Anton A. Legin

Synthesis and characterization of novel bis(carboxylato)dichloridobis(ethylamine)platinum(IV) complexes with higher cytotoxicity than cisplatin

A series of six novel bis(carboxylato)dichloridobis(ethylamine)platinum(IV) complexes was synthesized and characterized in detail by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ESI-MS, HPLC, multinuclear (1H, 13C, 15N, 195Pt) NMR spectroscopy and in one case by X-ray diffraction. Cytotoxic properties of the complexes were evaluated in four human tumor cell lines originating from ovarian carcinoma (CH1 and SK-OV-3), colon carcinoma (SW480) and non-small cell lung cancer (A549) by means of the MTT colorimetrical assay. In addition, their octanol/water partition coefficients (log P values) were determined. Remarkably the most active (and also most lipophilic) compounds, having 4-propyloxy-4-oxobutanoato and 4-(2-propyloxy)-4-oxobutanoato axial ligands, showed IC50 values down to the low nanomolar range.

NanoSIMS combined with fluorescence microscopy as a tool for subcellular imaging of isotopically labeled platinum-based anticancer drugs

Multi-elemental, isotope selective nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) combined with confocal laser-scanning microscopy was used to characterize the subcellular distribution of 15N-labeled cisplatin in human colon cancer cells. These analyses indicated predominant cisplatin colocalisation with sulfur-rich structures in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Furthermore, colocalisation of platinum with phosphorus-rich chromatin regions was observed, which is consistent with its binding affinity to DNA as the generally accepted crucial target of the drug. Application of 15N-labeled cisplatin and subsequent measurement of the nitrogen isotopic composition and determination of the relative intensities of platinum and nitrogen associated secondary ion signals in different cellular compartments with NanoSIMS suggested partial dissociation of Pt–N bonds during the accumulation process, in particular within nucleoli at elevated cisplatin concentrations. This finding raises the question as to whether the observed intracellular dissociation of the drug has implications for the mechanism of action of cisplatin. Within the cytoplasm, platinum mainly accumulated in acidic organelles, as demonstrated by a direct combination of specific fluorescent staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy and NanoSIMS. Different processing of platinum drugs in acidic organelles might be relevant for their detoxification, as well as for their mode of action.

Am(m)ines Make the Difference: Organoruthenium Am(m)ine Complexes and Their Chemistry in Anticancer Drug Development

With the aim of systematically studying fundamental structure-activity relationships as a basis for the development of Ru(II) arene complexes (arene = p-cymene or biphenyl) bearing mono-, bi-, or tridentate am(m)ine ligands as anticancer agents, a series of ammine, ethylenediamine, and diethylenetriamine complexes were prepared by different synthetic routes. Especially the synthesis of mono-, di-, and triammine complexes was found to be highly dependent on the reaction conditions, such as stoichiometry, temperature, and time. Hydrolysis and protein-binding studies were performed to determine the reactivity of the compounds, and only those containing chlorido ligands undergo aquation or form protein adducts. These properties correlate well with in vitro tumor-inhibiting potency of the compounds. The complexes were found to be active in anticancer assays when meeting the following criteria: stability in aqueous solution and low rates of hydrolysis and binding to proteins. Therefore, the complexes least reactive to proteins were found to be the most cytotoxic in cancer cells. In general, complexes with biphenyl as arene ligand inhibited the growth of tumor cells more effectively than the cymene analogues, consistent with the increase in lipophilicity. This study highlights the importance of finding a proper balance between reactivity and stability in the development of organometallic anticancer agents.

Synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxic activity of novel potentially pH-sensitive nonclassical platinum(II) complexes featuring 1,3-dihydroxyacetone oxime ligands.

The reaction of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone oxime with diam(m)minediaquaplatinum(II) under basic conditions produced zwitterionic diam(m)mine(3-hydroxy-2-(oxidoimino)propan-1-olato-κ(2)N,O)platinum(II) complexes featuring the N,O-chelating ligand. Upon reaction with hydrochloric acid, it was possible to isolate either the singly protonated species still exhibiting the intact N,O-chelate or the open-chain chlorido complex. All complexes were characterized in detail with multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C, and (195)Pt) NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass spectrometry, and in one case X-ray diffraction. Cytotoxicity was investigated in three human cancer cell lines (CH1, SW480, and A549). The obtained IC(50) values are in the medium or even low micromolar range, remarkable for platinum complexes having N(3)O or N(3)Cl coordination spheres. To study the solution behavior of the prepared complexes at physiologically relevant proton concentrations, time-dependent (1)H NMR measurements were performed for the ethane-1,2-diamine-containing series at pH values of 7.4, 6.0, and exemplarily 5.0. While the zwitterionic complex proved to be stable at both pH 7.4 and 6.0, the protonated species were deprotonated at pH 7.4, tending toward ring opening in slightly acidic environments, as characteristic for many solid tumors. Finally, the open-chain form stayed intact at pH 6.0, being completely converted into its chelated analogue at pH 7.4. A pH-dependent evaluation of antiproliferative effects of the two latter complexes at pH 7.4 and pH 6.0 revealed an activation under slightly acidic conditions, which might be of interest for further in vivo studies.

