Study in vitro and in vivo of Ru(II) phosphine complexes with anticancer activities

• Grant number: 20/14561-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2021
• End date: June 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Alzir Azevedo Batista
• Grantee: Alzir Azevedo Batista
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the search for new coordination compounds with antitumor, and without toxicity, or with less toxicity than the platinum based-compounds, ruthenium compounds are very promising. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate the antitumor potentiality of these new compounds and try to understand the possible relationship between the intracelular localization of the compounds and their mechanism of action. The objective of this project is based on the synthesis and characterization of new ruthenium/phosphine complexes, containing mercapto derivatives, naphtoquinones and acylthioureas as ligands, as recent study developed in our laboratory showed that these classes of complexes, are very active and selective. Thus, new ruthenium/phosphine complexes will be synthesized, characterized and their cytotoxicity against tumor cells will be evaluated. The localization of the complexes in the cells, characterizing the target associated with the compounds in human tumor cells such as triple-negative breast (MDA-MB-231) and double positive breast (MCF-7), also in non-tumorigenic breast cell (MCF-10A) will be evaluated. The mechanism of action related to the cytotoxicity of the compounds will be evaluated as well, by interaction studies with DNA and HSA, determination of the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) intracellular. In addition, the pattern of cell death by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Western blotting analyzes will improve the understanding of the major expressed proteins and their metabolic pathways involved in cytotoxicity and through confocal microscopy it will be possible to relate them to subcellular localization. In addition, in vivo experiment will be performed in this work with mice. All these results together will provide us subsidies to elucidate the possible mechanisms of action for these complexes, contributing to the rational drug design and development of novel and even more effective anti-cancer agents. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GRAMINHA, ANGELICA E.; POPOLIN, CECILIA; DE ARAUJO-NETO, JOAO HONORATO; CORREA, RODRIGO S.; DE OLIVEIRA, KATIA M.; GODOY, LUANI R.; VEGAS, LEGNA COLINA; ELLENA, JAVIER; BATISTA, ALZIR A.; COMINETTI, MARCIA R.. New ruthenium complexes containing salicylic acid and derivatives induce triple-negative tumor cell death via the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY, v. 243, p. 14-pg., 2022-12-05. (17/15850-0, 14/19632-0, 21/04876-4, 20/14561-8)

GRAWE, GREGORY F.; OLIVEIRA, KATIA M.; LEITE, CELISNOLIA M.; DE OLIVEIRA, TAMIRES D.; COSTA, ANALU R.; MORAES, CARLOS A. F.; HONORATO, JOAO; COMINETTI, MARCIA R.; CASTELLANO, EDUARDO E.; CORREA, RODRIGO S.; et al. Cytotoxic activity of Ru(II)/DPEPhos/N,S-mercapto complexes (DPEPhos = bis-[(2-diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether). Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, v. 244, p. 11-pg., 2023-07-01. (21/14210-3, 17/15850-0, 20/14561-8)

GRAWE, GREGORY F.; OLIVEIRA, KATIA M.; LEITE, CELISNOLIA M.; DE OLIVEIRA, TAMIRES D.; HONORATO, JOAO; FERREIRA, ANTONIO G.; CASTELLANO, EDUARDO E.; COMINETTI, MARCIA R.; CORREA, RODRIGO S.; BATISTA, ALZIR A.. Ruthenium(ii)-diphosphine complexes containing acylthiourea ligands are effective against lung and breast cancers. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, v. 51, n. 4, DEC 2021. (20/14561-8, 17/15850-0)

DE GRANDIS, RONE APARECIDO; COSTA, ANALU ROCHA; FERREIRA MORAES, CARLOS ANDRE; SAMPAIO, NATALIA ZANETI; CERQUEIRA, IGOR HENRIQUE; MARQUES, WELLINGTON GARCIA; MUNDIN GUEDES, ADRIANA PEREIRA; DE ARAUJO-NETO, JOAO HONORATO; PAVAN, FERNANDO ROGERIO; DEMIDOFF, FELIPE CERQUEIRA; et al. Novel Ru(II)-bipyridine/phenanthroline-lapachol complexes as potential anti-cancer agents. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, v. 237, p. 12-pg., 2022-12-01. (16/22429-7, 17/15850-0, 17/16278-9, 20/14561-8, 21/04876-4)

RIBEIRO, GABRIEL H.; COSTA, ANALU R.; DE SOUZA, APARECIDO R.; DA SILVA, FABIANA V.; MARTINS, FELIPE T.; PLUTIN, ANA M.; BATISTA, ALZIR A.. An overview on the anticancer activity of Ru(II)/acylthiourea complexes. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, v. 488, p. 23-pg., 2023-04-28. (20/14561-8, 18/19342-2)

CAIRO, RAUL RAMOS; PLUTIN, ANA MARIA; CASTELL, RAUL OSCAR MOCELO; CASTELLANO, EDUARDO E.; CORREA, RODRIGO S.; GONZALEZ, DIANA L. NOSSA; ERBEN, MAURICIO F.; COMINETTI, MARCIA REGINA; LEITE, CELISNOLIA MORAIS; DE OLIVEIRA, TAMIRES DONIZETH; et al. Dynamics of Formation of Binuclear Metal Complexes: A New Cu(I) Compound with N-(2-thiophenecarbonyl)-N'-(3-Cl, 4-F-phenyl)thiourea as Ligand. CHEMISTRYSELECT, v. 7, n. 29, p. 8-pg., 2022-08-05. (20/14561-8, 21/02522-0, 17/15850-0)

LEITE, CELISNOLIA M.; ARAUJO-NETO, JOAO H.; GUEDES, ADRIANA P. M.; COSTA, ANALU R.; DEMIDOFF, FELIPE C.; NETTO, CHAQUIP D.; CASTELLANO, EDUARDO E.; NASCIMENTO, OTACIRO R.; BATISTA, ALZIR A.. Copper(I)/Triphenylphosphine Complexes Containing Naphthoquinone Ligands as Potential Anticancer Agents. INORGANICS, v. 11, n. 9, p. 18-pg., 2023-09-01. (17/15850-0, 22/11924-8, 20/14561-8)