Ruthenium(II)
complexes (Ru1–Ru5), with the general
formula [Ru(N-S)(dppe)2]PF6, bearing two 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe)
ligands and a series of mercapto ligands (N-S), have been developed.
The combination of these ligands in the complexes endowed hydrophobic
species with high cytotoxic activity against five cancer cell lines.
For the A549 (lung) and MDA-MB-231 (breast) cancer cell lines, the
IC50 values of the complexes were 288- to 14-fold lower
when compared to cisplatin. Furthermore, the complexes were selective
for the A549 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines compared to the MRC-5
nontumor cell line. The multitarget character of the complexes was
investigated by using calf thymus DNA (CT DNA), human
serum albumin, and human topoisomerase IB (hTopIB). The complexes
potently inhibited hTopIB. In particular, complex [Ru(dmp)(dppe)2]PF6 (Ru3), bearing the 4,6-diamino-2-mercaptopyrimidine
(dmp) ligand, effectively inhibited hTopIB by acting on both the cleavage
and religation steps of the catalytic cycle of this enzyme. Molecular
docking showed that the Ru1–Ru5 complexes
have binding affinity by active sites on the hTopI and hTopI-DNA,
mainly via π-alkyl and alkyl hydrophobic interactions, as well
as through hydrogen bonds. Complex Ru3 displayed significant
antitumor activity against murine melanoma in mouse xenograph models,
but this complex did not damage DNA, as revealed by Ames and micronucleus
tests.
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