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Designing metal complexes to target the vulnerable redox balance in cancer cells is a promising strategy to realize successful cancer therapy. The synthesized stable nitridomanganese(V) complex MnV(N) (salen) not only reacts with GSH to achieve in situ Mn(V)–Mn(III) transformation to down-regulate the antioxidant system, but also catalyzes H2O2 to higher oxidation capacity ROS to up-regulate the intracellular oxidative level, finally resulting in cancer cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, a triphenylphosphine (TPP)-labile prodrug of seleno-combretastatin-4 (CSeD) was designed and synthesized. A detailed investigation revealed that CSeD, which was shown to be very safe in circulating blood, could react with TPP to release CA-4 and a selenodiazole derivative, with accompanying powerful anticancer and antiangiogenesis effects, as well as radiosensitization properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organo-seleno compounds (org-Se) have been widely used in antitumor, antiviral, and antiinflammatory therapy; antioxidation and other biological fields. As such, they have made an important contribution to overcoming various kinds of diseases, and researchers are increasingly attracted to org-Se's synthesis and functional design. This review is mainly focused on the design and synthesis of various kinds of org-Se, followed by their anticancer mechanisms such as the mitochondria mediated pathway induced by ROS, death receptor mediated pathways involving p53 phosphorylation, and the activation of the AMPK pathway to promote apoptosis. Org-Se also serves as a sensitizer in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and an antagonist against the cytotoxic effects induced by chemotherapeutic agents. Finally, we will summarize the development of cancer-targeted org-Se containing complexes, and nanotechnology-based org-Se for anticancer application. This review could provide information for the future design of chemically innovative org-Se with anticancer potential, and shed light on the discovery of nanomaterial-based pharmaceuticals to improve drug development and formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful clinical application of the three generation platinum anticancer drugs, cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin, has promoted research interest in metallodrugs; however, the problems of drug resistance and adverse effects have hindered their further application and effects. Thus, scientists are searching for new anticancer metallodrugs with lower toxicity and higher efficacy. The ruthenium complexes have emerged as the most promising alternatives to platinum-based anticancer agents because of their unique multifunctional biochemical properties. In this review, we first focus on the anticancer applications of various ruthenium complexes in different signaling pathways, including the mitochondria-mediated pathway, the DNA damage-mediated pathway, and the death receptor-mediated pathway. We then discuss the functionalization and cancer-targeting designs of different ruthenium complexes in conjunction with other therapies such as photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, radiosensitization, targeted therapy and nanotechnology for precise cancer therapy. This review will help in designing and accelerating the research progress regarding new anticancer ruthenium complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A negatively-charged and nucleus-targeted DNA tetrahedron is rationally designed and used as a nanocarrier of positively-charged metal complexes. This tetrahedron speeds up the translocation of metal complexes into the cell nucleus, and inhibits the growth and invasion of glioma cells by triggering vascular mimicry-associated signaling pathways, thus achieving precise glioma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black phosphorus quantum dots are incorporated into liposomal bilayers to produce a drug delivery system with excellent near-infrared (NIR) photothermal properties and drug release capability controlled by light. In vitro experiments demonstrate its good biocompatibility and NIR-light-induced chemo-photothermal antitumor efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel selenium-containing ruthenium complex Ru(phtpy)(phenSe)Cl(ClO4) (phtpy = 4-phenyl-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, phenSe = 2-selenicimidazole[4,5-f]1,10-phenanthroline) has been synthesized and found be able to enhance radiation-induced DNA damage through superoxide overproduction, which leads to G2/M arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells by activating ROS-mediated pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An anti-galvanic replacement reaction (AGRR) of copper(ii) ions reduced by ultra-small ssDNA-templated silver nanoclusters forming Ag–Cu alloy nanoparticles was observed. The reaction is against the classic galvanic theory and was monitored sensitively by the light-scattering technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles are shown to act as a light-scattering switch. Ag+ion turns on the switch through the DNA–Au NPs conjugates based on the formation of cytosine–Ag+–cytosine base pairs, whereas cysteine turns off the light-scattering signal because it competitively binds to Ag+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]