Organometallic Anticancer Compounds: Novel Half-Sandwich Ru(II)- and Co(II)-Arene Complexes, Their Cytotoxicity, and Apoptosis-Inducing Activity in Liver Cancer Cells

Abstract

Organometallic complexes in many instances are characterised by potential anti-proliferative activity against different types of cancer cells. In particular, half-sandwich Ru(II)–arene and Co(II)-arene complexes exhibit in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity. Here we report synthesis of two organometallic half-sandwich complexes containing diimine ligand, [Ru(η6-p-cymene)(BIAN)Cl](PF6) and [Co(η5-C5Me5)(BIAN)CO](ClO4)2, where η5-C5Me5 is pentmethylcyclopentadiene and BIAN is bis(4-tert-butylphenylimino)acenaphthene. According to gel electrophoresis data, Co(II)-arene complex exhibits higher DNA cleavage activity than Ru(II)-arene complex due to size and charge of complex cation, and both complexes demonstrate maximum degradation of DNA upon activation by UVA light. In vitro cytotoxicity tests of complexes against human lung carcinoma (A549) and human ovarian carcinoma (A2780) cells indicate cytotoxicity of complexes comparable with cis-platin. The morphological studies have revealed that Co-arene complex induces both apoptotic and necrotic cells death.