Current Developments of N-Heterocyclic Carbene Au(I)/Au(III) Complexes toward Cancer Treatment

Author(s)
Alexia Tialiou, Jia Min Chin, Bernhard K. Keppler, Michael R. Reithofer
Abstract

Since their first discovery, N-heterocyclic carbenes have had a significant impact on organometallic chemistry. Due to their nature as strong σ-donor and π-acceptor ligands, they are exceptionally well suited to stabilize Au(I) and Au(III) complexes in biological environments. Over the last decade, the development of rationally designed NHCAu(I/III) complexes to specifically target DNA has led to a new “gold rush” in bioinorganic chemistry. This review aims to summarize the latest advances of NHCAu(I/III) complexes that are able to interact with DNA. Furthermore, the latest advancements on acyclic diamino carbene gold complexes with anticancer activity are presented as these typically overlooked NHC alternatives offer great additional design possibilities in the toolbox of carbene-stabilized gold complexes for targeted therapy.

Organisation(s)
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Functional Materials and Catalysis
External organisation(s)
Medizinische Universität Wien, Research Cluster Translational Cancer Therapy Research, Vienna Doctoral School in Chemistry (DoSChem)
Journal
Biomedicines
Volume
10
No. of pages
26
ISSN
2227-9059
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10061417
Publication date
06-2022
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
301904 Cancer research, 106002 Biochemistry, 106023 Molecular biology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology, Medicine (miscellaneous)
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/165625f1-af57-4b2f-87fd-06d2abcc3d81