Guanidine platinum(II) complexes: synthesis, in vitro antitumor activity, and DNA interactions.

The novel guanidine compounds trans-[Pt(NH2Me)2{NH=C(NHMe)NR}2](Cl)2 (R = NEt2 [7], NC5H10 [8]) (trans-7,8) were synthesized by the nucleophilic addition of methylamine to dialkylcyanamide ligands of the push–pull nitrile complexes trans-[PtCl2(RCN)2] (R = NEt2, NC5H10). In vitro cytotoxicity tests conducted for the entire series of the guanidine complexes, i.e. trans-7,8, the neutral cis- or trans-[PtCl2{NH=C(NH2)R}2] (cis-1–3 and trans-1–3) and the cationic cis- or trans-[Pt(NH3)2{NH=C(NH2)R}2](Cl)2 (cis-4–6 and trans-4–6) (R = NMe2 [1,4], NEt2 [2,5], NC5H10 [3,6]) in two human cancer cell lines, CH1 (ovarian carcinoma) and SW480 (colon cancer), confirmed that the cytotoxicity of several trans-configured (trans-3,6) complexes is higher than that of cis-congeners (cis-3,6). Cellular platinum levels were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry upon treatment of SW480 cells, revealing a dependence of cellular accumulation on the geometrical isomerism and the steric hindrance of the variable substituent R on the guanidine ligand. DNA interactions of selected guanidine complexes were studied in order to find hints for the possible reasons for their different activities. Changes induced to the electrophoretic mobility of a dsDNA plasmid confirmed the potency of the guanidine complexes (e.g. trans-1,3,5,6 and cis-1,3,4) to significantly alter DNA secondary structure, indicating DNA as a possible critical target of these compounds.

Novel oximato-bridged platinum(II) di- and trimer(s): synthetic, structural, and in vitro anticancer activity studies.

Novel platinum complexes of trans geometry [PtCl(2){(Z)-R(H)C═NOH}(2)] [R = Me (1), Et (3)] and [PtCl(2){(E)-R(H)C═NOH}{(Z)-R(H)C═NOH}] [R = Me (2), Et (4)] as well as the classic trans-[PtCl(2)(R(2)C═NOH)(2)] [R = Me, Et] were reacted with an equivalent amount of silver acetate in acetone solution at ambient temperature, resulting in formation of unprecedented head-to-tail-oriented oximato-bridged dimers [PtCl{μ-(Z)-R(H)C═NO}{(Z)-R(H)C═NOH}](2) [R = Me (5), Et (7)], [PtCl{μ-(Z)-R(H)C═NO}{(E)-R(H)C═NOH}](2) [R = Me (6), Et (8)], and [PtCl(μ-R(2)C═NO)(R(2)C═NOH)](2) [R = Me (9), Et (10)], correspondingly. The dimeric species feature a unique six-membered diplatinacycle and represent the first example of oxime ligands coordinated to platinum via the oxygen atom. All complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, IR and multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C, and (195)Pt) NMR spectroscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction in the cases of dimers 6 and 9. Furthermore, the crystal and molecular structures of a trimeric oximato-bridged complex 11 comprising three platinum units connected in a chain way were established. The cytotoxicity of both dimers and the respective monomers was comparatively evaluated in three human cancer cell lines: cisplatin-sensitive CH1 cells as well as cisplatin-resistant SW480 and A549 cells, whereupon structure-activity relationships were drawn. Thus, it was found that dimerization results in a substantial (up to 7-fold) improvement of IC(50) values of (aldoxime)Pt(II) compounds, whereas for the analogous complexes featuring ketoxime ligands the reverse trend was observed. Remarkably, the novel dimers yielded no cross-resistance with cisplatin in SW480 cells, exhibiting up to 2-fold enhanced cytotoxicity in comparison with the CH1 cell line and thereby possessing a promising potential to overcome resistance toward platinum anticancer drugs. The latter point was also confirmed by investigating the potency of apoptosis induction in the case of one monomer as well as one dimer; the investigated complexes proved to be strong apoptotic agents which could induce cell death even in the cisplatin-resistant SW480 cell line.

