Light-Induced Anticancer Activity of [RuCl₂(DMSO)₄] Complexes

Abstract

The cytotoxicity and photocytotoxicity of trans-[RuCl2(DMSO)4] and cis-[RuCl2(DMSO)4] complexes was tested in two melanoma cell lines, human (SK-MEL 188) and mouse (S91). The trans isomer was found to be more effective for cell growth inhibition than its cis analogue both in the presence and in the absence of illumination. However, the antiproliferative activity of both isomers was significantly enhanced after irradiation with UVA light in comparison with their activity observed in the dark. The influence of light on the reaction of both ruthenium(II) isomers with the single-stranded hexanucleotide d(T2GGT2), chosen as a model system for DNA, was also studied using chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. The photochemical reaction of the ruthenium(II) complexes with the oligonucleotide d(T2GGT2) resulted in the formation of Ru(G-N7)2 adducts, which was not observed in the same time scale in thermal reactions. The initial short irradiation of the inert cis isomer was found to facilitate the covalent adduct formation with d(T2GGT2) in the secondary thermal reactions and with a rate comparable to that found for the trans isomer, which is ca. 5-10 times more reactive in the dark.

An Iron Complex of Dipyridophenazine as a Potent Photocytotoxic Agent in Visible Light

“…[26][27][28] [RuCl 2 (DMSO) 4 ] has been reported to be photoactivated by light in cells and hence behaves as a potent cytotoxin when irradiated with UV-A light. 29 UV-A lightinduced cytotoxicity is reported for transplatin using human keratinocytes HaCaT and ovarian cancer A2780 cells. 30 Ruthenium nitrosyls have been used for the site-specific delivery of cytotoxic nitric oxide (NO) on exposure to visible light as a new modality in PDT.…”

Electron transfer triggered sulfoxide isomerization in ruthenium and osmium complexes

“…Indeed, there is a rich chemistry associated with mixed ligand ruthenium-halo-sulfoxide complexes that show remarkable anti-cancer activities [8][9][10]. The therapeutic action of these complexes is associated with hydrolysis of the halide and sulfoxide ligands.…”

Ferrocene‐Conjugated Oxidovanadium(IV) Complexes as Potent Near‐IR Light Photocytotoxic Agents

“…[23] Among metal-based antitumor agents, rhodium and ruthenium complexes have been extensively studied to explore their photocytotoxicity in visible light in a variety of cancer cells. [24][25][26][27][28] We have reported copper(II) and oxidovanadium(IV) complexes with a low-energy d-d band, which show DNA photocleavage activity within the PDT window of 620-800 nm. [29][30][31][32] The use of bioorganometallic complexes in PDT is relatively unknown, although ferrocene and its conjugates have been used for medicinal purposes.…”