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Ruthenium(II)–arene complexes have gained significant research interest due to their possible application in cancer therapy. In this contribution two new complexes are described, namely [{RuCl(η6-p-cymene)}2(μ-Cl)(μ-1-N,N′-naphthyl)]X (X = Cl, 1; PF6, 2), which were fully characterized by IR, NMR, and elemental microanalysis. Furthermore, the structure of 2 in the solid state was determined by a single crystal X-ray crystallographic study, confirming the composition of the crystals as 2·2MeOH. The Hirshfeld surface analysis was employed for the investigation of interactions that govern the crystal structure of 2·2MeOH. The structural data for 2 out of 2·2MeOH was used for the theoretical analysis of the cationic part [{RuCl(η6-p-cymene)}2(μ-Cl)(μ-1-N,N′-naphthyl)]+ (2a) which is common to both 1 and 2. The density functional theory, at B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) basis set for H, C, N, and Cl atoms and LanL2DZ for Ru ions, was used for the optimization of the 2a structure. The natural bond orbital and quantum theory of atoms in molecules analyses were employed to quantify the intramolecular interactions. The reproduction of experimental IR and NMR spectra proved the applicability of the chosen level of theory. The binding of 1 to bovine serum albumin was examined by spectrofluorimetry and molecular docking, with complementary results obtained. Compound 1 acted as a radical scavenger towards DPPH• and HO• radicals, along with high activity towards cancer prostate and colon cell lines.

Xanthohumol (XN) and isoxanthohumol (IXN), prenylated flavonoids from Humulus lupulus, have been shown to possess antitumor/cancerprotective, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiangiogenic properties. In this study, mesoporous silica (SBA-15) was loaded with different amounts of xanthohumol and isoxanthohumol and characterized by standard analytical methods. The anticancer potential of XN and IXN loaded into SBA-15 has been evaluated against malignant mouse melanoma B16F10 cells. When these cells were treated with SBA-15 containing xanthohumol, an increase of the activity correlated with a higher immobilization rate of XN was observed. Considering the amount of XN loaded into SBA-15 (calculated from TGA), an improved antitumor potential of XN was observed (IC50 = 10.8 ± 0.4 and 11.8 ± 0.5 µM for SBA-15|XN2 and SBA-15|XN3, respectively; vs. IC50 = 18.5 ± 1.5 µM for free XN). The main mechanism against tumor cells of immobilized XN includes inhibition of proliferation and autophagic cell death. The MC50 values for SBA-15 loaded with isoxanthohumol were over 300 µg/mL in all cases investigated.

Anthraquinone derivatives exhibit various biological activities, e.g., antifungal, antibacterial and in vitro antiviral activities. They are naturally produced in many fungal and plant families such as Rhamnaceae or Fabaceae. Furthermore, they were found to have anticancer activity, exemplified by mitoxantrone and pixantrone, and many are well known redox-active compounds. In this study, various nature inspired synthetic anthraquinone derivatives were tested against colon, prostate, liver and cervical cancer cell lines. Most of the compounds exhibit anticancer effects against all cell lines, therefore the compounds were further studied to determine their IC50-values. Of these compounds, 1,4-bis(benzyloxy)-2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)anthracene-9,10-dione (4) exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against PC3 cells and was chosen for a deeper look into its mechanism of action. Based on flow cytometry, the compound was proven to induce apoptosis through the activation of caspases and to demolish the ROS/RNS and NO equilibrium in the PC3 cell line. It trapped cells in the G2/M phase. Western blotting was performed for several proteins related to the effects observed. Compound 4 enhanced the production of PARP and caspase-3. Moreover, it activated the conversion of LC3A/B-I to LC3A/B-II showing that also autophagy plays a role in its mechanism of action, and it caused the phosphorylation of p70 s6 kinase.

Multicomponent reactions, especially the Ugi-four component reaction (U-4CR), provide powerful protocols to efficiently access compounds having potent biological and pharmacological effects. Thus, a diverse library of betulinic acid (BA), fusidic acid (FA), cholic acid (CA) conjugates with TEMPO (nitroxide) have been prepared using this approach, which also makes them applicable in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Moreover, convertible amide modified spin-labelled fusidic acid derivatives were selected for post-Ugi modification utilizing a wide range of reaction conditions which kept the paramagnetic center intact. The nitroxide labelled betulinic acid analogue 6 possesses cytotoxic effects towards two investigated cell lines: prostate cancer PC3 (IC50 7.4 ± 0.7 μM) and colon cancer HT29 (IC50 9.0 ± 0.4 μM). Notably, spin-labelled fusidic acid derivative 8 acts strongly against these two cancer cell lines (PC3: IC50 6.0 ± 1.1 μM; HT29: IC50 7.4 ± 0.6 μM). Additionally, another fusidic acid analogue 9 was also found to be active towards HT29 with IC50 7.0 ± 0.3 μM (CV). Studies on the mode of action revealed that compound 8 increased the level of caspase-3 significantly which clearly indicates induction of apoptosis by activation of the caspase pathway. Furthermore, the exclusive mitochondria targeting of compound 18 was successfully achieved, since mitochondria are the major source of ROS generation.

