Evaluation of arene ruthenium(ii) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as organometallics interacting with thiol and selenol containing biomolecules

Abstract

Metal complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands have been widely used in catalytic chemistry and are now increasingly considered for the development of new chemical tools and metal based drugs. Ruthenium complexes of the type (p-cymene)(NHC)RuCl(2) interacted with biologically relevant thiols and selenols, which resulted in the inhibition of enzymes such as thioredoxin reductase or cathepsin B. Pronounced antiproliferative effects could be obtained provided that an appropriate cellular uptake was achieved. Inhibition of tumor cell growth was accompanied by a perturbation of metabolic parameters such as cellular respiration.

BIAN N-Heterocyclic Gold Carbene Complexes induced cytotoxicity in human cancer cells via upregulating oxidative stress

“…The induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a common mechanism of cell death by nanoparticles in exposed cells. (Alfaro et al, 2010;Tedesco et al, 2010;Manke et al, 2013;Oehninger et al, 2013;Mateo et al, 2014). In agreement with these studies we also have found a significant elevation of oxidative stress in exposed human cancer cell line (HepG2 and MCF7) and elevation of oxidative stress could possibly be the one of mechanism through which these compounds induced cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines.…”

“…(Oehninger et al, 2013). Overall, the compounds that are reported in the present work are particularly active in terms of inducing cytotoxicity at very low IC50 values in vitro for both human cancer cell lines.…”

Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of New Ru(II) Polypyridyl Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy

“…Both complexes showed an overal cellular uptake 10-100 times lower than for other ruthenium complexes. 44,88,89 Remarkably, 2 and particularly 1 still exhibited moderate to high toxicity upon light irradiation. Improving the cellular uptake of these compounds (e.g.…”

“…high phototoxicity, it has to be acknowledged that their cellular uptake into HeLa cells is quite moderate compared to other Ru(II) complexes. 44,88,89 To obtain more detailed information about the localization of 1and 2their subcellular accumulation was investigated. Briefly, HeLa cells were incubated with 1 and 2 for 4 h and subsequently the nuclei and mitochondria of the cells were isolated while the remaining cell material was kept as a residual fraction.…”

On the binding modes of metal NHC complexes with DNA secondary structures: implications for therapy and imaging

“…55 Later on, the same authors then showed the covalent binding potential of a rhodium(I) COD complex (11) with a similar ligand to duplex DNA. 56 In contrast to the half-sandwich ruthenium NHCs, 11 showed potent antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma (IC50 ca.…”