Silver carbene complexes: An emerging class of anticancer agents

Abstract

Cancer is a major global health problem with large therapeutic challenges. Although substantial progress has been made in cancer therapy, there still remains a need to develop novel and effective treatment strategies to treat several relapsed and refractory cancers. Recently, there has been growing demand for considering organometallics as antineoplastic agents. This review is focused on a group of organometallics, silver N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes (SCCs) and their anticancer efficacy in targeting multiple pathways in various in vitro cancer model systems. However, the precise molecular mechanism of SCCs anticancer properties remains unclear. Here, we discuss the SCCs chemistry, potential molecular targets, possible molecular mechanism of action, and their application in cancer therapies.

Blue-emitting acridine-tagged silver(i)-bis-N-heterocyclic carbene

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Moreover, the silver-NHC complexes have been lately accredited as the building blocks of an effective antimicrobial agent to display phosphorescence emission. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Over the past few decades, numerous luminescent silver(I)-NHC complexes have been described. 21,22 Thus, it is clear that the N-substituents at the NHC counter ion and the coordination environment of the silver(I) center can signicantly contribute to the photophysical properties of the silver(I)-NHC complexes.…”

Silver(I) Complexes Bearing Amine-Functionalized N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Synthesis, Antimicrobial and Theoretical Studies

“…[17][18][19][20] In particular, its diverse applications in medicinal chemistry are well studied. [21][22][23][24] A wide range of silver complexes of NHCs based on imidazole, triazole, benzimidazole and imidazolidine scaffolds were synthesized and explored as efficient antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer agents. [25][26][27][28][29] Also, Ag(I)-NHC complexes have been evaluated for their antibiofilm activities, and found to be effective against biofilms of pathogenic bacteria.…”

New class of RSO2-NHC ligands and Pd/RSO2-NHC complexes with tailored electronic properties and high performance in catalytic C–C and C–N bonds formation

“…4–6,16,17 Moreover, complexes of imidazole-derived NHCs with Pt, Pd, Ru, Cu, Au, Ag and other metals have been intensively studied as potential anticancer, antibacterial and other drugs. 19–26 The steric and electronic properties of NHCs usually have substantial effects on their catalytic and biological properties. 16,27–32 In homogeneous metal catalysis, imidazole-derived NHCs containing bulky N -aryl substituents are typically used.…”