Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francisco Rinaldi-Neto, Arthur Barcelos Ribeiro, Natalia Helen Ferreira, Iara Silva Squarisi, Katia Mara Oliveira, Renato Pereira Orenha, Renato Luis Tame Parreira, Alzir Azevedo Batista, Denise Crispim Tavares
Summary: The study evaluated the anti-melanoma potential of two ruthenium(II) complexes containing natural naphthoquinone ligands, demonstrating significant anti-melanoma activity of one of the complexes in a murine model, with lower systemic toxicity compared to cisplatin.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Nadia Baartzes, Jill Combrinck, Kelly Chibale, Gregory S. Smith
Summary: In this study, a series of cationic Rh(III) polypyridyl aminoquinoline-benzimidazole hybrid complexes were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antiplasmodial activity. The hybrid complexes showed good activity against the chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum and maintained activity against the multidrug-resistant strain, with low to no cytotoxicity. Selected active hybrid complexes also demonstrated significant inhibition of beta-haematin formation.
JOURNAL OF ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Marzieh Dadkhah Aseman, Parisa Negaresh, Zahra Shojaeifard, Bahram Hemmateenejad, S. Masoud Nabavizadeh
Summary: The biomolecular interactions between two previously reported cycloplatinated complexes and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated. The results showed a strong binding interaction between the complexes and the protein with a static quenching mechanism. The binding was found to be exothermic, involving mainly noncovalent hydrophobic forces and ionic interactions. The complexes induced structural changes in the protein and exhibited cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Sandra Montalvo-Quiros, Sergio Gomez-Grana, Maria Vallet-Regi, Rafael C. Prados-Rosales, Blanca Gonzalez, Jose L. Luque-Garcia
Summary: Tuberculosis remains a major public health issue with a lack of effective vaccine and the emergence of highly antibiotic-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Silver nanoparticles show high bactericidal efficacy, but their relatively high toxicity calls for the design of nanocarriers for safe delivery. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles have been used as carriers for silver nanoparticles as antimycobacterial agents, demonstrating good capability against Mtb with different synthetic approaches.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Tatyana A. Pounina, Tatyana A. Gloriozova, Nick Savidov, Valery M. Dembitsky
Summary: This review focuses on sulfated steroids, sulfur-containing steroids, and triterpenoids sourced from marine organisms and other geological deposits, providing a pharmacological profile based on data obtained using the PASS program. It also includes semi-synthetic and synthetic epithio steroids for comparative pharmacological characterization, demonstrating a wide range of biological activities.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Artur V. da Silva, Simoni M. P. Meneghetti, Mario R. Meneghetti
Summary: Studies have shown that the combination of organometallic compounds with psychoactive benzodiazepine drugs has potential pharmacological activity, which warrants further research for their applications in new drug design and cancer treatment alternatives.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Prinessa Chellan, Vicky M. Avery, Sandra Duffy, Kirkwood M. Land, Christina C. Tam, Jong H. Kim, Luisa W. Cheng, Isolda Romero-Canelon, Peter J. Sadler
Summary: The reaction of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) with 4-methyl-4'-carboxy-2,2'-bipyridine yielded a novel ester derivative L1. Subsequent synthesis of organometallic half-sandwich complexes with pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, tetramethylphenylcyclopentadienyl, or tetramethylbiphenylcyclopentadienyl ligands exhibited potent antiplasmodial and anticancer activities, with iridium complex 3 emerging as a promising candidate for further studies.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jing Liang, Dejuan Sun, Yueying Yang, Mingxue Li, Hua Li, Lixia Chen
Summary: This review explores the clinical potential of organometallic compounds as antimicrobial agents, summarizing common scaffolds and discussing therapeutic targets and risks to be aware of in future studies.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Cong Zhou, Xin Wang, Xiaocao Quan, Jiagao Cheng, Zhong Li, Peter Maienfisch
Summary: Bioisosteric replacement is a powerful strategy in life science research. The substitution of carbon with silicon has shown positive effects on efficacy and safety properties in pharmaceutical and crop protection research. The application of carbon-silicon substitution has led to the discovery of new silicon-containing analogues with improved acaricidal activity. This review discusses molecular design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships in carbon-silicon bioisosteric substitution.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bhaskar C. Das, Mohammed Adil Shareef, Sasmita Das, Nitesh K. Nandwana, Yogarupa Das, Mariko Saito, Louis M. Weiss
Summary: The incorporation of boron atom in medicinal chemistry has proven to be an important strategy, with various boron-based drugs approved for clinical use and others in trials. Boron-based heterocycles show great potential in the search for new therapeutic agents.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tanja V. Soldatovic, Biljana Smit, Emina M. Mrkalic, Sanja Lj. Matic, Ratomir M. Jelic, Marina Cendic Serafinovic, Nevenka Gligorijevic, Milena Cavic, Sandra Arandelovic, Sanja Grguric-Sipka
Summary: Novel Pt-Zn complexes were synthesized and characterized. The complexes showed strong binding to DNA through groove binding, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic or electrostatic interaction. Among them, C2 exhibited highly selective cytotoxicity and induced cell cycle arrest and expression of apoptotic related genes.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Paride Papadia, Alessandra Barbanente, Nicoletta Ditaranto, James D. Hoeschele, Giovanni Natile, Cristina Marzano, Valentina Gandin, Nicola Margiotta
Summary: Six enantiomerically pure, oxaliplatin-like platinum compounds with unsaturated cyclic diamine as a substitute for oxaliplatin were investigated for their promising antiproliferative activities, showing potential in overcoming resistance to platinum-based drugs. The R,R enantiomer was found to be most effective in Pt(ii) complexes while the S,S enantiomer showed greater efficacy in Pt(iv) derivatives, suggesting potential for further preclinical investigation.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Maura Pellei, Fabio Del Bello, Marina Porchia, Carlo Santini
Summary: Zinc is an essential element for humans, and any malfunctions of its homeostasis can lead to different disease states, including cancer. Zinc complexes have shown promising biological activities, such as preventive effects on infectious diseases and low toxicity, making them appealing for applications in medicinal chemistry.
COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yangyang Liu, Dongsheng Zhao, Chenghua Zhang, Hui Fang, Qingsitong Shen, Zhixian Wang, Jiangying Cao
Summary: Aminopeptidase N (APN) inhibitors, particularly pyrazoline-based hydroxamate derivatives, have shown significant potential as antitumor agents. Compound 14o exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity against APN, with IC50 value three orders of magnitude better than that of the positive control bestatin. Furthermore, compound 14o demonstrated potent anti-proliferative activities against tumor cells and anti-angiogenic activity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Esteban Rodriguez-Arce, Eric Gavrilov, Ximena Alvite, Nazia Nayeem, Ignacio E. Leon, Michelle C. Neary, Lucia Otero, Dinorah Gambino, Claudio Olea Azar, Maria Contel
Summary: This work reports the synthesis and stability study of four gold(I) [AuClL] compounds containing chloro and biologically active protonated thiosemicarbazones based on 5-nitrofuryl (L=HSTC). The cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated against cancer cell lines, and one compound showed significant antimigratory and anti-angiogenic properties on a renal cancer cell line (Caki-1), along with preferential accumulation in the cell nuclei. Its mode of action seems to involve interaction with DNA and induction of apoptosis.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Nozuko M. Motimani, Siyabonga Ngubane, Gregory S. Smith
Summary: Polynuclear heteroleptic ruthenium(II) photosensitizers combining imine or amine-functionalised bipyridyl ligands were synthesized and investigated for their photoreactivity. The complexes showed red-shifted emission spectra and exhibited high yields as visible-light photoredox catalysts in the hydrothiolation reaction of olefins.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Melissa D. Chengalroyen, Mandy K. Mason, Alessandro Borsellini, Raffaella Tassoni, Garth L. Abrahams, Sasha Lynch, Yong-Mo Ahn, Jon Ambler, Katherine Young, Brendan M. Crowley, David B. Olsen, Digby F. Warner, Clifton E. Barry, Helena I. M. Boshoff, Meindert H. Lamers, Valerie Mizrahi
Summary: Natural product nargenicin exhibits antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis by binding to replicative DNA polymerase DnaE1, inducing a DNA damage response and inhibiting bacterial growth. This finding provides a potential target for drug discovery efforts against tuberculosis.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Ryan Dinkele, Sophia Gessner, Andrea McKerry, Bryan Leonard, Juane Leukes, Ronnett Seldon, Digby F. Warner, Robin Wood
Summary: This study compared the aerosolization of Mtb and total particulate matter from patients with TB during three respiratory maneuvers and found that tidal breathing may be the main contributor to the aerosolization of Mtb among TB patients on a daily basis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Correction
Microbiology
Terry Kipkorir, Gabriel T. Mashabela, Timothy J. de Wet, Anastasia Koch, Stephanie S. Dawes, Lubbe Wiesner, Valerie Mizrahi, Digby F. Warner
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Celestine Raidron, Audrey Jordaan, Ronnett Seldon, Digby F. Warner, Carmen de Kock, Dale Taylor, Stefan Louw, Suthananda Sunassee, Renate Hazel Hans
Summary: This study evaluated the antiplasmodial and antimycobacterial activities of eight indigenous medicinal plants. The results indicated that certain organic extracts showed significant antiplasmodial and antimycobacterial activity, with potential unidentified lead compounds present. Further research is needed to fully characterize these active compounds for potential medical applications.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Omobolanle Janet Jesumoroti, Richard M. Beteck, Audrey Jordaan, Digby F. Warner, Lesetja J. Legoabe
Summary: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of death worldwide. In this study, a library of 7H-Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives was synthesized to develop new anti-TB compounds. Sixteen compounds showed activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with the most potent derivative having a MIC90 value of 0.488 μM and no cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that these compounds have potential for further drug development and optimization.
