Synthesis of Sorafenib-Ruthenium Complexes, Investigation of Biological Activities and Applications in Drug Delivery Systems as an Anticancer Agent.

Sorafenib, a multiple kinase inhibitor, is widely used as a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. However, there is a need for more effective alternatives when sorafenib proves insufficient. In this study, we aimed to design a structure that surpasses sorafenib's efficacy, leading us to synthesize sorafenib-ruthenium complexes for the first time and investigate their properties. Our results indicate that the sorafenib-ruthenium complexes exhibit superior epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition compared to sorafenib alone. Interestingly, among these complexes, Ru3S demonstrated high activity against various cancer cell lines including sorafenib-resistant HepG2 cells while exhibiting significantly lower cytotoxicity than sorafenib in healthy cell lines. Further evaluation of cell cycle, cell apoptosis, and antiangiogenic effects, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics studies revealed that Ru3S holds great potential as a drug candidate. Additionally, when free Ru3S was encapsulated into polymeric micelles M1, enhanced cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells was observed. Collectively, these findings position Ru3S as a promising candidate for EGFR inhibition and warrant further exploration for drug development purposes.

Design, synthesis, in vitro, and in silico studies of 1,2,4-triazole-piperazine hybrid derivatives as potential MAO inhibitors.

Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) have become promising drug targets for the development of central nervous system agents. In recent research, it was shown that numerous piperazine derivatives exhibit hMAO inhibitory activity. Therefore, in this study, a novel series of 1,2,4-triazole-piperazine derivatives (5a-j) were designed, synthesized, characterized, and screened for their hMAO-A and hMAO-B inhibitory activities. When the ADME predictions were examined, it was seen that the pharmacokinetic profiles of all synthesized compounds were appropriate. Compounds 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5e, with H, F, Cl, and NO2 groups on the 4-position of the phenyl ring, respectively, showed important MAO-A inhibitory activity. Compound 5c was found to be the most effective agent among the synthesized compounds with an IC50 value of 0.070 ± 0.002 µM against the MAO-A enzyme. The synthesized compounds appear to support the results of other studies to design MAO inhibitors to obtain more suitable drugs, especially for neurological disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Design and synthesis of novel organometallic complexes using boronated phenylalanine derivatives as potential anticancer agents.

Drug design and discovery studies are important because of the prevalence of diseases without available medical cures. New anticancer agents are particularly urgent because of the high mortality rate associated with cancer. A series of mononuclear gold (III) and platinum (II) complexes based on boronated phenylalanine (BPA) were designed and synthesized using 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-dipyridyl (L1) or 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dion (L2) ligands to obtain promising anticancer drug candidates. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses were utilized for chemical characterizations. Cell viability, cancer cell colony formation, endothelial tube formation, and cytoskeleton staining assays were performed using A549 lung adenocarcinoma and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate preliminary pharmacological activities. L1-based platinum (II) complex (BPA-L1-Pt) was the most promising complex, and has similar activity with the approved chemotherapy drug cis-platinum. Half maximal inhibitory concentration values for BPA-L1-Pt were 9.15 µM on A549s and 16.61 µM on HUVECs; the values for cis-platinum were 5.24 µM on A549s and 23.14 µM on HUVECs. Consequently, further synthesis studies should be performed to boost the cancer cell selectivity feature of BPA by varying metal and ligand types.

Anti-lung Cancer and Anti-angiogenic Activities of New Designed Boronated Phenylalanine Metal Complexes.

BACKGROUND: Drug design and discovery studies still remain of great importance in the search for more convenient chemotherapeutic to avoid the drug resistance, systemic toxicity or the longterm side effects. OBJECTIVE: A series of mononuclear gold (III) and platinum (II) complexes based on 4-dihydroxyboryl- DL-phenylalanine (BPA) was designed and synthesized, for the first time, by using 2, 2'-dipyridyl (L1) and 4, 4'-diaminobibenzyl (L2) ligands. Characterization of the synthesized complexes was achieved by using 1H-NMR, IR, MS and elemental analyses. METHOD: MTT cell viability, endothelial tube formation, cancer cell colony formation and TRITCphalloidin cytoskeleton staining assays were performed on human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVEC) and human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells to establish the anticancer and anti-angiogenic activities of the complexes. It was determined that the organometallic complexes that include 2, 2'-dipyridyl ligand have higher antiproliferative activity than L2-based complexes in the micromolar range. Colony formation experiments showed that the anchorage-independent growth ability of A549s was significantly affected by the complexes in a concentration-dependent manner though L1-based complexes were more effective than L2-based ones. RESULTS: It was also clearly observed that the complexes have significant anti-angiogenic and cytoskeleton alterative activities. Consequently, the phenylalanine-based organometallic complexes seem to have anti-lung cancer and anti-angiogenic activities depending on the ligand type and a great potential in oncology drug development because phenylalanine amino acid has an ability to cross the cell membrane by using L-amino acid transport system. CONCLUSION: Design, synthesis and activity studies with amino acid analogs should be therefore increased to discover more efficient drugs to cure cancer diseases.

Assessment of in vitro cytotoxic and genotoxic activities of some trimethoprim conjugates.

Trimethoprim, a commonly used antibacterial agent, is widely applied in the treatment of variety of infections in human. A few studies have demonstrated an extensive exposure of man to antibiotics, but there is still a lack of data for cytotoxic effects including nephrotoxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, hematotoxicity, neurotoxicity and ototoxicity. The main purpose behind this study was to determine cytotoxic and genotoxic activities of trimethoprim (1), trimethoprim with maleic acid (2) and trimethoprim in conjugation with oxalic acid dihydrate (3). The cytotoxic effects of these three conjugates were elucidated by employing 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoium bromide (MTT) assay using embryonic rat fibroblast-like cell line (F2408) and H-ras oncogene activated embryonic rat fibroblast-like cancer cell line (5RP7). Additionally, determination of genotoxic activity of these three compounds were studied by using cytokinesis blocked micronucleus assay (CBMN) in human lymphocytes. The results demonstrated that trimethoprim alone and its combination with other compounds are able to induce both cytotoxic and genotoxic damage on cultured cells (F2408, 5RP7, human lymphocytes).

The in vitro assessment of dipyridophenazine complexes in H-ras oncogene transformed rat embryo fibroblast 5RP7 cell line.

Purpose The aim of this study is to detect apoptotic and cytotoxic/antiproliferative effects of a ligand substance and its metal derivatives. The substances were investigated by using an h-ras oncogene transformed rat embryo fibroblast cell line (5RP7). Methods The cytotoxic influences of dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'c]phenazine ligand, dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'c] phenazine-platinum(II) complex ([Pt(dppz)Cl2]) and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'c] phenazine-gold(III) complex ([Au(dppz)Cl2]Cl) were determined with MTT (3[4,5-dimetiltiyazol2-yl]-2,5-difeniltetrazolyum bromid) assay on 5RP7 cells. Results Dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'c] phenazine, dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'c] phenazine-platinum(II) complex ([Pt(dppz)Cl2]) and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'c] phenazine-gold(III) complexes ([Au(dppz)Cl2]Cl) caused significant increase in cytotoxicity in a dose and time dependent manner. The effects of dipyridophenazine ligand (dppz) and its metal derivatives on apoptosis were monitorized using cytotoxic dose (10 µM) DAPI fluorescent staining. It was shown that dppz and its compounds induced apoptosis. Conclusions These findings show that dpzz and its complexes can be studied as novel alternative chemotherapeutics in cancer treatment.

Gold(III) compounds-mediated inhibition of lung cancer cell proliferation.

