Recent Development of Transition Metal Complexes as Chemotherapeutic Hypoxia Activated Prodrug (HAP).

Hypoxia is a state characterized by low concentration of Oxygen. Hypoxic state is often found in the central region of solid tumors. Hypoxia is associated with abnormal neovascularization resulted in poor blood flow in tissues and increased proliferation of tumor cells, imbalance between O2 supply and O2 consumption in tumor cells, high concentration of proton and strong reducibility. And, these abnormalities enhance the survival potency of the hypoxic tumours and increase the resistance towards chemotherapy and radiotherapy. One of the approach for treating hypoxic region of tumour is to use reducing environment of hypoxic tumours for reducing a molecule (hypoxia activated prodrug, HAP) and as a result the active drug will be released in hypoxic region in a controlled manner from the prodrug and kill the hypoxic tumour. Co(III) and Pt(IV) complexes with monodentate active drug molecule in the axial position can be reduced to Co(II) and Pt(II) moieties and as a result, the axial ligands (active drug) could come out from the metal center and could show its anticancer activity. In this review we have highlighted the research articles where transition metal-based complexes are used as chemotherapeutic hypoxia activated prodrug molecules which are reported in last 5 years.

Recent Development of Copper (II) Complexes of Polypyridyl Ligands in Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy.

Cancer is a deadly disease associated with abnormal cell growth and invasion to various parts of the body. Many drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin have been used for the treatment of cancer over the years. However, a lack of selectivity toward cancer cells and associated side effects with current treatment options has fueled continued efforts throughout the world to find better anticancer drugs. Over the past decades, copper-containing compounds have shown excellent anticancer activity. Cu(II) complexes are well studied and show broad-spectrum pharmacological activity. The redox activity of copper ions contributes to cytotoxic activity in combination with ligands that possess bioactivity. Binding of copper with various types of bidentate, tridentate, and tetradentate ligands can activate the processes of necrosis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Copper induces the formation of reactive oxygen species to cleave DNA. Similarly, light-assisted excitation of Cu(II) complexes in the red region of the electromagnetic spectrum helps produce different reactive species, thereby inducing anticancer activity through a photodynamic mechanism. In general, in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that the administration of copper ions is effective against various cancer cell lines. Herein we discuss the past ten years of research into copper complexes of terpyridine-, 2,2'-bipyridine-, and 1,10-phenanthroline-based ligands as potential anticancer agents. The aspects of chemotherapy by redox-mediated pathways and photodynamic therapy using light-assisted excitation are reviewed, with a focus on mechanisms of activity, details of important experimental procedures, as well as drawbacks in the design of copper-containing drugs.

Seed priming with selenium and zinc nanoparticles modifies germination, growth, and yield of direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Direct-seeded rice (DSR) seeds are often exposed to multiple environmental stresses in the field, leading to poor emergence, growth and productivity. Appropriate seed priming agents may help to overcome these challenges by ensuring uniform seed germination, and better seedling stand establishment. To examine the effectiveness of sodium selenite (Na-selenite), sodium selenate (Na-selenate), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), and their combinations as priming agents for DSR seeds, a controlled pot experiment followed by a field experiment over two consecutive years was conducted on a sandy clay loam soil (Inceptisol) in West Bengal, India. Priming with combinations of all priming agents had advantages over the hydro-priming treatment (control). All the combinations of the three priming agents resulted in the early emergence of seedlings with improved vigour. In the field experiment, all the combinations increased the plant chlorophyll, phenol and protein contents, leaf area index and duration, crop growth rate, uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, B, Zn and Si), and yield of DSR over the control. Our findings suggest that seed priming with the combination of ZnO-NPs, Na-selenite, and Na-selenate could be a viable option for the risk mitigation in DSR.

A specific probe for Hg²âº to delineate even H⁺ in pure aqueous buffer/Hct116 colon cancer cells: Hg(II)-η²-arene π-interaction and a TBET-based fluorescence response.

