Publication:

Review of comparative studies of cytotoxic activities of Pt(II), Pd(II), Ru(II)/(III) and Au(III) complexes, their kinetics of ligand substitution reactions and DNA/BSA interactions

New concepts and various strategies are being explored to improve the cytotoxicity of metal-based complexes. One of those strategies is to fine-tune the substitution kinetics of metallo-drugs to limit competive substitution, and hence maximise delivery to the cellular targets, DNA or proteins. To date, it appears there is a missing link in understanding the correlation between kinetics of ligand substitution reactions, biomolecule interactions and their respective cytotoxicity. While there are a number of orginal and review articles reporting the kinetics of ligand substitution reaactions, DNA/BSA interactions and cytotoxicity of metal compelxes, independently, very few papers report these three studies simultaneously. In fact, there is no single review that has attempted to capture the link between kinetics of ligand subsititution reactions and biomolecule interactions on cytotoxicity of metal complexes. In this current review, we examine the correlations between the kinetics of ligand substitution reactions and DNA interactions, protein binding (BSA) and cytotoxicity activities of some Pt(II)/(IV), Pd(II), Ru(II)/Ru(III) and Au(III) metallo-based drugs reported in literature. While limited data is available, it is envisaged that this review shall in part motivate and stimulate more comparative studies.