Study of adduct formation between µ-oxo-bis(µ-acetate)diruthenium complex with human serum albumin

• Grant number: 23/05008-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Sofia Nikolaou
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Oliveira Nazar
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The research group LABiQSC2 - Laboratory of Biological Activity and Supramolecular Chemistry of Coordination Compounds (electronic address: https://sites.usp.br/labiqsc2/. Instagram profile: @labiqsc2) evaluates, among other studies, the biological activity of ruthenium compounds. This project aims to obtain, characterize and evaluate the potential biological activity of an adduct formed between human serum albumin (HSA) and binuclear ruthenium acetate with molecular formula [Ru2O(CH3COO)2(py) 6](PF6)2 (1), where py = pyridine. HSA has the ability to covalently or reversibly bind to biologically relevant molecules such as bilirubin, metal ions and metallodrugs, being a great alternative to act as a biocompatible carrier. Furthermore, our research group demonstrated that the analogues [Ru2O(CH3COO)2(py)4(THIQ)2](PF6)2 (2) and [Ru2O(CH3COO)2(py)2(5-methylphen)2 ](PF6)2 (3) (THIQ = tetraisoquinoline and 5-methylphen = 5-methylphenatroline) have biological activity, acting against melanoma skin cancer (B16F10 cells) and human adenocarcinoma (MCF7 cells) (2) and showing activity antiallergic (3). The characteristic that impacts the choice of complexes of this class concerns the lability of the ligands in the trans-position to the m-oxo bridge, generating free positions for eventual coordination with amino acid residues in the HSA. The complex/protein adduct will be characterized by electronic, circular dichroism and infrared spectroscopy. Finally, the biological activity of (1) and its complex/protein adduct against the B16F10 and MCF7 cancer models will be compared to evaluate its potential as a metallodrug.