The synthesis of novel triphenyltin(IV) compounds, Ph3SnLn (n = 1–3), with oxaprozin (3-(4,5-diphenyloxazol-2-yl)propanoic acid), HL1, and the new propanoic acid derivatives 3-(4,5-bis(4-methoxylphenyl)oxazol-2-yl)propanoic acid, HL2, and 3-(2,5-dioxo-4,4-diphenylimidazolidin-1-yl)propanoic acid, HL3, has been performed. The ligands represent commercial drugs or their derivatives and the tin complexes have been characterized by standard analytical methods. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of both ligands and organotin(IV) compounds has been evaluated on the following tumour cell lines: human prostate cancer (PC-3), human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29), breast cancer (MCF-7), and hepatocellular cancer (HepG2), as well as on normal mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH3T3) with the aid of MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-12 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and CV (crystal violet) assays. Contrary to the inactive ligand precursors, all organotin(IV) carboxylates showed very good activity with IC50 values ranging from 0.100 to 0.758 µM. According to the CV assay (IC50 = 0.218 ± 0.025 µM), complex Ph3SnL1 demonstrated the highest cytotoxicity against the caspase 3 deficient MCF-7 cell line. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis indicated a two-fold lower concentration of tin in MCF-7 cells in comparison to platinum. To investigate the mechanism of action of the compound Ph3SnL1 on MCF-7 cells, morphological, autophagy and cell cycle analysis, as well as the activation of caspase and ROS/RNS and NO production, has been performed. Results suggest that Ph3SnL1 induces caspase-independent apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.

CP (cisplatin) and mesoporous silica SBA-15 (Santa Barbara amorphous 15) loaded with CP (→SBA-15|CP) were tested in vitro and in vivo against low metastatic mouse melanoma B16F1 cell line. SBA-15 only, as drug carrier, is found to be not active, while CP and SBA-15|CP revealed high cytotoxicity in lower μM range. The activity of SBA-15|CP was found similar to the activity of CP alone. Both CP and SBA-15|CP induced inhibition of cell proliferation (carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester - CFSE assay) along with G2/M arrest (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole - DAPI assay). Apoptosis (Annexin V/ propidium iodide - PI assay), through caspase activation (apostat assay) and nitric oxide (NO) production (diacetate(4-amino-5-methylamino-2′,7′-difluorofluorescein-diacetat) - DAF FM assay), was identified as main mode of cell death. However, slight elevated autophagy (acridine orange - AO assay) was detected in treated B16F1 cells. CP and SBA-15|CP did not affect production of ROS (reactive oxygen species) in B16F1 cells. Both SBA-15|CP and CP induced in B16F1 G2 arrest and subsequent senescence. SBA-15|CP, but not CP, blocked the growth of melanoma in C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, hepato- and nephrotoxicity in SBA-15|CP treated animals were diminished in comparison to CP confirming multiply improved antitumor potential of immobilized CP. Outstandingly, SBA-15 boosted in vivo activity and diminished side effects of CP. Supplementary material: [https://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4482]

Triphenyltin(IV) compounds with naphthoquinone derivatives containing N-acetylcysteine, N-acetyl-S-(1,2-dion-4-naphthyl)cysteine (1,2-NQC), 1, and N-acetyl-S-(1,4-dion-2-naphthyl)cysteine (1,4-NQC), 2, were synthesized and characterized by elemental microanalysis, IR, multinuclear (1H, 13C, 119Sn) NMR spectroscopy as well as HR-ESI mass spectrometry. With the aim of in vitro anticancer activity determination of ligand precursors and novel synthesized organotin(IV) compounds against human cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa), human colon carcinoma (HT-29), and melanoma carcinoma cell line (B16F10), MTT colorimetric assay method was applied. The results indicate that synthesized compounds exhibited remarkable antiproliferative activity toward all tested cell lines with IC50 in the range of 0.17 to 0.87 μM. Complex 1 showed the greatest activity against HT-29 cells, with IC50 value of 0.21 ± 0.01 μM, 119 times better than cisplatin, while complex 2 demonstrated the highest activity toward HeLa cells, IC50 = 0.17 ± 0.01 μM, which is ~26 times better than cisplatin. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 172035]

