In Vitro Anticancer and Antivirus Activities of Cyano- And Bis (Trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide-Based Ionic Liquids

In the current work, we present a broad analysis of cytotoxicity toward normal (kidney and lung) and cancer (lung, liver, and cervix) cells of ionic liquids (ILs) with imidazolium cations and cyano-based or bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anions. Additionally, we verify if ILs might be candidates for new potential virucidal agents. We observed the highest biological activity for 1-methyl-3- octylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, whereas the least toxic was 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate. We found that all investigated ILs revealed a lack of antiviral activity against viruses: human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV-3), human adenovirus 5 (AdV5), human herpesvirus 1 (HSV-1), and human herpesvirus 5 (HCMV) in nontoxic concentrations

In vitro antileukemic activity of novel adenosine derivatives bearing boron cluster modification

A series of adenosine derivatives bearing a boron cluster were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity against primary peripheral mononuclear cells from the blood of 17 patients with leukemias (16 CLL and 1 very rare PLL), as well as from 5 healthy donors used as a control. Among the tested agents, two, i.e., compounds 1 and 2, displayed high in vitro cytotoxicity and proapoptotic potential on leukemic cells, with only scarce activity being seen against control cells. Biological tests related to apoptosis revealed the activation of the main execution apoptotic enzyme, procaspase-3, in CLL and PLL cells exposed to compounds 1 and 2. Moreover, the above compounds indicated high activity in the proteolysis of the apoptotic markers PARP-1 and lamin B1, fragmentation of DNA, and the induction of some changes in the expression of the Mcl-1, protein apoptosis regulator in comparison with control cells

The Effect of Stereochemistry on Sodium Ion Complexation in Nucleoside-Metallacarborane Conjugates

Conjugates of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides: thymidine and 2-deoxyguanosine with cobalt-metallacarborane were studied for their sodium ion complexing properties. Formation of stable complexes of 1 : 1 stoichiometry was proved by ESI MS spectroscopy and 23Na NMR. Equilibrium constants and energies of complex formation were calculated. Complexation of alkali-metals by nucleoside-metallacarborane conjugates may affect the physicochemical and biological properties of the conjugates and should be taken into consideration during biological evaluation of these types of modifications

DNA Modified with Boron–Metal Cluster Complexes [M(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]—Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

Together with tremendous progress in biotechnology, nucleic acids, while retaining their status as “molecules of life„, are becoming “molecular wires„, materials for the construction of molecular structures at the junction between the biological and abiotic worlds. Herein, we present an overview of the approaches for incorporating metal centers into nucleic acids based on metal⁻boron cluster complexes (metallacarboranes) as the metal carriers. The methods are modular and versatile, allowing practical access to innovative metal-containing DNA for various applications, such as nucleic acid therapeutics, electrochemical biosensors, infrared-sensitive probes, and building blocks for nanoconstruction

DNA probe modified with 3-iron bis(dicarbollide) for electrochemical determination of DNA sequence of Avian Influenza Virus H5N1.

In this work, we report on oligonucleotide probes bearing metallacarborane [3-iron bis(dicarbollide)] redox label, deposited on gold electrode for electrochemical determination of DNA sequence derived from Avian Influenza Virus (AIV), type H5N1. The oligonucleotide probes containing 5'-terminal NH2 group were covalently attached to the electrode, via NHS/EDC coupling to 3-mercaptopropionic acid SAM, previously deposited on the surface of gold. The changes in redox activity of Fe(III) centre of the metallacarborane complex before and after hybridization process was used as analytical signal. The signals generated upon hybridization with targets such as complementary or non-complementary 20-mer ssDNA or various PCR products consisting of 180-190 bp (dsDNA) were recorded by Osteryoung square-wave voltammetry (OSWV). The developed system was very sensitive towards targets containing sequence complementary to the probe with the detection limit estimated as 0.03 fM (S/N=3.0) and 0.08 fM (S/N=3.0) for 20-mer ssDNA and for dsDNA (PCR product), respectively. The non-complementary targets generated very weak responses. Furthermore, the proposed genosensor was suitable for discrimination of PCR products with different location of the complementarity region

Early Stage In Vitro Bioprofiling of Potential Low-Molecular-Weight Organoboron Compounds for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)—Proposal for a Guide

Given the renewed interest in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and the intensified search for improved boron carriers, as well as the difficulties of coherently comparing the carriers described so far, it seems necessary to define a basic set of assays and standardized methods to be used in the early stages of boron carrier development in vitro. The selection of assays and corresponding methods is based on the practical experience of the authors and is certainly not exhaustive, but open to discussion. The proposed tests/characteristics: Solubility, lipophilicity, stability, cytotoxicity, and cellular uptake apply to both low molecular weight (up to 500 Da) and high molecular weight (5000 Da and more) boron carriers. However, the specific methods have been selected primarily for low molecular weight boron carriers; in the case of high molecular weight compounds, some of the methods may need to be adapted