Asymmetric triplex metallohelices with high and selective activity against cancer cells

Abstract

These authors contributed equally to this work An antiparallel strand arrangement in water-soluble helicates creates an amphipathic functional topology akin to that of host-defence peptides. High and selective cancer cell line toxicity is exhibited, causing dramatic changes in the cell cycle without DNA damage, and remarkably there is no significant toxicity to MRSA and E. coli.

Supramolecular Chirality in Dynamic Coordination Chemistry

“…The triple helicate exhibited specific interaction with DNA and showed antimicrobial activity; the Λ enantiomer had greater binding affinity with DNA, produced greater stabilization of the DNA duplex, and exhibited greater antimicrobial activity than the corresponding Δ enantiomer [66]. The corresponding triple helicate exhibited high, stereodependent toxicity to human colon cancer cell lines, but no significant toxicity to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria [67]. The dinuclear helicates also exhibited enantioselective inhibition of amyloid-β aggregation [68].…”

Synthesis, structure, stability and antimicrobial activity of a ruthenium(II) helicate derived from a bis-bidentate “click” pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole ligand

“…Additionally, Hannon and co-workers found that these tetracationic iron(II) cylinders display both anti-cancer [19] and anti-bacterial properties [20]. The biological properties of other related helicate systems have also been examined, these molecules can bind to G-quadruplex DNA [21][22][23], inhibit Ab amyloid aggregation [24,25] and also show cytotoxic (anti-cancer [26][27][28] and anti-bacterial [28]) properties.…”

The formation of a metallosupramolecular porous helicate through salicylaldehydethiosemicarbazone: Synthesis, Characterization, Cytotoxic activity, DNA binding and DFT calculations

“…This kind of selectivity is very unusual and indicates a subtle biomimetic mechanism. Dramatic effects on the cell cycle and the promotion of early apoptosis were observed, but no DNA damage was detected in a range of studies . Flexicates do not damage DNA in cancerous cells like many traditional agents but act by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.…”