Tubugi-1 is a small cytotoxic peptide with picomolar cytotoxicity. To improve its cancer cell targeting, it was conjugated using a universal, modular disulfide derivative. This allowed conjugation to a neuropeptide-Y (NPY)-inspired peptide [K4(C-βA-),F7,L17,P34]-hNPY, acting as NPY Y1 receptor (hY1R)-targeting peptide, to form a tubugi-1–SS–NPY disulfide-linked conjugate. The cytotoxic impacts of the novel tubugi-1–NPY peptide–toxin conjugate, as well as of free tubugi-1, and tubugi-1 bearing the thiol spacer (liberated from tubugi-1–NPY conjugate), and native tubulysin A as reference were investigated by in vitro cell viability and proliferation screenings. The tumor cell lines HT-29, Colo320 (both colon cancer), PC-3 (prostate cancer), and in conjunction with RT-qPCR analyses of the hY1R expression, the cell lines SK-N-MC (Ewing`s sarcoma), MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-231 (both breast cancer) and 184B5 (normal breast; chemically transformed) were investigated. As hoped, the toxicity of tubugi-1 was masked, with IC50 values decreased by ca. 1,000-fold compared to the free toxin. Due to intracellular linker cleavage, the cytotoxic potency of the liberated tubugi-1 that, however, still bears the thiol spacer (tubugi-1-SH) was restored and up to 10-fold higher compared to the entire peptide–toxin conjugate. The conjugate shows toxic selectivity to tumor cell lines overexpressing the hY1R receptor subtype like, e.g., the hard to treat triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-468 cells.

In this contribution, four new compounds synthesized from 4-hydroxycoumarin and tyramine/octopamine/norepinephrine/3-methoxytyramine are characterized spectroscopically (IR and NMR), chromatographically (UHPLC-DAD), and structurally at the B3LYP/6-311++G*(d,p) level of theory. The crystal structure of the 4-hydroxycoumarin-octopamine derivative was solved and used as a starting geometry for structural optimization. Along with the previously obtained 4-hydroxycoumarin-dopamine derivative, the intramolecular interactions governing the stability of these compounds were quantified by NBO and QTAIM analyses. Condensed Fukui functions and the HOMO-LUMO gap were calculated and correlated with the number and position of OH groups in the structures. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments were performed to elucidate the possible antitumor activity of the tested substances. For this purpose, four cell lines were selected, namely human colon cancer (HCT-116), human adenocarcinoma (HeLa), human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), and healthy human lung fibroblast (MRC-5) lines. A significant selectivity towards colorectal carcinoma cells was observed. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies with carbonic anhydrase, a prognostic factor in several cancers, complemented the experimental results. The calculated MD binding energies coincided well with the experimental activity, and indicated 4-hydroxycoumarin-dopamine and 4-hydroxycoumarin-3-methoxytyramine as the most active compounds. The ecotoxicology assessment proved that the obtained compounds have a low impact on the daphnia, fish, and green algae population.

Two novel triphenyltin(IV) compounds, [Ph3SnL1] (L1 = 2-(5-(4-fluorobenzylidene)-2,4-dioxotetrahydrothiazole-3-yl)propanoate (1)) and [Ph3SnL2] (L2 = 2-(5-(5-methyl-2-furfurylidene)-2,4-dioxotetrahydrothiazole-3-yl)propanoate (2)) were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, (1H and 13C) NMR spectroscopy,mass spectrometry, and elemental microanalysis. The in vitro anticancer activity of the synthesized organotin(IV)compounds was determined against four tumor cell lines: PC-3 (prostate), HT-29 (colon), MCF-7 (breast), andHepG2 (hepatic) using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-12 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and CV (crystalviolet) assays. The IC50 values are found to be in the range from 0.11 to 0.50 μM. Compound 1 exhibits thehighest activity toward PC-3 cells (IC50 = 0.115 } 0.009 μM; CV assay). The tin and platinum uptake in PC-3cells showed a threefold lower uptake of tin in comparison to platinum (as cisplatin). Together with its higheractivity this indicates a much higher cell inhibition potential of the tin compounds (calculated to ca. 50 to 100times). Morphological analysis suggested that the compounds induce apoptosis in PC-3 cells, and flow cytometryanalysis revealed that 1 and 2 induce autophagy as well as NO (nitric oxide) production. This is the peer-reviewed version of the article: Nebojša Đ. Pantelić, Bojana B. Zmejkovski, Bojan Božić, Biljana Dojčinović, Nebojša R. Banjac, Ludger A. Wessjohann, Goran N. Kaluđerović, Synthesis, characterization and in vitro biological evaluation of novel organotin(IV) compounds with derivatives of 2-(5-arylidene-2,4- dioxothiazolidin-3-yl)propanoic acid, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2020, 212, 111207, doi: [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2020.111207] The published version: [http://cer.ihtm.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3653]

