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Metal-Ligand Bonds

Metal-Ligand Bonds

The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...

Alkali Metals

Alkali Metals

Group 1 elements are soft and shiny metallic solids. They are malleable, ductile, and good conductors of heat and electricity. The melting points of the alkali metals are unusually low for metals and decrease going down the group, while the density increases going down the group with the exception of potassium (Table 1).
Table 1: Properties of the alkali metals

Bonding in Metals

Bonding in Metals

Metallic bonds are formed between two metal atoms. A simplified model to describe metallic bonding has been developed by Paul Drüde called the “Electron Sea Model”.

Metallic Solids

Metallic Solids

Metallic solids such as crystals of copper, aluminum, and iron are formed by metal atoms. The structure of metallic crystals is often described as a uniform distribution of atomic nuclei within a “sea” of delocalized electrons. The atoms within such a metallic solid are held together by a unique force known as metallic bonding that gives rise to many useful and varied bulk properties.
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....

Formation of Complex Ions

Formation of Complex Ions

A type of Lewis acid-base chemistry involves the formation of a complex ion (or a coordination complex) comprising a central atom, typically a transition metal cation, surrounded by ions or molecules called ligands. These ligands can be neutral molecules like H2O or NH3, or ions such as CN− or OH−. Often, the ligands act as Lewis bases, donating a pair of electrons to the central atom. These types of Lewis acid-base reactions are examples of a broad subdiscipline called coordination...

Expressing Solution Concentration

Expressing Solution Concentration

A solute is a component of a solution that is typically present at a much lower concentration than the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
Concentrations may be quantitatively assessed using a wide variety of measurement units, each convenient for particular applications. Molarity (M) is a useful concentration unit for many applications in chemistry.

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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Molten-Salt Synthesis of Complex Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

Molten-Salt Synthesis of Complex Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

Published on: October 27, 2018

Ibandronate metal complexes: solution behavior and antiparasitic activity.

Bruno Demoro¹, Santiago Rostán¹, Mauricio Moncada²

¹Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2124, 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry : JBIC : a Publication of the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry

|January 20, 2018

Summary

Transition metal complexes of the bisphosphonate ibandronate show enhanced activity against Chagas disease parasites. These novel compounds are more effective than the parent drug and exhibit selective inhibition of parasitic enzymes without harming mammalian cells.

Keywords:

Ibandronate complexes Solution studies Trypanosoma cruzi

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Molten-Salt Synthesis of Complex Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

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Published on: October 8, 2016

Area of Science:

Medicinal Chemistry
Coordination Chemistry
Parasitology

Background:

High drug development costs necessitate repurposing existing drugs for new therapeutic applications.
Bisphosphonates, used for bone diseases, are being investigated as potential agents against Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite responsible for Chagas disease.

Purpose of the Study:

To synthesize and characterize novel transition metal complexes of the bisphosphonate ibandronate.
To evaluate the in vitro activity of these complexes against Trypanosoma cruzi.
To investigate the mechanism of action, including enzyme inhibition and potential toxicity.

Main Methods:

Synthesis and characterization of cobalt, manganese, and nickel complexes with ibandronate.
Potentiometric studies to determine in-solution complex formation.
In vitro biological assays against the amastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi and mammalian Vero cells.
Enzyme inhibition assays targeting parasitic and human farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) and T. cruzi solanesyl-diphosphate synthase (TcSPPS).

Main Results:

Novel mononuclear and polynuclear transition metal complexes with ibandronate were successfully synthesized and characterized.
The metal complexes demonstrated significantly higher activity against the amastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi compared to free ibandronate, with no observed toxicity in mammalian Vero cells.
The complexes selectively inhibited parasitic FPPS but not human FPPS; however, this inhibition did not fully explain the enhanced anti-parasitic activity.

Conclusions:

Transition metal complexation of ibandronate enhances its anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity.
The enhanced efficacy may be linked to the metal complexes' ability to generate free radical species within the parasite.
These findings suggest a promising new therapeutic strategy for Chagas disease using metal-bisphosphonate conjugates.