Syntheses,photophysical investigations and cytotoxicity of new Ru(II) polypyridine complexes capable of CO-release initiated by light irradiation (photoCORM)

• Grant number: 23/04528-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Duarte Ramos
• Grantee: Luiz Duarte Ramos
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Carbon monoxide (CO), by popular belief, is considered a major villain due to its toxicity at moderate and high levels. However, more recent studies highlight that the same CO is also beneficial for health, particularly in the treatment of some illnesses in the so-called CO gas therapy. Several processes in biological systems occur due to signaling triggered by the endogenous production of CO. Mimicking the living system, the controlled administration of CO has been used as a therapy and is also attributed with several benefits that justify its use as a 'drug' in anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative processes, in addition to presenting vasodilatory properties and acting as a bactericide. at higher levels. Several CO administration techniques have been studied and developed in previous years, and one of these techniques is the construction of molecules known as CO Releasing Molecules (CORMs). This research project is part of a line of synthesis and investigation research into CO releasing molecules and aims to build new CORMs based mainly on the transition metal Ru(II) that release CO by a photoinduced trigger, which guarantees a more controlled and more specific release in appropriate locations. Together with this, the objective is to carry out the photochemical and photophysical characterization of the compound, as well as to evaluate the efficiency of CO release in in vitro tests. For this project, the synthesis of new Ru(II) polypyridine compounds was proposed. These complexes differ from each other in the structure of the bidentate ligand, which will be functionalized with amino acid residues, an endogenous molecule, to improve solubility and interaction in biological media. The structure of these compounds will be characterized by elemental analysis, NMR, UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopy. The photophysical properties and excited states will be investigated using static and time-resolved light emission techniques. The oxidation potentials will be evaluated for a more in-depth characterization regarding the electronic properties of the complexes. The efficiency of the complexes in carrying out the release of CO triggered by light will be evaluated, as well as their stability in the dark. Finally, the cytotoxicity of these complexes will be investigated in in vitro assays using melanoma cell culture as it is a type of cancer that is easily exposed to light and breast cancer cells, also targeting treatments in deeper tissues, where light delivery is lower. The development of this project has as its main objective the development and insertion of a new line of research at the Federal University of ABC and also to contribute to the training of new scientists capable of working in multidisciplinary groups. (AU)