A novel triphenyltin(IV) compound with 1-(4-carboxyphenyl)-3-ethyl-3-methylpyrrolidine-2,5-dione was synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. In vitro anticancer activity of ligand precursor and synthesized organotin(IV) compound was determined against tumor cell lines: human adenocarcinoma (HeLa), human myelogenous leukemia (K562), and human breast cancer (MDA-MB-453), using microculture tetrazolium test (MTT) assay. The results indicate that complex exhibited very high antiproliferative activity against all tested cell lines with IC50 values in the range of 0.22 to 0.53 µM. The highest activity organotin(IV) compound expressed against the HeLa cells (IC50 = 0.22 ± 0.04 µM). The ligand precursor did not show anticancer activity (IC50 > 200 µM). Furthermore, fluorescence microscopy analysis of HeLa cells reveal that organotin(IV) complex induced apoptosis as a mode of cell death, which is consistent with the increase of cells in the sub-G1 phase.

Isoxanthohumol (IXN), a prenylflavonoid from hops and beer, gained increasing attention as a potential chemopreventive agent. In the present study, IXN antimetastatic potential in vitro against the highly invasive melanoma cell line B16-F10 and in vivo in a murine metastatic model was investigated. Melanoma cell viability was diminished in a dose-dependent manner following the treatment with IXN. This decrease was a consequence of autophagy and caspase-dependent apoptosis. Additionally, the dividing potential of highly proliferative melanoma cells was dramatically affected by this isoflavanone, which was in correlation with an abrogated cell colony forming potential, indicating changes in their metastatic features. Concordantly, IXN promoted strong suppression of the processes that define metastasis- cell adhesion, invasion, and migration. Further investigation at the molecular level revealed that the abolished metastatic potential of a melanoma subclone was due to disrupted integrin signaling. Importantly, these results were reaffirmed in vivo where IXN inhibited the development of lung metastatic foci in tumor-challenged animals. The results of the present study may highlight the beneficial effects of IXN on melanoma as the most aggressive type of skin cancer and will hopefully shed a light on the possible use of this prenylflavonoid in the treatment of metastatic malignancies.

Herein, a new Ugi multicomponent reaction strategy is described to enhance activity and solubility of the chemotherapeutic drug chlorambucil through its conjugation to poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM-NH2) dendrimers with the simultaneous introduction of lipidic (i-Pr) and cationic (–NH2) or anionic (–COOH) groups. Standard viability assays were used to evaluate the anticancer potential of the water-soluble dendrimers against PC-3 prostate and HT-29 colon cancer cell lines, as well as non-cancerous mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts. It could be demonstrated that the anticancer activity against PC-3 cells was considerably improved when both chlorambucil and –NH2 (cationic) groups were present on the dendrimer surface (1b). Additionally, this dendrimer showed activity only against the prostate cancer cells (PC-3), while it did not affect colon cancer cells and fibroblasts significantly. The cationic chlorambucil-dendrimer 1b blocks PC-3 cells in the G2/M phase and induces caspase independent apoptosis.

(O,O'-Diisobutyl-ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-3-propionate)tetrachloridoplati num(IV), {[}PtCl4(iBu(2)eddp)]. shows an improved pharmacological profile in comparison to cisplatin. This is manifested through accelerated dying process led by necrotic cell death, reflected through mitochondrial collapse, strong ATP depletion and reactive oxygen species production. Loss of mitochondrial potential was further followed with intensive apoptosis that finalized with DNA fragmentation. Different dynamic of tumoricidal action could be partly ascribed to less affected repair mechanisms in comparison to cisplatin. Importantly, {[}PtCl4(iBu(2)eddp)] did not induce necrosis in primary fibroblasts suggesting different intracellular response of normal vs. tumor cells. This selectivity toward malignant phenotype is further confirmed by retained tumoricidal potential in hypoxic conditions, while cisplatin became completely inefficient. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V. Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia {[}173013, 173020, 172035]; SMWK {[}33707045]; SAB (ESF) {[}100147954]; Free State of Saxony {[}100099597]

