Quantum chemical description of the properties and reaction mechanisms of selected anticancer metallodrugs with biomolecules

 

J.V. Burda

 

Department of Chemical Physics and Optics
Charles University in Prague

121 16 Prague 2,Czech Republic

 

Pt(II)/Pt(IV) complexes

Cisplatin (diammine-dichloro-platinum(II) complex) and its analogues are known for their high activity in the anticancer treatment. The physico-chemical background of the activation of these drugs in the hydration process of replacing chloro-ligards by water molecules was examined. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters were determined for this hydration reaction. Comparing with experimental data it can be seen very good agreement of both characteristics. The process of cisplatin activation can be understand purely on the thermodynamical footings as formation of less stable Pt-complexes under the LeChatelier-Braun-van Hoff’s principle of chemical equilibrium.

Ru(II)-piano-stool complexes

Detachment of the chloro-ligand in [Ruthenium(II)(Arene)(en)Cl]+ is studied in connection with cisplatin activation. Similarly, transition state for process of the water replacement was searched and both thermodynamical and kinetical data for activation and interactions with purine nucleobases bases were estimated. Comparison with measured data demonstrates a power of such computational tools for further investigations.

Dinuclear Rh(II) complexes

Preference for coordination of diaqua-tetrakis-m-acetatodirhodium to purine DNA bases is examined. Higher thermodynamic affinity of the Rh-complex to guanine was found despite the larger stability of the (Rh)2-adenine structure (in accord with HSAB principle). Possible reaction mechanism for the DNA base substitution is explored using simple model molecules in the both gas phase and PCM appraoches.