Tumor-inhibiting Ruthenium Complexes

Disciplines

Chemistry (100%)

Keywords

RUTHENIUM COMPOUNDS, TUMOR-INHIBITING AGENTS, DRUG DESIGN, COORDINATION CHEMISTRY, RU(III)- RU(II)-COMPLEXES, PLASMA PROTEINS

Abstract

Ruthenium complexes show promising antitumor activity in clinically relevant tumor models. Some of the ruthenium complexes to be investigated exhibit excellent activity especially in a colorectal tumor model that resembles human colon tumors in its histological appearance and behaviour against chemotherapeutics. The aim of this project will be the synthesis of new derivatives of these complexes with improved solubility in water to enable clinical trials with the compounds. Furthermore, the stability of the complexes and their hydrolysis reactions, as well as their subsequent reactions with biologically occuring targets, like plasma proteins and DNA, should be investigated. The results should lead to a deeper understanding of the mode of action of this new class of antitumor agents.