T cell differentiation into distinct T helper (Th) subpopulations is crucial in governing acquired immune responses as well as some inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. This study investigated potential of the novel neutral binuclear ruthenium(II) complexes 1-8 with general formula {[}\{RuCl2(eta(6)-p-cym)\}(2)mu-((NN)-N-a (c))] ((NN)-N-a (c) = bis(nicotinate)- and bis(iso-nicotinate)-polyethylene glycol esters; (3-py)COO(CH2CH2O) (n) CO(3-py) and (4-py)COO(CH2CH2O) (n) CO(4-py); n = 1-4), as well as {[}RuCl2(eta(6)-p-cym)(nic)] (R1, nic = nicotinate) and {[}RuCl2(eta(6)-p-cym)(inic)] (R2, inic = isonicotinate) as an immunomodulatory agents capable to direct Th cell differentiation. From all investigated complexes, {[}\{RuCl2(eta(6)-p-cym)\}(2)mu-\{(3-py)COO(CH2CH2O)(4)CO(3-py)\}] (4) was selected for further study because it did not affect splenocyte viability (in concentration up to 50 mu M), but significantly reduced secretion of representative Th1 cytokine, IFN-gamma induced by T cell mitogen. Besides IFN-gamma, 4 inhibited dose dependently expression and production of representative Th17 cytokine, IL-17, in these cells. Otherwise, the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 was upregulated. Also, 4 significantly increased CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg cell frequency in the activated splenocytes. Moreover, ConA-induced expression of Th1 transcription factors, T-bet and STAT1, as well as of Th17-related protein STAT3 was attenuated upon exposure to 4, while the expression of Th2-related transcription factor GATA3 remained stable. In conclusion, ruthenium(II) complex 4 modulates immune system cell functions in vitro by inhibiting T cell differentiation towards pathogenic Th1/Th17 phenotype and inducing a regulatory phenotype characterized by IL-10 and IL-4 production, which may provide novel therapeutic opportunities for immune-inflammatory and/or autoimmune disorders. Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia {[}173013]

Diiodido- (6a/6b) and dichloridoplatinum(II) complexes (7a/7b) with fluorescent ligands 2-[(2-aminoethyl)amino]ethyl-2-(methylamino)benzoate (5a) and 2-amino-1-(aminoethyl)ethyl-2-(methylamino)benzoate (5b) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, ESI-MS analysis, fluorescence spectrometry, as well as 1H, 13C, and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy. All compounds have been tested against A2780 ovarian cancer, A549 lung carcinoma, and HT-29 colon cancer cell lines using sulforhodamine-B assay. The activity increased from ligand precursors, diiodido- to dichloridoplatinum(II) complexes, except against HT-29 cell line where diiodido and dichlorido expressed similar activity. These compounds enter the tumor cells and emit a bright fluorescence at ca. 470 nm, mainly targeting nuclei.

The study presented here aims to elucidate the effects of emodin (EO = 1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) in its free form and when loaded into a mesoporous silica nanocarrier SBA-15 (→ SBA-15|EO) on the activities of the main antioxidative enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, and glutathione reductase, in larvae of a polyphagous insect pest, the browntail moth Euproctis chrysorrhoea (L.). The results show that only SBA-15|EO upregulates the activities of the tested antioxidative enzymes. These results point to significant differences in the effectiveness of the compound in the free versus the loaded form.

The previously known complexes {[}Ti\{(Me2CMe2C)(eta(5)-C5H4)(2)\}Cl-2] (1), {[}Ti\{Me2C(eta(5)-C5H4)(2)\}Cl-2] (2), {[}Ti \{Me2Si(eta(5)-C5H4)(2)\}Cl-2] (4), {[}Ti\{MePhSi(eta(5)-C5H4)(2)\}Cl-2] (5) and {[}Ti\{MePhSi(eta(5)-C5Me4)(2)\}Cl-2] (6) have been prepared following reported procedures. The novel complex {[}Ti\{MePhC(eta(5)-C5H4)(2)\}Cl-2] (3) has been prepared and characterized. The cytotoxic activity of 1-6 has been tested after 72 h on melanoma A375 and B16, prostate cancer DU145 and LNCaP and colon cancer HCT116, SW620 and CT26CL25 cell lines observing a high cytotoxic activity of complexes 1 and 6 compared to the reference compound ({[}Ti(eta(5)-C5H5)(2)\}Cl-2]). 1 and 6 have also been tested against primary normal mouse keratinocytes and lung fibroblasts. While viability of both type of primary cells was significantly less affected by 1 in comparison to the reference compound {[}Ti(eta(5)-C5H5)(2)Cl-2], compound 6 was completely nontoxic for nonmalignant cells, indicating a potential selectivity of this compound towards cancer cell lines. In addition CFSE staining, cell cycle analysis, AnnexinV-FITC/PI staining, detection of caspase activity and mitochondrial potential showed that 1 and 6 were acting through inhibition of proliferation and subsequent induction of mitochondrial dependent apoptosis in colon cancer cell lines, HCT116 and SW620, which express low sensitivity to cisplatin. Compound 6 was found to be the leading drug in this group since it shows the fastest and most selective anticancer profile. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia, Spain {[}CTQ-2011-24346, CTQ-2012-30762]; Ministry of Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia {[}173013]; Grant Agency of the Czech Republic {[}P207/12/2368]