Research on chemotherapeutics for lung cancer is crucial for designing a new therapeutic strategy against malignant lung tumors. Although radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which are not selective for cancer cells and exert toxic effects on healthy cells, have a limited advantage, they are the primary treatment modalities for non-small lung cancer. In addition to cytotoxicity, resistance of chemotherapeutics results in failure of treatment. This is why it is of utmost importance to focus on the creation of new chemotherapeutics without toxicity for the successful treatment and improved survival of cancer patients. New gold(III) and Pt(II) compounds were synthesized with a heterocyclic ligand using 2-phenylimidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline as a ligand and bis-1,4-di[([1,10] phenanthroline-5-il)amino]-2-buten as a bridge molecule. The characterization of the compounds was carried out using a variety of spectroscopic methods (H NMR, IR, MS, and elemental analysis). Their antiproliferative, antitumoral, and apoptotic activities were determined. IR spectra and NMR results confirmed the formation of dinuclear heterocyclic complexes for two metal complexes. Cytotoxicity studies on lung cancer cells (A549) and healthy cells (CHL) showed a marked increase in cytotoxicity with the use of gold(III) complexes, and especially [Au(L)B](PF6)2 showed higher cytotoxic and apoptotic features than cisplatin at lower concentrations in cancer cells. These findings have been supported by results from DAPI staining and colorimetric measurement of the caspase-3 enzyme in both cell lines. Compounds showed selective toxicity on the cancer cells. In the light of the high efficacy of our newly synthesized gold complexes, they might be good and promising anticancer agents compared with cisplatin.

Apoptotic effects of dipyrido [3,2-a:2',3'-c] phenazine (dppz) Au(III) complex against diethylnitrosamine/phenobarbital induced experimental hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

We evaluated the effects of dipyrido [3,2-a:2',3'-c] phenazine (dppz) Au(III) complex ([Au(dppz)Cl2]Cl) on apoptosis during chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma. 48 male Spraque-Dawley rats were divided into six groups; group I (control), group II [Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)], group III ([Au(dppz)Cl2]Cl), group IV [diethylnitrosamine + Phenobabital (DEN + PB)], group V (DEN + PB + [Au(dppz)Cl2]Cl (2nd week)), and group VI (DEN + PB + [Au(dppz)Cl2]Cl (7th week). The rats in groups IV through VI were administrated with DEN in a single dose of intraperitoneal 175 mg/kg. After 2 weeks of DEN administration, these groups of rats were given daily PB in a dose of 500 ppm. In group V, after two weeks of DEN administration, [Au(dppz)Cl2]Cl complex (2 mg/kg) was given once a week by intraperitoneal injection. In the group VI, the rats were given a dose of 2 mg/kg [Au(dppz)Cl2]Cl complex once a week, 7 weeks after DEN administration. At the end of the study, blood and tissue samples were collected from the rats to determine levels of serum AST, ALT, and LDH, and caspase 3, p53, Bax, Bcl-2 and DNA fragmentation in liver. AST, ALT, LDH, and Bcl-2 levels were higher in group IV, compared to group I, but caspase 3 and p53 levels were lower. In group V, caspase 3, p53, Bax, and DNA fragmentation levels were higher than those of group IV. Caspase 3 and p53 levels increased in group VI compared with group IV. In conclusion, [Au(dppz)Cl2]Cl complex induced apoptosis by elevating levels of caspase 3, p53, Bax, and DNA fragmentation.

Investigation of the pharmacological profiles of dinuclear metal complexes as novel, potent and selective cytotoxic agents against ras-transformed cells.

