Organometallic Iridium Arene Compounds: The Effects ofC-Donor Ligands on Anticancer Activity

Abstract

Rianne M. Lord obtained her Ph.D. degree in chemistry in 2014 under the supervision of Professor Patrick C. McGowan at the University of Leeds (U.K.). Following this, she joined the research team of Professor Polly L. Arnold at the University of Edinburgh (U.K.) as a postdoctoral research associate. In 2016, Rianne began her independent career as a lecturer of bioinorganic chemistry at the University of Bradford (U.K.) and currently holds an August-Wilhelm Scheer visiting professorship at the Technische Universität München (Germany). Her research interests focus on the development of new transition metal cancer therapeutics and designing effective drug delivery systems.

Synthesis, Characterisation and In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Catalytically Active Indole-Based Half-Sandwich Complexes

“…There is a need for the development and screening of anticancer therapeutics with non-conventional mechanisms of action (MoAs) [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Metallodrugs can provide rich chemistry and unique MoAs owing to their versatile structures, geometries and reactivities: examples include polypyridyl octahedral complexes of precious metals, some of which have been shown to target mitochondria and generate high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), while others can act as photosensitisers for use in photodynamic therapy [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], and half-sandwich complexes of metals from groups eight and nine (Fe, Ru, Os; Co, Rh, Ir) [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. In this context, the binding of bioactive ligand(s) to metal fragments is of interest since this strategy may lead to the release of at least two biologically active species, therefore potentially offering enhanced activity against resistant cancer cells [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Structural topologies involving energetically significant antiparallel π-stacking and unconventional N(nitrile)⋯π(fumarate) contacts in dinuclear Zn(ii) and polymeric Mn(ii) compounds: antiproliferative evaluation and theoretical studies

“…52,79 It has been well established that the metal centers, size of metal ions, ancillary ligands and the binding affinity with the target receptor proteins play essential roles in the anticancer activities of metal–organic compounds. 80 Comparative analysis of these fumarato bridged compounds reveals that the reported Zn( ii ) coordination polymer 79 viz. {[Zn 2 (μ-fum) 2 (Hdmpz) 4 ]·3H 2 O} n (where, fum = fumarate and Hdmpz = 3,5-dimethylpyrazole) showed relatively better cytotoxicity in DL cancer cell lines with an IC 50 value of 19.21 μM.…”

Insights into the antiproliferative mechanism of (C^N)-chelated half-sandwich iridium complexes

“…Subsequent reports allowed to delineate the structural parameters (charge, nature of the chelating ligand, degree of lability of the third ligand) governing their cytotoxicity. [8][9][10][11] For some complexes, a relationship between cytotoxicity and rapid raise of total intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was highlighted 12 with concomitant upregulation of antioxidant responses. 13 More generally, the ability of molecules to modulate the oxidation stress represents an innovative strategy to preferentially target cancer cells owing to their unique metabolic properties.…”