DNA interactions with cytotoxic platinum-corrole conjugates

Abstract

One of the great challenges in cancer treatment is the selective targeting of cancer cells over normal cells. The specific nuclear penetration of functionalizable corroles introduces the possibility of targeted, efficient delivery of covalently-tethered chemotherapy drugs. Indeed, previous expts. demonstrate a sulfonated corrole can act as a carrier mol. for chemotherapeutic agents, specifically the DNA-intercalating anthracycline drug doxorubicin, resulting in enhanced drug cytotoxicity. Anticancer drugs due to their notorious lack of specificity for cancerous cells over normal cells and their need to be localized in the nucleus to be effective. Exploiting the selective uptake of the sulfonated corrole into the nucleus of brain metastatic prostate carcinoma by synthesizing a platinum-corrole conjugate could result in a highly specific and effective treatment for this type of metastases. Synthethic routes to bioactive platinum-corrole conjugates and their interactions with DNA will be presented.