To investigate the influences of betulinic acid (BA), a triterpenoid isolated from birch bark, on neuroinflammatory mediators involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in vitro. Encephalitogenic T cells were prepared from draining lymph nodes and spinal cords of Dark Agouti rats 8 to 10 d after immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP) and complete Freund's adjuvant. Macrophages were isolated from the peritoneal cavity of adult untreated rats. Astrocytes were isolated from neonatal rat brains. The cells were cultured and then treated with different agents. IFN-γ, IL-17, iNOS and CXCL12 mRNA levels in the cells were analyzed with RT-PCR. iNOS and CXCL12 protein levels were detected using immunoblot. NO and ROS generation was measured using Griess reaction and flow cytometry, respectively. In encephalitogenic T cells stimulated with MBP (10 μg/mL), addition of BA inhibited IL-17 and IFN-γ production in a dose-dependent manner. The estimated IC50 values for IL-17 and IFN γ were 11.2 and 63.8 μmol/L, respectively. When the macrophages were stimulated with LPS (10 ng/mL), addition of BA (50 μmol/L) significantly increased ROS generation, and suppressed NO generation. The astrocytes were stimulated with ConASn containing numerous inflammatory mediators, which mimicked the inflammatory milieu within CNS; addition of BA (50 μmol/L) significantly increased ROS generation, and blocked ConASn-induced increases in iNOS and CXCL12 mRNA levels, but did not affect iNOS and CXCL12 protein levels. Importantly, in both the macrophages and astrocytes, addition of BA (50 μmol/L) inhibited lipid peroxidation. Besides inhibiting encephalitogenic T cell cytokines and reducing NO generation, BA induces tissue-damaging ROS generation within CNS.

Six gold(III) complexes with esters of cyclohexyl-functionalized ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetate, general formula [AuCl2{(S,S)-R2eddch}]PF6, [(S,S)-eddch = (S,S)-ethylenediamine- N,N'-di-2-(3-cyclohexyl)propanoate, R = Me, Et, n-Pr, n-Bu, i-Bu, i-Am, 1-6, respectively], were tested against cancer cell lines such as human melanoma Fem-x, human colon carcinoma LS174T and non-small cell lung carcinoma A549 as well as a non-cancerous human embryonic lung fi broblasts MRC-5 using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay with the aim of assessing in vitro antitumoral activity and selectivity. All investigated complexes showed lower cytotoxicity and better or similar selectivity in comparison to cisplatin, used as reference compound. Complex [AuCl2{(S,S)-(i-Am)2eddch}]PF6 (6) demonstrated the highest activity against Fem-x (IC50 = 14.98 ± 0.34 μM). Additionally, the same complex expressed 4.5 times higher selectivity than cisplatin. Šest kompleksa zlata(III) sa cikloheksil-funkcionalizovanim estrima etilendiamin-N,N'-diacetata, opšte formule [AuCl2{(S,S)-R2eddch}]PF6, ((S,S)-eddch = (S,S)-etilendiamin- N,N'-di-2-(3-cicloheksil)propanoat, R = Me, Et, n-Pr, n-Bu, i-Bu, i-Am, 1-6), ispitivano je na humanim ćelijskim linijama malignog melanoma Fem-x, karcinoma debelog creva LS174T, karcinoma pluća A549 kao i normalnim ćelijama MRC-5 (fetalni plućni fi broblast) korišćenjem 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-difeniltetrazolium bromid (MTT) testa u cilju procene in vitro antitumorske aktivnosti i selektivnosti. Svi ispitivani kompleksi pokazali su manju citotoksičnost i bolju ili sličnu selektivnost u odnosu na cisplatinu koja je korišćena kao referentna supstanca. Kompleks 6 je pokazao najveću aktivnost sa IC50 (Fem-x) vrednošću od 14,98 ± 0,34 μM. Takođe, isti kompleks pokazuje 4,5 puta veću selektivnost od cisplatine.