Around the world scientists try to design successful cures against still incurable diseases, especially cancers. New targets for prevention and new agents for therapy need to be identified. We synthesized novel metal complexes [Au(L1)(L2)Pt]Cl2 and [Ru(L1)2(L2)Pt]Cl2 for determining their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects. The complexes are synthesized by using 1,8-diaminonaphthalene (L1), and bis-1,4-di[([1,10]phenanthroline-5-il)aminomethyl]cyclohexane (L2) as ligands. This is the first study to examine these metals and these molecules in cancer treatment. We elucidated the effects of test compounds with embryonic rat fibroblast-like cells (F2408) and H-ras oncogene activated embryonic rat fibroblast-like cancer cells (5RP7). Results showed that our complexes are more effective than cisplatin to kill ras-transformed cells. Although the [Au(L1)(L2)Pt]Cl2 compound showed a cytotoxic potency higher than [Ru(L1)2(L2)Pt]Cl2 against cancer cells, it proved to be almost five times less effective in decreasing cell viability over healthy cells. Au(III) compound selectively targets the cancer cells but not the healthy cells.

Studies on the cytotoxic, apoptotic and antitumoral effects of Au(III) and Pt(II) complexes of 1, 10-phenanthroline on V79 379A and A549 cell lines.

In the present study, Au(III) and Pt(II) complexes of 1, 10-phenanthroline (phen) were synthesized and used as the test compounds. The structure elucidation of the synthesized compounds was performed by IR, (1)H-NMR and MASS spectroscopic data and the results of elemental analyses. The cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of test compounds were elucidated on V79 379A (Chinese hamster lung fibroblast like) and A549 (human lung carcinoma epithelial like) cell lines. Cytotoxicity was measured with MTT assay and antitumoral effect was determined by colony forming ability methods. In addition, nuclear fragmentation and activation of apoptotic enzyme (caspase-3) and DAPI staining were used to detect the apoptotic effect of the compounds. All the test compounds induced time and concentration-dependent cytotoxic and antitumoral effects. Significant increases in the levels of apoptosis were observed with increasing exposure concentration.

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of [Ru(phi)3]2+ evaluated by Ames/Salmonella and MTT methods.

In this work, we synthesized and evaluated the cytotoxic effect of [Ru(phi)(3)](2+), on rat C6 glioma cell line. Cell viability was determined by assay with 3-(4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT). The mutagenicity of [Ru(phi)(3)](2+) was studied in vitro by using two strains of Salmonella typhimurium with frameshift mutation (TA98) and base-pair substitution mutation (TA100) were used in plate incorporation assay in the absence of metabolic activation. According to the results, the Ru compound is not toxic but mutagenic, and it shows cytotoxic effect towards C6 rat glioma cells in 100 microM.

Synthesis and antituberculosis activity of new thiazolylhydrazone derivatives.

The increasing clinical importance of drug-resistant mycobacterial pathogens has lent additional urgency to microbiological research and new antimycobacterial compound development. For this purpose, new thiazolylhydrazone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antituberculosis activity. The reaction of thiosemicarbazide with acetophenone derivatives gave 1-(1-arylethylidene)thiosemicarbazide (1). The N-(1-arylethylidene)-N'-[4-(indan-5-yl)thiazol-2-yl]hydrazone (3) derivatives were synthesized by reacting 1-(1-arylethylidene)thiosemicarbazide with 1-(5-indanyl)-2-bromoethanone (2). The chemical structure of the compounds was elucidated by elemental analyses, IR, (1)H NMR, MS-FAB(+) spectral data. Antituberculosis activities of the synthesized compounds were determined by broth microdilution assay, the Microplate Alamar Blue Assay, in BACTEC12B medium and the results were screened in vitro, using BACTEC 460 Radiometric System against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv (ATCC 27294) at 6.25 microg/ml and some of the tested compounds showed important inhibition ranging from 92% to 96%. The compounds were also investigated for their cytotoxic properties on normal mouse fibroblast (NIH/3T3) cell line and the results obtained here showed that all the compounds used have no significant cytotoxicity at the concentrations under 50 microg/ml.

Synthesis and characterization of a new macrocyclic ligand and its copper (II), cadmium (II), and lead (II) complexes: genotoxic activity of these complexes in cultured human lymphocytes.

