Ruthenacarborane-Phenanthroline Derivatives as Potential Metallodrugs

Half-Sandwich Nickelacarboranes Derived from [7-(MeO(CH2)2S)-7,8-C2B9H11]−

New carboranyl thioethers 1-MeO(CH2)nS-1,2-C2B10H11 (n = 2, 3) were prepared by the alkylation of the trimethylammonium salt of 1-mercapto-ortho-carborane with 1-bromo- 2-methoxyethane and 1-bromo-3-methoxypropane, respectively. Their deboronation with cesium fluoride in ethanol gave the corresponding nido-carboranes Cs[7-MeO(CH2)nS-7,8-C2B9H11] (n = 2, 3). The reactions of Cs[7-MeO(CH2)2S-7,8-C2B9H11] with various nickel(II) phosphine complexes [(dppe)NiCl2] and [(R’R2P)2NiCl2] (R = R’ = Ph, Bu; R = Me, R’ = Ph; R = Ph, R’ = Me, Et) were studied and a series of nickelacarboranes 3,3-dppe-1-MeO(CH2)2S-closo-3,1,2-NiC2B9H10 and 3,3- (R’R2P)2-1-MeO(CH2)2S-closo-3,1,2-NiC2B9H10 (R = R’ = Bu; R = Me, R’ = Ph; R = Ph, R’ = Me, Et) was prepared. The molecular crystal structure of 3,3-dppe-1-MeO(CH2)2S-closo-3,1,2-NiC2B9H10 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Synchrotron-Based Fourier-Transform Infrared Micro-Spectroscopy (SR-FTIRM) Fingerprint of the Small Anionic Molecule Cobaltabis(dicarbollide) Uptake in Glioma Stem Cells

The anionic cobaltabis (dicarbollide) [3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2]-, [o-COSAN]-, is the most studied icosahedral metallacarborane. The sodium salts of [o-COSAN]- could be an ideal candidate for the anti-cancer treatment Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) as it possesses the ability to readily cross biological membranes thereby producing cell cycle arrest in cancer cells. BNCT is a cancer therapy based on the potential of 10B atoms to produce α particles that cross tissues in which the 10B is accumulated without damaging the surrounding healthy tissues, after being irradiated with low energy thermal neutrons. Since Na[o-COSAN] displays a strong and characteristic ν(B-H) frequency in the infrared range 2.600-2.500 cm-1, we studied the uptake of Na[o-COSAN] followed by its interaction with biomolecules and its cellular biodistribution in two different glioma initiating cells (GICs), mesenchymal and proneural respectively, by using Synchrotron Radiation-Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) micro-spectroscopy (SR-FTIRM) facilities at the MIRAS Beamline of ALBA synchrotron light source. The spectroscopic data analysis from the bands in the regions of DNA, proteins, and lipids permitted to suggest that after its cellular uptake, Na[o-COSAN] strongly interacts with DNA strings, modifies proteins secondary structure and also leads to lipid saturation. The mapping suggests the nuclear localization of [o-COSAN]-, which according to reported Monte Carlo simulations may result in a more efficient cell-killing effect compared to that in a uniform distribution within the entire cell. In conclusion, we show pieces of evidence that at low doses, [o-COSAN]- translocates GIC cells' membranes and it alters the physiology of the cells, suggesting that Na[o-COSAN] is a promising agent to BNCT for glioblastoma cells.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Potential Pharmacological Activity and Molecular Targets of New Benzimidazole-Based Schiff Base Metal Complexes

Metal-based drugs, including lanthanide complexes, have been extremely effective in clinical treatments against various diseases and have raised major interest in recent decades. Hence, in this work, a series of lanthanum (III) and cerium (III) complexes, including Schiff base ligands derived from (1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)aniline, salicylaldehyde, and 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde were synthesized and characterized using different spectroscopic methods. Besides their cytotoxic activities, they were examined in human U-937 cells, primate kidney non-cancerous COS-7, and six other, different human tumor cell lines: U251, PC-3, K562, HCT-15, MCF-7, and SK-LU-1. In addition, the synthesized compounds were screened for in vitro antiparasitic activity against Leishmania braziliensis, Plasmodium falciparum, and Trypanosoma cruzi. Additionally, antibacterial activities were examined against two Gram-positive strains (S. aureus ATCC^® 25923, L. monocytogenes ATCC^® 19115) and two Gram-negative strains (E. coli ATCC^® 25922, P. aeruginosa ATCC^® 27583) using the microdilution method. The lanthanide complexes generally exhibited increased biological activity compared with the free Schiff base ligands. Interactions between the tested compounds and model membranes were examined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and interactions with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) were investigated by ultraviolet (UV) absorption. Molecular docking studies were performed using leishmanin (1LML), cruzain (4PI3), P. falciparum alpha-tubulin (GenBank sequence CAA34101 [453 aa]), and S.aureus penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2A; 5M18) as the protein receptors. The results lead to the conclusion that the synthesized compounds exhibited a notable effect on model membranes imitating mammalian and bacterial membranes and rolled along DNA strands through groove interactions. Interactions between the compounds and studied receptors depended primarily on ligand structures in the molecular docking study.

Celebrating Todd Marder: 65th Birthday and His Contributions to Inorganic Chemistry

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