Elemental mapping of half-sandwich azopyridine osmium arene complexes in cancer cells

DOI: 10.1039/D1QI00512J

Authors: Elizabeth M. Bolitho (University of Warwick; Diamond Light Source) , Hannah E. Bridgewater (University of Warwick) , Russell J. Needham (University of Warwick) , James P. C. Coverdale (University of Warwick) , Paul D. Quinn (Diamond Light Source) , Carlos Sanchez-Cano (Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA)) , Peter J. Sadler (University of Warwick)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers , VOL 53

State: Published (Approved)
Published: June 2021
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 19838 , 20548

Abstract: Transition metal complexes are often prodrugs which undergo activation by ligand exchange and redox reactions before they interact with target sites. It is therefore important to understand the roles of both the metal and the ligands in their activation, especially in cells. Here we use a combination of synchrotron nanoprobe X-ray fluorescence (XRF) from Os L3M5 and Br KL3 emissions and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection of 189Os, 79Br, and 127I, to investigate the time-dependent accumulation and localization of osmium as well as the monodentate ligand and the chelated phenylazopyridine in A2780 human ovarian cancer cells treated with the potent anticancer complexes [Os(η6-p-cymene)(4-R2-phenyl-azopyridine-5-R1)X]PF6, with R2 = NMe2 or OH, R1 = H or Br, and X = Cl or I. The data confirm that the relatively inert iodido complexes are activated rapidly in cancer cells by release of the iodido ligand, probably initiated by attack by the intracellular tripeptide glutathione (γ-L-Glu-l-Cys-Gly) on the azo double bond. The bond between osmium and the azopyridine appears to remain stable in cells for ca. 24 h, although some release of the chelated ligand is observed. Interestingly, the complexes seem to be degraded more rapidly in normal human cells, perhaps providing a possible mechanism for selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells.

Diamond Keywords: Ovarian Cancer

Subject Areas: Chemistry, Biology and Bio-materials, Medicine


Instruments: I14-Hard X-ray Nanoprobe

Added On: 14/06/2021 08:47

Discipline Tags:

Non-Communicable Diseases Molecular Complexes Health & Wellbeing Cancer Chemistry Organic Chemistry Drug Discovery Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Imaging X-ray Fluorescence (XRF)