Recent advances in gold-NHC complexes with biological properties
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Updated: Feb 2, 2026
Synthesis of Near-Infrared Emitting Gold Nanoclusters for Biological Applications
Published on: March 22, 2020
Malka Mora1, M Concepción Gimeno2, Renso Visbal3
1Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de la Costa, c/58 no. 55-66, 080002 Barranquilla, Colombia. rvisbal4@cuc.edu.co.
Abstract:
This tutorial review covers the recent advances made in the study of gold complexes containing N-heterocyclic carbene ligands with biological properties. The great stability, ease of modulation of the electronic properties and excellent σ-donating capacity displayed by NHCs allow gold-NHC derivatives to reach high stability in biological media and relatively good internalization into cells and for that they have emerged as excellent potential chemotherapeutics. The new gold-NHC derivatives show superior anticancer activity compared to other standards such as Cisplatin or Auranofin. In addition, the application of gold-NHC complexes in the treatment of other human diseases as antibacterial, antioxidant and antiparasitic agents is reviewed for the first time.
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