Issue 36, 2017

Synthesis and in vivo anticancer evaluation of poly(organo)phosphazene-based metallodrug conjugates

Abstract

Within this work we aimed to improve the pharmacodynamics and toxicity profile of organoruthenium and -rhodium complexes which had previously been found to be highly potent in vitro but showed unselective activity in vivo. Different organometallic complexes were attached to a degradable poly(organo)phosphazene macromolecule, prepared via controlled polymerization techniques. The conjugation to hydrophilic polymers was designed to increase the aqueous solubility of the typically poorly soluble metal-based half-sandwich compounds with the aim of a controlled, pH-triggered release of the active metallodrug. The synthesized conjugates and their characteristics have been thoroughly studied by means of 31P NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, ICP-MS analyses and SEC coupled to ICP-MS. In order to assess their potential as possible anticancer drug candidates, the complexes, as well as their respective macromolecular prodrug formulations were tested against three different cancer cell lines in cell culture. Subsequently, the anticancer activity and organ distribution of the poly(organo)phosphazene drug conjugates were explored in vivo in mice bearing CT-26 colon carcinoma. Our investigations revealed a beneficial influence of this macromolecular prodrug by a significant reduction of adverse effects compared to the free metallodrugs.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis and in vivo anticancer evaluation of poly(organo)phosphazene-based metallodrug conjugates

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 May 2017
Accepted
04 Jul 2017
First published
01 Sep 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Dalton Trans., 2017,46, 12114-12124

Synthesis and in vivo anticancer evaluation of poly(organo)phosphazene-based metallodrug conjugates

C. M. Hackl, B. Schoenhacker-Alte, M. H. M. Klose, H. Henke, M. S. Legina, M. A. Jakupec, W. Berger, B. K. Keppler, O. Brüggemann, I. Teasdale, P. Heffeter and W. Kandioller, Dalton Trans., 2017, 46, 12114 DOI: 10.1039/C7DT01767G

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements