Near-infrared emitting fluorescent homobimetallic gold(I) complexes displaying promising in vitro and in vivo therapeutic properties

Eur J Med Chem. 2021 Aug 5:220:113483. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113483. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Abstract

Three near-infrared (NIR-I) optical theranostic systems were synthesized, characterized and studied in vitro and in vivo. These original homo-bimetallic gold(I)-based aza-BODIPY complexes proved to be trackable through near-infrared optical imaging in cells and in mice. They display anti-proliferative properties in micromolar range against human and murine cancer cell lines (4T1, MDA-MB-231, CT26, and SW480). Moreover, the injection of the most promising theranostic agent in CT26 tumor-bearing BALB/c mice induced a significant anti-cancer activity.

Keywords: Gold complexes; NIR fluorescence; Theranostics; aza-BODIPY; cancer; optical imaging.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Aza Compounds / chemistry
  • Aza Compounds / pharmacology
  • Boron Compounds / chemistry
  • Boron Compounds / pharmacology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemical synthesis
  • Fluorescent Dyes / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes / pharmacology*
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Gold / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Infrared Rays
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Optical Imaging
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Aza Compounds
  • Boron Compounds
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Gold