Copper Coordination Compounds as Biologically Active Agents

Abstract

Copper-containing coordination compounds attract wide attention due to the redox activity and biogenicity of copper ions, providing multiple pathways of biological activity. The pharmacological properties of metal complexes can be fine-tuned by varying the nature of the ligand and donor atoms. Copper-containing coordination compounds are effective antitumor agents, constituting a less expensive and safer alternative to classical platinum-containing chemotherapy, and are also effective as antimicrobial, antituberculosis, antimalarial, antifugal, and anti-inflammatory drugs. 64Cu-labeled coordination compounds are promising PET imaging agents for diagnosing malignant pathologies, including head and neck cancer, as well as the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease amyloid-β (Aβ). In this review article, we summarize different strategies for possible use of coordination compounds in the treatment and diagnosis of various diseases, and also various studies of the mechanisms of antitumor and antimicrobial action.

Copper Complexes as Anticancer Agents Targeting Topoisomerases I and II

“…Other CuC are proteasome inhibitors [ 47 , 48 ]. Several CuC are actually on clinical trials: a number of copper/disulfiram-based drug combinations for therapy and as diagnostic tools (metastatic breast cancer and germ cell tumor), several casiopeínas compounds and elesclomol (leukemia), and thiosemicarbazone-based copper complexes labeled with a radioactive isotope for positron emission tomography imaging of hypoxia (in head and neck cancers) [ 49 ].…”

Amyloid β-binding Bifunctional Chelators with Favorable Lipophilicity for 64Cu PET Imaging in Alzheimer’s Disease

“…14 By comparison, the radionuclide 64 Cu has an optimal half-life of 12.7 hours, and its well established coordination chemistry allows for easy conjugation with the biologically relevant molecules. [15][16][17] Thus, 64 Cu PET imaging agents contain amyloid targeting fragments could assist in early diagnosis of AD and greatly facilitating the development of therapeutics for AD. 3,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] For PET imaging purposes, a chelator that forms highly stable 64 Cu complexes is critical for minimizing off-target tissue uptake.…”

Synthesis of New Naphthyl Aceto Hydrazone-Based Metal Complexes: Micellar Interactions, DNA Binding, Antimicrobial, and Cancer Inhibition Studies

“…Cu(II) complex is active against all the strains except candida albicans while Cd(II) complex is active against all bacterial and fungal strains except pseudomonas ( Table 4 ). The activity of Cu(II) complex could be due to the redox nature of Cu 2+ ions [ 24 ].…”