A new macrocyclic ligand 1,1'-bis(bis-(6,6'-oxymethylenyl-2,2'-bipyridine) binaphthyl, (L), and its complexes CuL(ClO4)2, CuL(NO3)(2).3H2O, CdL(ClO4)2, and PbL(ClO4)2 have been synthesized and characterized on the basis of IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FAB mass, and elemental analyses. Genotoxicity of these metal complexes has also been investigated by cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay in cultured human lymphocytes. Blood cultures were set up from two healthy donors, and treatment was done with different test concentrations for 24 and 48 h. The current results indicate that all compounds caused cytotoxicity by decreasing the cell number at the 150 microg/mL doses for 48-h treatments. On the other hand, CuL(ClO4)2, CuL(NO3)(2).3H2O and PbL(ClO4)2 exhibited genotoxicity by inducing the number of micronucleated cells at doses of 150 microg/mL for 24-h treatments, but CdL(ClO4)2 did not significantly alter micronucleus induction. Hence, some test compounds may act as mutagens or produce clastogenic effects depending upon their chemical structures.

Synthesis and antifungal activities of some aryl [3-(imidazol-1-yl/triazol-1-ylmethyl) benzofuran-2-yl] ketoximes.

In this study, some aryl [3-(imidazol-1-yl/triazol-1-ylmethyl)benzofuran-2-yl] ketones, aryl (3-methyl-benzofuran-2-yl) ketoximes and aryl [3-(imidazol-1-yl/triazol-1-ylmethyl)benzofuran-2-yl] ketoximes were synthesised starting from 2-aryloyl-3-methyl-benzofuranes. The structure elucidation of the compounds was performed by IR, 1H-NMR, MASS spectroscopy and elemental analyses. Antifungal activities of the compounds were examined and moderate activity was obtained.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of some new nitroimidazole derivatives.

In this study, some new nitroimidazole derivatives were obtained from 2-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethylamine dihydrochloride (4) and 1-(2-bromoethyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole (5), which were prepared using metronidazole. Compound 4 was reacted with arylisothiocyanates (6) to obtain 1-[2-(2-methyl-5-nitroimidazol-1-yl)ethyl]-3-arylthioureas (7) and the latter with alpha-bromoacetophenones (8) to give 3-[2-(2-methyl-5-nitroimidazol-1-yl)ethyl]-2-arylimino-4-aryl-4-thiazolines (9). Also 1-[2-(2-methyl-5-nitroimidazol-1-yl)ethyl]-2-phenyl-4-arylideneimidazolin-5-ones (11) were prepared by reaction of 4 with 2-phenyl-4-arylidene-5-oxazolones (10). The reaction of the other starting material 5 with 5-arylidenethiazolidin-2,4-dione (12) gave 3-[2-(2-methyl-5-nitroimidazol-1-yl)ethyl]-5-arylidenethiazolidin-2,4-dione (13) derivatives. Structural elucidation of the compounds was performed by IR, 1H-NMR and MASS spectroscopic data and elemental analysis results. Antimicrobial activities of the compounds were examined and moderate activity was obtained.

Synthesis and antifungal activities of some aryl (3-methyl-benzofuran-2-yl) ketoximes.

In this study, some aryl (3-methyl-benzofuran-2-yl) ketoximes and their ethers and esters were synthesised. The structure elucidation of the compounds was performed by IR, 1H-NMR, MASS spectroscopy and elemental analyses. Antifungal activities of the compounds were examined and moderate activity was obtained.

Synthesis and antifungal activities of some aryl(benzofuran-2-yl)ketoximes.

In this study, some aryl(benzofuran-2-yl)ketoximes and their ethers and esters were synthesised. The structure elucidation of the compounds was performed by IR, 1H NMR and mass spectroscopic data and elemental analyses results. Antifungal activities of the compounds were examined and notable activity was obtained.