Synthesis, characterization, in vitro cytotoxicity, and apoptosis-inducing properties of ruthenium(II) complexes

Li Xu; Nan-Jing Zhong; Yang-Yin Xie; Hong-Liang Huang; Guang-Bin Jiang; Yun-Jun Liu

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0096082

Synthesis, characterization, in vitro cytotoxicity, and apoptosis-inducing properties of ruthenium(II) complexes

PLoS One. 2014 May 7;9(5):e96082. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096082. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Li Xu¹, Nan-Jing Zhong², Yang-Yin Xie³, Hong-Liang Huang⁴, Guang-Bin Jiang³, Yun-Jun Liu³

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Zhongshan, P. R. China.
² School of Food Science, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Zhongshan, P. R. China.
³ School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
⁴ School of Life Science and Biopharmaceutical, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.

Abstract

Two new Ru(II) complexes, [Ru(bpy)2(FAMP)](ClO4)2 1 and 2, are synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, electrospray mass spectrometry, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. The in vitro cytotoxicities and apoptosis-inducing properties of these complexes are extensively studied. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit potent antiproliferative activities against a panel of human cancer cell lines. The cell cycle analysis shows that complexes 1 and 2 exhibit effective cell growth inhibition by triggering G0/G1 phase arrest and inducing apoptosis by mitochondrial dysfunction. The in vitro DNA binding properties of the two complexes are investigated by different spectrophotometric methods and viscosity measurements.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Apoptosis / drug effects
Cell Cycle / drug effects
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Proliferation / drug effects
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis*
Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
Organometallic Compounds / pharmacology*
Ruthenium / chemistry*
Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Substances

Organometallic Compounds
Ruthenium

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No. 21301034, 31070858), the National Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (S2013040014083) and Guangdong Pharmaceutical University for financial supports. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.