Chapter 1 - Zinc complexes: Their interaction with nucleic acids and other biomolecular targets

Abstract

Transition metal ions on account of their unique features, viz., variable oxidation states, physiologically tuneable redox states, wide range of geometries and coordination numbers, and their ability to form vast number of coordination complexes, offer an excellent platform for the design of therapeutic metallodrugs. Although, the field of metal-based therapy against various diseased states gained momentum after the spectacular discovery of cisplatin, an anticancer metallodrug. Cisplatin has shown phenomenal anticancer activity against solid malignancies, but its clinical use has been limited due to its severe toxicity and resistance issues. This has shifted the focus to metal ions that are less toxic and have potential to exert promising therapeutic activity. Metal complexes of late 3d-metal ions, viz., Co(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II), have been exploited successfully against numerous diseased states as such metal ions are essential in maintaining the daily state of heath when administered within physiologic levels. Moreover, the physiologic excess or deficiency of these metal ions has direct implication on the prevalence of many diseases. Zinc is an essential metal element required for the development and growth of the human body and is essentially part of plethora of metalloenzymes of physiologic importance. Many Zn(II)-based complexes have been synthesized and screened for their biomedical properties including neurodegenerative, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic disease, etc. Thus, in the present book chapter, we provide a detailed description of the interaction studies of numerous potential zinc complexes derived from diverse ligand scaffolds with various biomolecular targets. The interaction studies of drugs with nucleic acids and albumin proteins is crucial in the determination of the mechanistic pathway of drug action and designing of more efficient and targeted specific drugs with fewer side effects.