Four novel gold(III) complexes of general formulae [AuCl2{(S,S)-R(2)eddl}]PF6 (R(2)eddl = O,O'-dialkyl-(S,S)-ethylenediamine-N,N'-di-2-(4-methyl)pentanoate, R= n-Pr, n-Bu, n-Pe, i-Bu; 1-4, respectively), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, UV/Vis, IR, and NMR spectroscopy, as well as high resolution mass spectrometry. Density functional theory calculations pointed out that (R,R)-N,N'-configuration diastereoisomers were energetically the most favorable. Duo to high cytotoxic activity complex 3 was chosen for stability study in DMSO, no decomposition occurs within 24 h, and for the reaction with ascorbic acid in which was reduced immediately. Additionally, 3 interacts with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as proven by UV/Vis spectroscopy. In vitro antitumor activity was determined against human cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa), human myelogenous leukemia (K562), and human melanoma (Fem-x) cancer cell lines, as well as against non-cancerous human embryonic lung fibroblast cells MRC-5. The highest activity was observed against K562 cells (IC50: 5.04-6.51 mu M). Selectivity indices showed that these complexes are less toxic than cisplatin. 3 had a similar viability kinetics on HeLa cells as cisplatin. Drug accumulation studies in HeLa cells showed that the total gold uptake increased much faster than that of cisplatin pointing out that 3 more efficiently enters the cells than cisplatin. Furthermore, morphological and cell cycle analysis reveal that gold(III) complexes induced apoptosis in time- and dose-dependent manner. This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: Pantelić, N.; Zmejkovski, B. B.; Kolundžija, B.; Crnogorac, M. Đ.; Vujić, J. M.; Dojčinović, B.; Trifunović, S. R.; Stanojković, T. P.; Sabo, T. J.; Kaluđerović, G. N. In Vitro Antitumor Activity, Metal Uptake and Reactivity with Ascorbic Acid and BSA of Some Gold(III) Complexes with N,N′-Ethylenediamine Bidentate Ester Ligands. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2017, 172, 55–66. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2017.04.001] Supplementary material: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3071]

Several titanocene(IV) complexes with different carboxylato ligands such as 3-methoxyphenylacetic acid (3-mpa-COOH), 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid (4-mpa-COOH), 1,4-benzodioxane-6-carboxylic acid (bdo-COOH), 2,5-dimethyl-3-furoic acid (dmf-COOH) and 4-(4-morpholinyl)benzoic acid (mbz-COOH) have been synthesized. All the novel titanocene(IV) carboxylate complexes have been characterized by traditional spectroscopic methods, with the molecular structures of [Ti(η5-C5H5)2(OOC-dmf)2] (7) and [Ti(η5-C5H4Me)2(OOC-dmf)2] (8) being determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Complexes were tested against the tumour cell line A2780 (ovarian cancer) and showed notable cytotoxicity. In addition, a study of the interaction of 7 and 8 with DNA (probably one of the biological target-molecules of the titanocene derivatives) monitored by UV–visible spectroscopy has been carried out.

A series of tin(IV) complexes of the type [Sn(L)ClR 2 ] (R: n Bu, Me, Cl; L: anionic N,N,S or N,N,Se donor ligand) containing pyridyl functionalised thio- and selenosemicarbazonates was prepared and fully characterised by spectroscopic methods including 119 Sn and 77 Se NMR spectroscopy as well as 119 Sn Mossbauer spectroscopy. In addition, the solid-state structures of several derivatives were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The in vitro cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated in three different human tumour cell lines. The IC 50 values are in the low nM range, the most active compound being a trichlorotin(IV) complex with a selenosemicarbazonato ligand.

The synthesis, characterization and the cytotoxic studies of several naphthyl-substituted titanocene complexes, [Ti(η 5 –C 5 H 5 ){η 5 –C 5 H 3 R(CHR’(C 10 H 7 ))}Cl 2 ] (R = H, R′ = Me ( 8 ), Ph ( 9 ); R = SiMe 3 , R′ = Me ( 10 ), Ph ( 11 )), are reported. In addition, the molecular structure of 9 has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The cytotoxic activity of 9 – 11 has been examined against five human tumour cell lines: 8505C (anaplastic thyroid carcinoma), A549 (lung adenocarcinoma), A2780 (ovarian cancer), DLD-1 (colon carcinoma) and FaDu (head and neck carcinoma). Complex 11 showed the highest cytotoxic activity on all studied cell lines (IC 50 values from 35.65 ± 4.95 to 69.02 ± 1.67 μM). All compounds are more active than reference compound [Ti(η 5 –C 5 H 5 ) 2 Cl 2 ] on all cell lines (except complex 8 against A549) leading to the conclusion that the presence of different substituents on the cyclopentadienyl ring may improve cytotoxicity of titanocene dichloride.