MOLECULAR DIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dapeng Chen, Noella A. Bryden, Wayne A. Bryden, Michael McLoughlin, Dexter Smith, Alese P. Devin, Emily R. Caton, Caroline R. Haddaway, Michele Tameris, Thomas J. Scriba, Mark Hatherill, Sophia Gessner, Digby F. Warner, Robin Wood
Summary: Human breath contains trace amounts of non-volatile organic compounds (NOCs) which could be used as markers of individual health. In this study, metabolites and lipids in exhaled breath aerosol (EBA) samples were analyzed to identify molecular signatures of active tuberculosis (TB). Thirteen metabolite and nine lipid markers were identified with statistically different values between individuals with active TB and healthy controls. Importantly, EBA lipid profiles can effectively distinguish the two sample types, indicating the diagnostic potential of the identified molecules.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Keren Middelkoop, Anastasia S. Koch, Zeenat Hoosen, Wayne Bryden, Charles Call, Ronnett Seldon, Digby F. Warner, Robin Wood, Jason R. Andrews
Summary: This proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of using environmental air sampling to detect and quantify Mycobacterium tuberculosis, enabling the identification of high-risk transmission locations.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ogunyemi. O. O. Oderinlo, Audrey Jordaan, Ronnett Seldon, Michelle Isaacs, Heinrich. C. C. Hoppe, Digby. F. F. Warner, Matshawandile Tukulula, Setshaba. D. D. Khanye
Summary: An exploratory series of new triazole derivatives were synthesized by combining arylpyrrole and triazole units via a hydrazone linkage. Compound 13 showed reasonable activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but other compounds in the series displayed weak antimycobacterial activity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Taryn M. Golding, Reinner O. Omondi, Supratim Biswas, Suparna Chakraborty, Sharon Prince, Gregory S. Smith
Summary: The success of small metal-containing molecules as pharmaceutical agents has led to investigations into the pharmacological activity of supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs), which have shown promising anticancer activity. The present study evaluated the anticancer activity of quinoline-containing binuclear complexes and metallarectangles in breast cancer cell lines. The results demonstrated that some of these complexes exhibited superior or comparable activity to the clinical chemotherapeutic drugs cisplatin in different breast cancer cell lines. Additionally, the compounds showed increased selectivity towards breast cancer cells over non-tumorigenic cells and displayed favorable binding to DNA and albumin.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Tara K. Davids, Wade F. Petersen, Gregory S. Smith
Summary: A trinuclear bis-cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridyl complex was synthesized and evaluated as a photoredox catalyst for visible light-mediated thiol-ene coupling reactions. The complex exhibited a blue-shifted emission spectrum and showed promising catalytic activity in photoredox reactions. Compared to a trinuclear ruthenium congener, the trinuclear iridium polypyridyl complex exhibited the highest NMR yields in hydrothiolation coupling reactions.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristy R. Winkler, Valerie Mizrahi, Digby F. Warner, Timothy J. De Wet
Summary: Advances in sequencing technologies have provided new insights into bacterial genome composition and dynamics, but the slow validation of inferred genetic function presents a challenge. This is particularly relevant for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which still has many genes of unknown function despite being one of the first genomes to be sequenced. We summarize the evolution of high-throughput functional genomics and discuss the potential of CRISPR interference in studying bacterial gene function.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stephen de Doncker, Eva Fischer-Fodor, Catalin Ioan Vlad, Patriciu Achimas-Cadariu, Gregory S. Smith, Siyabonga Ngubane
Summary: Two diphenyl formamidine ligands, four dirhodium(II,II) complexes, and three axially modified low-valent dirhodium(II,II) metallodendrimers were synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer activity against ovarian cancer cell lines. The dirhodium(II,II) complexes exhibited moderate cytotoxicity, with acetate and methyl-substituted formamidinate compounds showing increased cytotoxicity compared to cisplatin in the cisplatin resistant cell line. Methyl- and fluoro-substituted formamidinate complexes also demonstrated comparable or increased cytotoxic activity in another cell line. The low-valent metallodendrimers exhibited some activity, but generally showed decreased cytotoxicity compared to the precursor complexes, except for one case where an acetate-derived metallodendrimer showed higher cytotoxicity than dirhodium(II,II) tetraacetate.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Phelelisiwe S. Dube, Klaudia T. Angula, Lesetja J. Legoabe, Audrey Jordaan, Jan M. Boitz Zarella, Digby F. Warner, J. Stone Doggett, Richard M. Beteck
Summary: In this study, 39 novel quinolone compounds with a hydrophilic amine chain and varied substituted benzyloxy units were described. These compounds demonstrated broad-spectrum activities against acid-fast bacterium, Gram-positive and-negative bacteria, fungi, and leishmania parasite. Compound 30 showed antitubercular activity against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, while compound 37 exhibited low micromolar activities against critical pathogens.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hong Yan, Gregory S. Smith, Fen-Er Chen
Summary: Due to high ring strain energies, cyclopropanols and cyclobutanols have a strong tendency of breaking the endocyclic C-C bonds to participate in versatile organic transformations. Ring-opening asymmetric synthesis of these compounds allows for the synthesis of linear or cyclic molecules with stereogenic centers.
GREEN SYNTHESIS AND CATALYSIS
(2022)