A new molecular probe that demonstrates a distinct TBET process, induced by the Hg(II)-η(2)-arene π-interaction, in pure aqueous medium with a large pseudo-Stokes shift of 200 nm.

A new receptor with a FRET based fluorescence response for selective recognition of fumaric and maleic acids in aqueous medium.

Preferential binding of a new reagent to fumaric acid could be utilized for its estimation in aqueous medium and in commercial fruit juice.

Electronically regulated thermally and light-gated electron transfer from anions to naphthalenediimides.

Anion-induced electron transfer (ET) to π-electron-deficient naphthalenediimides (NDIs) can be channeled through two distinct pathways by adjusting the Lewis basicity of the anion and the π-acidity of the NDI: (1) When the anion and NDI are a strong electron donor and acceptor, respectively, positioning the HOMO of the anion above the LUMO of the NDI, a thermal anion → NDI ET pathway is turned ON. (2) When the HOMO of a weakly Lewis basic anion falls below the LUMO of an NDI but still lies above its HOMO, the thermal ET is turned OFF, but light can activate an unprecedented anion → (1)*NDI photoinduced ET pathway from the anion's HOMO to the photogenerated (1)*NDI's SOMO-1. Both pathways generate NDI(•-) radical anions.

Cobalt(II) complexes of terpyridine bases as photochemotherapeutic agents showing cellular uptake and photocytotoxicity in visible light.

Cobalt(II) complexes of terpyridine bases [Co(L)2](ClO4)2 (1-3), where L is 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (ph-tpy in 1), 4'-(9-anthracenyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (an-tpy in 2) and 4'-(1- pyrenyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (py-tpy in 3), are prepared and their photo-induced DNA and protein cleavage activity and photocytotoxic property in HeLa cells studied. The 1 : 2 electrolytic and three-electron paramagnetic complexes show a visible band near 550 nm in DMF-Tris-HCl buffer. The complexes 1-3 show emission spectral bands at 355, 421 and 454 nm, respectively, when excited at 287, 368 and 335 nm. The quantum yield values for 1-3 in DMF-H2O (2 : 1 v/v) are 0.025, 0.060 and 0.28, respectively. The complexes are redox active in DMF-0.1 M TBAP. The Co(III)-Co(II) and Co(II)-Co(I) couples appear as quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetric responses near 0.2 and -0.7 V vs. SCE, respectively. Complexes 2 and 3 are avid binders to calf thymus DNA giving K(b) value of ∼106 M⁻¹. The complexes show chemical nuclease activity. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibit oxidative cleavage of pUC19 DNA in UV-A and visible light. The DNA photocleavage reaction of 3 at 365 nm shows formation of singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical species, while only hydroxyl radical formation is evidenced in visible light. Complexes 2 and 3 show non-specific photo-induced bovine serum albumin protein cleavage activity at 365 nm. The an-tpy and py-tpy complexes exhibit significant photocytotoxicity in HeLa cervical cancer cells on exposure to visible light giving IC50 values of 24.2 and 7.6 µM, respectively. Live cell imaging study shows accumulation of the complexes in the cytosol of HeLa cancer cells.

Anaerobic DNA cleavage activity in red light and photocytotoxicity of (pyridine-2-thiol)cobalt(III) complexes of phenanthroline bases.