Influence of the π-coordinated arene on the anticancer activity of ruthenium(II) carbohydrate organometallic complexes

The synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity of a series of RuII(arene) complexes with carbohydrate-derived phosphite ligands and various arene co-ligands is described. The arene ligand has a strong influence on the in vitro anticancer activity of this series of compounds, which correlates fairly well with cellular accumulation. The most lipophilic compound bearing a biphenyl moiety and a cyclohexylidene-protected carbohydrate is the most cytotoxic with unprecedented IC50 values for the compound class in three human cancer cell lines. This compound shows reactivity to the DNA model nucleobase 9-ethylguanine, but does not alter the secondary structure of plasmid DNA, indicating that other biological targets are responsible for its cytotoxic effect.

{Ru(CO)x}-Core complexes with benzimidazole ligands: synthesis, X-ray structure and evaluation of anticancer activity in vivo

The reaction of [Ru(CO)6Cl2], 1, with N[combining low line]3-methylbenzimidazole (MBI) and 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole (DMBI) afforded two new complexes with the general formula fac-[RuII(CO)3Cl2L], L = MBI (2) or DMBI (4). Crystals of cis,trans-[RuII(CO)2Cl2(N[combining low line]3-MBI)2], 3, were also obtained from the mother liquor that produced 2. In the presence of water, the dissociation of Ru-N, Ru-Cl and Ru-CO bonds occurred as a function of time, water content and pH. Density functional theory structure simulations/optimizations were carried out at the Becke3LYP level of theory for evaluating the relative stability of possible conformers. ESI-MS studies revealed the ability of the complexes to link model proteins, such as lysozyme, bovine pancreatic ribonuclease and cytochrome c, with the partial release of the heteroaromatic base, chlorido and carbonyl ligands. X-ray diffraction studies on crystals grown from a solution of HEWL and 2 showed the partial removal of chloride and CO. Cytotoxicity tests yielded two-digit micromolar IC50 values in CH1/PA-1 and SW480 cancer cells. In contrast to CORM-3 and 2, a significantly reduced tumor growth was observed with 4 in the murine colon cancer CT-26 model in vivo.

Amidoxime platinum(II) complexes: pH-dependent highly selective generation and cytotoxic activity

The reaction of cis-[PtCl2(Me2O)2] with 1 equiv. of each of the amidoximes RC(NH2)NOH in neutral media in MeOH results in the formation of complexes cis-[PtCl2{RC(NH2)OH}(Me2O)] (5 examples; 83–98% isolated yields). In the presence of 2 equiv. of NaOH in MeOH solution, the reaction of cis-[PtCl2(Me2O)2] with 1 equiv. of each of the amidoximes RC(NH2)NOH leads to [Pt{RC(H)N}(Me2O)2] (7 examples; 74–95% isolated yields). All new complexes were characterized by C, H, and N elemental analyses, HRESI+-MS, IR, 1H, 13C{1H}, and CP-MAS TOSS 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopies, and additionally by single-crystal XRD (for seven species). The cytotoxic potency of six compounds was determined in the human cancer cell lines CH1/PA-1, A549, SK-BR-3, and SW480. Generally, the second class of complexes containing chelating amidoximato ligands shows much higher cytotoxicity than the non-chelate amidoxime analogs, despite the lack of easily exchangeable chlorido ligands. Especially, the complex [Pt(p-CF3C6H4C(H)N)(Me2O)2] displays a remarkable activity in the inherently cisplatin resistant SW480 cell line (0.51 μM vs. 3.3 μM).

Fast High-Resolution Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Imaging of the Distribution of Platinum-Based Anticancer Compounds in Multicellular Tumor Spheroids

Multicellular tumor spheroid models serve as an important three-dimensional in vitro cell model system as they mimic the complex tumor microenvironment and thus have contributed to valuable assays in drug discovery studies. In this study, we present a state-of-the-art laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) setup for high spatial resolution elemental imaging of multicellular tumor spheroids and an approach to account for variations in cell density. A low dispersion LA-ICPMS setup was employed, providing accelerated throughput and high sensitivity and permitting a lateral image resolution down to ∼2.5 μm for phosphorus and platinum in HCT116 colon cancer spheroids upon treatment with the clinically used anticancer drug oxaliplatin. Phosphorus was introduced as scalar to compensate for differences in cell density and tissue thickness and the Pt/P ratios together with the high resolution adopted in our approach allows the differentiation of platinum accumulation within each part of the morphology of the tumor spheroids (layers of proliferating, quiescent, and necrotic cells).