Zinc Complexes with Nitrogen Donor Ligands as Anticancer Agents

Abstract

The search for anticancer metal-based drugs alternative to platinum derivatives could not exclude zinc derivatives due to the importance of this metal for the correct functioning of the human body. Zinc, the second most abundant trace element in the human body, is one of the most important micro-elements essential for human physiology. Its ubiquity in thousands of proteins and enzymes is related to its chemical features, in particular its lack of redox activity and its ability to support different coordination geometries and to promote fast ligands exchange. Analogously to other trace elements, the impairment of its homeostasis can lead to various diseases and in some cases can be also related to cancer development. However, in addition to its physiological role, zinc can have beneficial therapeutic and preventive effects on infectious diseases and, compared to other metal-based drugs, Zn(II) complexes generally exert lower toxicity and offer few side effects. Zinc derivatives have been proposed as antitumor agents and, among the great number of zinc coordination complexes which have been described so far, this review focuses on the design, synthesis and biological studies of zinc complexes comprising N-donor ligands and that have been reported within the last five years.

Biomimetic high performance artificial muscle built on sacrificial coordination network and mechanical training process

“…3) 23 . The Zn-based coordination bonds could form between the carboxylate groups grafted on EPDM backbones and the polar functional groups in lignin such as the phenoxy and carboxylate groups 24 , which was confirmed by FTIR spectra in Fig. 2a.…”

Effects of electroporation on anticancer activity of 5-FU and newly synthesized zinc(II) complex in chemotherapy-resistance human brain tumor cells

“…Metal complexes like Zn(II) may enter the cancer cell, permeate the nucleus, mitochondria, cytoplasm, and exert their anti-tumor effect. Previous studies mostly focused on DNA interactions, although TOPO-I-II, p53, nuclease were reported to be the alternative targets [15]. We are of the opinion that there is a need for detailed studies to determine the potential targets of Zn(II) complexes.…”

“…Besides these functions, it has some bene cial therapeutic/preventive effects on cancer. Recent research has revealed that Zn(II) derivatives could be potentially used as an anticancer agent with low adverse effects and toxicity and different modes of action and cellular targets compared to the traditional metal-based drugs [15,16].…”

Synthesis and cytotoxicity against tumor cells of pincer N-heterocyclic ligands and their transition metal complexes

“…For example, nitrogen-donor chelating ligands have been widely used in the architectural design of metal complexes with biological applications, including cytotoxic activities. [4][5][6][7] For instance, Singh et al synthesized a series of 5-iodouracil complexes with Mn(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions, some of which were active against Sarcoma-180 and L929 tumor cells. 8 Later, the effects of 5-bromouracil complexes with Cr(III), Fe(III) and Al(III) were reported on P815 murine mastocytoma.…”