Dinuclear silver and gold bisNHC complexes as drug candidates for cancer therapy

Bioorg Med Chem. 2022 Aug 1:67:116814. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2022.116814. Epub 2022 May 10.

Abstract

We report four dinuclear silver(I) and gold(I) complexes containing two different bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (bisNHC). One of these complexes 4, shows strong and selective anticancer activity against the human ovarian cancer cell line A2780. Mechanistically, 4 enhances the oxidative stress by stimulating reactive oxygen species production and inhibiting the scavenging activity of thioredoxin reductase. Our findings provide evidence that tuning ligand and electronic properties of metal-NHC complexes can modulate their reactivity and selectivity and it may result in potential novel anticancer drugs.

Keywords: Gold; N-heterocyclic carbene; Ovarian cancer; Oxidative stress; Silver.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coordination Complexes* / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Gold / pharmacology
  • Heterocyclic Compounds* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Methane
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Silver / pharmacology
  • Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Ligands
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Thioredoxin-Disulfide Reductase
  • Methane