The reaction of 2,6-dimethoxypyridine-3-carboxylic acid (DMPH) with different precursors [Ti(η5-C5H5)2Cl2], [Ti(η5-C5H4Me)2Cl2], [Ti(η5-C5H4SiMe3)(η5-C5H5)Cl2], [Ti(η5-C5Me5)Cl3], SnMe3Cl and GatBu3 yielded the complexes [Ti(η5-C5H5)2(DMP-κO)2] (1), [Ti(η5-C5H4Me)2(DMP-κO)2] (2), [Ti(η5-C5H4SiMe3)(η5-C5H5)(DMP-κO)2] (3), [Ti(η5-C5Me5)(DMP-κ2O,O′)3] (4), [SnMe3(μ-DMP-κO:κO′)]∞ (5), and [GatBu2(μ-DMP-κO:κO′)]2 (6). 1–6 have been characterized by spectroscopic methods and the molecular structure of the complexes 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 have been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The cytotoxic activity of 1–6 was tested against the tumour cell lines human adenocarcinoma HeLa, human myelogenous leukaemia K562, human malignant melanoma Fem-x and human breast carcinoma MDA-MB-361. The results of this study show a higher cytotoxicity of the tin(IV) and gallium(III) derivatives in comparison to their titanium(IV) counterparts. Furthermore, the different titanium compounds showed differences in their cytotoxicities with a higher activity of complex 4 (mono-(cyclopentadienyl) derivative) compared to that of 1–3 (bis-(cyclopentadienyl) complexes). A qualitative UV–vis study of the interactions of these complexes with DNA has also been carried out.

The triphenyltin(IV) carboxylate compounds [{SnPh3(O2CCH2SXyl)}∞] (1) (Xyl = 3,5-Me2C6H3) and [{SnPh3(O2CCH2SMes)}∞] (2) (Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2) have been synthesized by the reaction of SnPh3Cl with one equivalent of xylylthioacetic acid or mesitylthioacetic acid, respectively. 1 and 2 have been characterized by spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxic activity of 1 and 2 was tested against human tumour cell lines from four different histogenic origin: 8505C (anaplastic thyroid cancer), DLD-1 (colon cancer) and the cisplatin sensitive A253 (head and neck cancer) and A549 (lung carcinoma) and compared with those of the reference complex cisplatin. Interestingly, the cytotoxic activities of the carboxylate derivatives were higher than those of cisplatin against all the studied cells. DNA-interaction tests have been also carried out. Solutions of all the studied complexes have been treated with different concentrations of fish sperm DNA (FS-DNA), observing modifications of the UV spectra with intrinsic binding constants of 1.68 × 105 and 1.02 × 105, M−1 for 1 and 2, respectively. In addition, the molecular structure of 2 has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies, observing that 2 consists of a 1-D coordination polymer in which the tin atoms present a five-coordinated geometry by coordination of two different oxygen atoms of two crystallographically dependent carboxylato ligands.

In this study mesoporous silica SBA-15 was evaluated as a vehicle for the transport of cytotoxic natural product emodin (EO). SBA-15 was loaded with different quantities of EO (SBA-15|EO1–SBA-15|EO5: 8–36%) and characterized by traditional methods. Several parameters (stabilities) and the in vitro behavior on tumor cell lines (melanoma A375, B16 and B16F10) were investigated. SBA-15 suppresses EO release in extremely acidic milieu, pointing out that EO will not be discharged in the stomach. Furthermore, SBA-15 protects EO from photodecomposition. In vitro studies showed a dose dependent decrease of cellular viability which is directly correlated with an increasing amount of EO in SBA-15 for up to 27% of EO, while a constant activity for 32% and 36% of EO in SBA-15 was observed. Additionally, SBA-15 loaded with EO (SBA-15|EO3) does not disturb viability of peritoneal macrophages. SBA-15|EO3 causes inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and triggers apoptosis, connected with caspase activation, upregulation of Bax, as well as Bcl-2 and Bim downregulation along with amplification of poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) cleavage fragment. Thus, the mesoporous SBA-15 is a promising carrier of the water-insoluble drug emodin.