Gold Drugs with {Au(PPh₃ )}⁺ Moiety: Advantages and Medicinal Applications

Following the success of Auranofin as an anti-arthritic drug, search for novel gold drugs has afforded a large number of [L-Au(PPh₃ )] complexes that exhibit notable salutary effects. Unlike Au(III)-containing species, these gold complexes with {Au(PPh₃ )}⁺ moiety are stable in biological media and readily exchange L with S- and Se-containing enzymes or proteins. Such exchange leads to rapid reduction of microbial loads or induction of apoptotic cell death at malignant sites. In many cases the lipophilic {Au(PPh₃ )}⁺ moiety delivers a desirable toxic L to the specific cellular target in addition to exhibiting its own beneficial activity. Further research and utilization of this synthon in drug design could lead to novel chemotherapeutics for treatment of drug-resistant pathogens and cancers.