Cobalt(iii) complexes [Co(pnt)(B)(2)](NO(3))(2) (1-3) of pyridine-2-thiol (pnt) and phenanthroline bases (B), viz. 1,10-phenanthroline (phen in 1), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq in ) and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz in 3), have been prepared, characterized and their photo-induced anaerobic DNA cleavage activity studied. The crystal structure of 1a as mixed ClO(4)(-) and PF(6)(-) salt of 1 shows a Co(III)N(5)S coordination geometry in which the pnt and phen showed N,S- and N,N-donor binding modes, respectively. The complexes exhibit Co(iii)/Co(ii) redox couple near -0.3 V (vs. SCE) in 20% DMF-Tris-HCl buffer having 0.1 M TBAP. The complexes show binding propensity to calf thymus DNA giving K(b) values within 2.2 x 10(4)-7.3 x 10(5) M(-1). Thermal melting and viscosity data suggest DNA surface and/or groove binding of the complexes. The complexes show significant anaerobic DNA cleavage activity in red light under argon atmosphere possibly involving sulfide anion radical or thiyl radical species. The DNA cleavage reaction under aerobic medium in red light is found to involve both singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical pathways. The dppz complex shows non-specific BSA and lysozyme protein cleavage activity in UV-A light of 365 nm via both hydroxyl and singlet oxygen pathways. The dppz complex exhibits photocytotoxicity in HeLa cervical cancer cells giving IC(50) values of 767 nM and 19.38 microM in UV-A light of 365 nm and in the dark, respectively. A significant reduction of the dark toxicity of the dppz base (IC(50) = 8.34 microM in dark) is observed on binding to the cobalt(iii) center.

Photocytotoxic 3d-metal scorpionates with a 1,8-naphthalimide chromophore showing photoinduced DNA and protein cleavage activity.

Ternary 3d-metal complexes of formulation [M(Tp(Ph))(py-nap)](ClO(4)) (1-3), where M is Co(II) (1), Cu(II) (2), and Zn(II) (3); Tp(Ph) is anionic tris(3-phenylpyrazolyl)borate; and py-nap is a pyridyl ligand with a conjugated 1,8-naphthalimide moiety, have been prepared from the reaction of metal perchlorate with KTp(Ph) and py-nap in CH(2)Cl(2). The complexes have been characterized from analytical and physicochemical data. The complexes are stable in solution as evidenced from the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry data. The complexes show good binding propensity with calf thymus (CT) DNA, giving binding constant (K(b)) values of approximately 10(5) M(-1) and a molecular "light-switch" effect that results in an enhancement of the emission intensity of the naphthalimide chromophore on binding to CT DNA. The complexes do not show any hydrolytic cleavage of DNA. They show poor chemical nuclease activity in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid or hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). The Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes exhibit oxidative pUC19 DNA cleavage activity in UV-A light of 365 nm. The Zn(II) complex shows moderate DNA photocleavage activity at 365 nm. The Cu(II) complex 2 displays photoinduced DNA cleavage activity in red light of 647.1 nm and 676 nm and near-IR light of >750 nm. A mechanistic study in UV-A and visible light suggests the involvement of the hydroxyl radical as the reactive species in the DNA photocleavage reactions. The complexes also show good bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein binding propensity, giving K(BSA) values of approximately 10(5) M(-1). Complexes 1 and 2 display significant photoinduced BSA cleavage activity in UV-A light. The Co(II) complex 1 shows a significant photocytotoxic effect in HeLa cervical cancer cells on exposure to UV-A light of 365 nm, giving an IC(50) value of 32 microM. The IC(50) value for the py-nap ligand alone is 41.42 microM in UV-A light. The IC(50) value is >200 microM in the dark, indicating poor dark toxicity of 1. The Cu(II) complex 2 exhibits moderate photocytotoxicity and significant dark toxicity, giving IC(50) values of 18.6 microM and 29.7 microM in UV-A light and in the dark, respectively.

Copper(II) complexes of L-arginine as netropsin mimics showing DNA cleavage activity in red light.

