Research Progress on the Biological Activities of Metal Complexes Bearing Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrazones

Due to the abundant and promising biological activities of aromatic hydrazones, it is of great significance to study the biological activities of their metal complexes for the research and development of metal-based drugs. In this review, we focus on the metal complexes of polycyclic aromatic hydrazones, which still do not receive much attention, and summarize the studies related to their biological activities. Although the large number of metal complexes in phenylhydrazone prevent them all from being summarized, the significant value of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons themselves (such as naphthalene and anthracene) as pharmacophores are also considered. Therefore, the bioactivities of the metal complexes of naphthylhydrazone and anthrahydrazone are focused on, and the recent research progress on the metal complexes of anthrahydrazone by the authors is also included. In terms of biological activities, these complexes mainly show antibacterial and anticancer activities, along with less bioactivities. The present review demonstrates that the structural design and bioactivities of these complexes are fundamental, which also indicates a certain structure-activity relationship (SAR) in some substructural areas. However, a systematic and comprehensive conclusion of the SAR is still not available, which suggests that more attention should be paid to the bioactivities of the metal complexes of polycyclic aromatic hydrazones since their potential in structural design and biological activity remains to be explored. We hope that this review will attract more researchers to devote their interest and energy into this promising area.

Pharmacological assessment of Ru(II) complex with GidA protein- A novel topoisomerase II inhibitor towards cancer therapeutics

The interactions of ruthenium(II) complex with Glucose inhibited division protein A (GidA protein) was studied through various spectroscopic techniques with the ultimate goal of preparing adducts with good selectivity for cancer cells. In all the cases, formation of a tight metal-protein conjugate was observed. The influence of pH, reducing agents and chelators on the formation of adduct was analysed by UV- visible spectroscopy. While there was no effect on the addition of sodium ascorbate, some alterations on some selected bands were seen on the UV-visible spectra on the addition of EDTA. The adduct was stable in the pH range of 5-8. Addition of ruthenium(II) complex effectively quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of GidA and it occurred through static quenching. The effect of ruthenium(II) complex on the conformation of GidA has been examined by analyzing CD spectrum. Though, there was some conformational changes observed in the presence of ruthenium(II) complex, α- helix in the secondary structure of GidA retained its identity. Molecular docking of ruthenium(II) complex with GidA also indicated that GidA docks through hydrophobic interaction. The stable semisynthetic complex (ruthenium(II) complex with GidA) was checked for topoisomerase II inhibition. Relaxation and decatenation assay proved topoisomerase II inhibition of semisynthetic complex.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Synthesis of Novel Dinuclear N-Substituted 4-(Dimethylamino)benzaldehyde Thiosemicarbazonates of Rhenium(I): Formation of Four- and/or Five-Membered Chelate Rings, Conformational Analysis, and Reactivity

The reaction of fac-[ReX(CH₃CN)₂(CO)₃] (X = Cl, Br) with N-phenyl-[4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde] thiosemicarbazone (HL^A) or N-4-methoxybenzyl-[4-(dimethylamino)benzaldehyde] thiosemicarbazone (HL^B) under controlled synthetic conditions gave 4 mononuclear [ReX(HL)(CO)₃] (X = Cl, Br) and 16 dinuclear [Re₂L₂(CO)₆] compounds. These complexes were obtained as single crystals, and their structures were established by X-ray diffraction. The structural study of these dimers showed the formation of several solvates, the presence of linkage isomerism, and the stabilization of four- and/or five-membered chelate rings. The different ligand coordination modes (a new μ-κ²-S,N2:κ-N3 coordination mode for a thiosemicarbazone ligand was observed), the conformation of the thiosemicarbazone chain in each case, the formal symmetry of the dimers, and the role of the synthetic procedure in the stability of the different chelate rings were analyzed and are discussed. Theoretical calculations in the gas phase were performed for the dimers with the HL^A ligand in order to identify the thermodynamically most stable species. The behavior and structural stability of dimers in dimethyl sulfoxide and acetone solutions was investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The strength of the Re^I-L bond in solution was evidenced by the formation of [Re₂(L^NO₂)₂(CO)₆] and [Re(L^A)(py)(CO)₃] upon reaction of the corresponding dimer with concentrated nitric acid and pyridine, respectively.

Mitochondria-Targeting Anticancer Metal Complexes

Background:

Since the serendipitous discovery of the antitumor activity of cisplatin there has been a continuous surge in studies aimed at the development of new cytotoxic metal complexes. While the majority of these complexes have been designed to interact with nuclear DNA, other targets for anticancer metallodrugs attract increasing interest. In cancer cells the mitochondrial metabolism is deregulated. Impaired apoptosis, insensitivity to antigrowth signals and unlimited proliferation have been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. It is therefore not surprising that mitochondria have emerged as a major target for cancer therapy. Mitochondria-targeting agents are able to bypass resistance mechanisms and to (re-) activate cell-death programs.

Methods:

Web-based literature searching tools such as SciFinder were used to search for reports on cytotoxic metal complexes that are taken up by the mitochondria and interact with mitochondrial DNA or mitochondrial proteins, disrupt the mitochondrial membrane potential, facilitate mitochondrial membrane permeabilization or activate mitochondria-dependent celldeath signaling by unbalancing the cellular redox state. Included in the search were publications investigating strategies to selectively accumulate metallodrugs in the mitochondria.

Results:

This review includes 241 references on antimitochondrial metal complexes, the use of mitochondria-targeting carrier ligands and the formation of lipophilic cationic complexes.

Conclusion:

Recent developments in the design, cytotoxic potency, and mechanistic understanding of antimitochondrial metal complexes, in particular of cyclometalated Au, Ru, Ir and Pt complexes, Ru polypyridine complexes and Au-N-heterocyclic carbene and phosphine complexes are summarized and discussed.

Crystal structure of 1-((1E)-{(E)-2-[(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylidene]hydrazin-1-ylidene}methyl)naphthalen-2-ol

The complete mol­ecule of the title compound, C₂₂H₁₆N₂O₂, is generated by a crystallographic inversion centre at the mid-point of the central N—N bond. Two intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds occur.

The studies on bioactivity in vitro of ruthenium(ii) polypyridyl complexes towards human lung carcinoma A549 cells

Three complexes were synthesized and characterized. The cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cellular uptake, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle arrest and western blot analysis were investigated.