Significant effects of counteranions on the anticancer activity of iridium(iii) complexes

Abstract

The rational design of the ligands around transition metals has achieved success in the development of anticancer complexes. In this contribution, a series of organometallic half-sandwich iridium(iii) complexes with various corresponding counteranions have been prepared and characterized. The size and coordination ability of the counteranions exert a great influence on the chemical reactivity and anticancer activity of these complexes. The influence of the counteranions on the cell cycle, apoptosis, ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential is also discussed. This work has shown for the first time that the modification of counteranions can affect the anticancer activity of transition metal-based complexes.

Half‐sandwich Ruthenium (II) complexes with triphenylamine modified dipyridine skeleton and application in biology/luminescence imaging

“…Monitoring the redox state of NADH is the best parameter for characterizing mitochondrial function in vivo . Recent studies show that transition metal complexes could catalyze the oxidation reaction of NADH, lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and eventually induce apoptosis, which is the important anticancer mechanism of oxidation . The interaction of target Ru II complexes with NADH was detected by UV–vis spectrum.…”

“…Lysosomal damage, a process known as lysosomal membrane permeabilization, can lead to the release of cathepsins and other hydrolases from the lysosomal lumen to the cytosol, thus induce apoptosis . Acridine orange (AO), an effective staining material of acidic organelle, was used to detect whether lysosomal damage induced by target Ru II complexes is the result of lysosome targeting specificity.…”

“…The excellent characteristics of TPA‐appended metal iridium complexes stimulate us to investigate the applications of other transition‐metal complexes . Above all, four half‐sandwich Ru II complexes (Scheme ) were synthesized by the introduction of TPA and its derivatives to bipyridine chelating ligand through a single or double bond . Anticancer activities of target complexes were obtained by MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay toward A549 (lung cancer), HeLa (cervical cancer) and HepG2 (hepatoma) cells.…”

Triphenylamine‐Appended Half‐Sandwich Iridium(III) Complexes and Their Biological Applications

“…Ir III complexes are often viewed as relatively inert, a common characteristic of low‐spin d 6 metal ions and especially third‐row transition metals . However, Ir III complexes have shown potent anticancer activity and displayed a different mechanism of action (MoA) than conventional platinum‐based drugs …”

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Ir III complexes are often viewed as relatively inert, ac ommon characteristico fl ow-spind 6 metal ions and especially third-row transition metals. [12] However,I r III complexes have shown potent anticancera ctivity [2,[13][14][15] and displayed ad ifferent mechanism of action (MoA) than conventional platinum-based drugs. [16,17] Owing to the advantages of high anticancer activity and unique MoA,h alf-sandwich organometallic Ir III complexes have attractede xtensive interest.…”