Exploring the potential of ruthenium(II)-phosphine-mercapto complexes as new anticancer agents.

The search for new metal-based anticancer drug candidates is a fundamental task in medicinal inorganic chemistry. In this work, we assessed the potential of two new Ru(II)-phosphine-mercapto complexes as potential anticancer agents. The complexes, with the formula [Ru(bipy)(dppen)(Lx)]PF6 [(1), HL1 = 2-mercapto-pyridine and (2), HL2 = 2-mercapto-pyrimidine, bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, dppen = cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-ethylene] were synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) [1H, 31P(1H), and 13C], high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS), cyclic voltammetry, infrared and UV-Vis spectroscopies. Complex 2 was obtained as a mixture of two isomers, 2a and 2b, respectively. The composition of these metal complexes was confirmed by elemental analysis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). To obtain insights into their lipophilicity, their distribution coefficients between n-octanol/PBS were determined. Both complexes showed affinity mainly for the organic phase, presenting positive log P values. Also, their stability was confirmed over 48 h in different media (i.e., DMSO, PBS and cell culture medium) via HPLC, UV-Vis and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopies. Since enzymes from the P-450 system play a crucial role in cellular detoxification and metabolism, the microsomal stability of 1, which was found to be the most interesting compound of this study, was investigated using human microsomes to verify its potential oxidation in the liver. The analyses by LC-MS and ESI-MS reveal three main metabolites, obtained by oxidation in the dppen and bipy moieties. Moreover, 1 was able to interact with human serum albumin (HSA). The cytotoxicity of the metal complexes was tested in different cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines. Complex 1 was found to be more selective than cisplatin against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells when compared to MCF-10A non-cancerous cells. In addition, complex 1 affects cell morphology and migration, and inhibits colony formation in MDA-MB-231 cells, making it a promising cytotoxic agent against breast cancer.

In vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of ternary copper(II) complexes and in vivo evaluation of the most promising complex.

In order to improve the previously observed antichagasic activity of Cu(II) complexes containing 2-chlorobenzhydrazide (2-CH), we report herein the synthesis and anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of novel copper complexes containing 2-methoxybenzhydrazide (2-MH), 4-methoxybenzhydrazide (4-MH) and three α-diimine ligands, namely, 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 2,2-bipyridine (bipy) and 4-4'-dimethoxy-2-2'-bipyridine (dmb). Two of these complexes showed higher in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity when compared to benznidazole, the main drug used in Chagas disease treatment. One of them, the copper complex with 4-MH and dmb, [Cu(4-MH)(dmb)(ClO4)2], exhibited a higher selectivity index than that recommended for preclinical studies. Considering this observation, complex [Cu(4-MH)(dmb)(ClO4)2] was selected for preliminary in vivo assays, which verified that this compound was able to reduce parasitemia by 64% at the peak of infection. Further investigations were performed on all compounds. The Cu(II) complexes bind to ct-DNA with Kb values in the range of 103-104 M-1, with [Cu(4-MH)(dmb)(ClO4)2] showing the highest Kb value (1.45 × 104 M-1). Molecular docking simulations predicted that [Cu(4-MH)(dmb)(ClO4)2] binds in the minor groove of the double helix of ct-DNA and forms one hydrogen bond.

Three new platinum complexes containing fluoroquinolones and DMSO: Cytotoxicity and evaluation against drug-resistant tuberculosis.

This work describes the synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of three platinum complexes of the type [Pt(DMSO)(L)Cl]Cl, in which L represents a fluoroquinolone, namely, ciprofloxacin (cpl), ofloxacin (ofl), or sparfloxacin (spf). The new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) and 1H, 13C and 195Pt NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance). The spectral data suggest that the fluoroquinolones act as bidentate ligands coordinated to Pt(II) through the nitrogen atoms of the piperazine ring. Microbiological assays against wild type Mycobacterium tuberculosis (ATCC 27294) showed that all complexes have been very potent, exhibiting antitubercular potency at concentrations <2 µM, although none of the complexes presented higher potency than established anti-TB drugs. As to the resistant strains, the complex with sparfloxacin, [Pt(DMSO)(spf)Cl]Cl exhibited the best potential against most Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was also evaluated in three breast cell lines: MCF-10 (a healthy cell), MCF-7 (a hormone responsive cancer cell) and MDA-MB-231 (triple negative breast cancer cell). In both tumor cell lines, [Pt(DMSO)(spf)Cl]Cl was more active and more selective than cisplatin. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that [Pt(DMSO)(spf)Cl]Cl induced late apoptotic cell death in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Molecular evaluation of the incidence of Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys and Babesia spp. in dogs from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichiacanis is endemic in many regions of Brazil. Since thrombocytopenia is a common finding in infected dogs, many clinicians tend to use it as an indication for antibiotic treatment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR were used to study the presence of E. canis, Anaplasma platys and Babesia spp. in thrombocytopenic and non-thrombocytopenic dogs from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Despite the high prevalence of E. canis infection among thrombocytopenic dogs, 46.7% of the thrombocytopenic dogs studied were either infected with Babesia spp. or A.platys or not infected with any of the three pathogens. There was a high incidence (25.4%) of E. canis infection in non-thrombocytopenic dogs. Although infection with E. canis should be considered in thrombocytopenic dogs, the final diagnosis needs to be confirmed by complementary tests such as blood smears and PCR to avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics.