Evaluation of Efficiency of Liposome-Entrapped Iridium(III) Complexes Inhibiting Tumor Growth In Vitro and In Vivo

J Med Chem. 2024 Sep 26;67(18):16195-16208. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01026. Epub 2024 Sep 12.

Abstract

In this paper, three new iridium(III) complexes: [Ir(piq)2(DFIPP)]PF6 (piq = deprotonated 1-phenylisoquinoline, DFIPP = 3,4-difluoro-2-(1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenenthrolin-2-yl)phenol, 3a), [Ir(bzq)2(DFIPP)]PF6 (bzq = deprotonated benzo[h]quinoline, 3b), and [Ir(ppy)2(DFIPP)]PF6 (ppy = deprotonated 1-phenylpyridine, 3c), were synthesized and characterized. The complexes were found to be nontoxic to tumor cells via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Surprisingly, its liposome-entrapped complexes 3alip, 3blip, and 3clip on B16 cells showed strong cytotoxicity (IC50 = 13.6 ± 2.8, 9.6 ± 1.1, and 18.9 ± 2.1 μM). Entry of 3alip, 3blip, and 3clip into B16 cells decreases mitochondrial membrane potential, regulates Bcl-2 family proteins, releases cytochrome c, triggers caspase family cascade reaction, and induces apoptosis. In addition, we also found that 3alip, 3blip, and 3clip triggered ferroptosis and autophagy. In vivo studies demonstrated that 3blip inhibited melanoma growth in C57 mice with a high inhibitory rate of 83.95%, and no organic damage was found in C57 mice.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis* / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Coordination Complexes* / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes* / chemistry
  • Coordination Complexes* / pharmacology
  • Coordination Complexes* / therapeutic use
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Iridium* / chemistry
  • Iridium* / pharmacology
  • Liposomes*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Melanoma, Experimental / metabolism
  • Melanoma, Experimental / pathology
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL

Substances

  • Iridium
  • Liposomes
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Coordination Complexes