Copper(II) complexes [Cu(L-arg)(2)](NO(3))(2) (1) and [Cu(L-arg)(B)Cl]Cl (2-5), where B is a heterocyclic base, namely, 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy, 2), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen, 3), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq, 4), and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz, 5), are prepared and their DNA binding and photoinduced DNA cleavage activity studied. Ternary complex 3, structurally characterized using X-ray crystallography, shows a square-pyramidal (4 + 1) coordination geometry in which the N,O-donor L-arginine and N,N-donor 1,10-phenanthroline form the basal plane with one chloride at the elongated axial site. The complex has a pendant cationic guanidinium moiety. The one-electron paramagnetic complexes display a metal-centered d-d band in the range of 590-690 nm in aqueous DMF. They show quasireversible cyclic voltammetric response due to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple in the range of -0.1 to -0.3 V versus a saturated calomel electrode in a DMF-Tris HCl buffer (pH 7.2). The DNA binding propensity of the complexes is studied using various techniques. Copper(II) bis-arginate 1 mimics the minor groove binder netropsin by showing preferential binding to the AT-rich sequence of double-strand (ds) DNA. DNA binding study using calf thymus DNA gives an order: 5 (L-arg-dppz) > or = 1 (bis-L-arg) > 4 (L-arg-dpq) > 3 (L-arg-phen) >> 2 (L-arg-bpy). Molecular docking calculations reveal that the complexes bind through extensive hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions with ds-DNA. The complexes cleave supercoiled pUC19 DNA in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid as a reducing agent forming hydroxyl ((*)OH) radicals. The complexes show oxidative photoinduced DNA cleavage activity in UV-A light of 365 nm and red light of 647.1 nm (Ar-Kr mixed-gas-ion laser) in a metal-assisted photoexcitation process forming singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) species in a type-II pathway. All of the complexes, barring complex 2, show efficient DNA photocleavage activity. Complexes 4 and 5 exhibit significant double-strand breaks of DNA in red light of 647.1 nm due to the presence of two photosensitizers, namely, L-arginine and dpq or dppz in the molecules.

Photosensitizer in a molecular bowl and its effect on the DNA-binding and -cleavage activity of 3d-metal scorpionates.

Ternary 3d -metal complexes [M(Tp (Ph))(B)](ClO 4) ( 1- 8), where M is Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II), Tp (Ph) is anionic tris(3-phenylpyrazolyl)borate, and B is N,N-donor heterocyclic base, namely, 1,10-phenanthroline (phen, 1- 4) and dipyrido[3,2- d:2',3'- f]quinoxaline (dpq, 5- 8), were prepared from a reaction of the perchlorate salt of the metal with KTp (Ph) and B in CH 2Cl 2. The complexes were characterized by various physicochemical methods. 4- 6 and 8 were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The crystal structures of the complexes show the presence of discrete cationic complexes having a square-pyramidal (4 + 1) coordination geometry in which two nitrogen atoms of the phenanthroline base (B) and two nitrogen atoms of the Tp (Ph) ligand occupy the basal plane and one nitrogen of the Tp (Ph) ligand binds at the axial site. The phenyl groups of the Tp (Ph) form a bowl-shaped structure that essentially encloses the {M(phen/dpq)} moiety. DNA-binding studies were carried out using various spectral techniques and from viscosity measurements. The complexes show moderate binding propensity to calf thymus DNA at the minor groove, giving binding constant values ( K b) of approximately 10 (4) M (-1). The complexes exhibit poor DNA-cleavage activity in the dark in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) or hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2). The photoinduced DNA-cleavage activity of the complexes was investigated using UV-A radiation of 365 nm and visible light of two different wavelengths with a tunable multicolor Ar-Kr mixed gas ion laser source. The dpq complexes show efficient photoinduced DNA-cleavage activity via a metal-assisted photoexcitation process involving the formation of singlet oxygen as the cleavage active species in a type-II pathway. The paramagnetic d (7)-Co(II)-dpq and d (9)-Cu(II)-dpq complexes exhibit efficient DNA-cleavage activity in visible light. The paramagnetic d (8)-Ni(II)-dpq complex displays only minor DNA-cleavage activity in visible light. Diamagnetic d (10)-Zn(II)-dpq complex shows only UV-A light-induced DNA cleavage but no apparent DNA-cleavage activity in visible light. Steric protection of the photoactive quinoxaline moiety of the dpq ligand inside the hydrophobic {M(Tp (Ph))} molecular bowl has a positive effect on the photoinduced DNA-cleavage activity.