyperfine shifted signals. Remarkably, through the different solution conditions employed in this study, the ruthenium ion always remains in the 3+ oxidation state and the PDTA ligand is always bound to the metal. Upon reaction with albumin, apotransferrin or diferric transferrin, at a 1:1 ratio, RAP rapidly binds to these proteins to produce substantially equivalent and relatively stable adducts. This behavior is tentatively interpreted in terms of a tight interaction between RAP and surface residues of these proteins. The implications of these findings for the biological action of this novel ruthenium (III) compound are discussed.