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Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents
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Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents

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Assessing Impact of Platinum Complexes on Mitochondrial Functions

Suxing Jin1, Xiaoyong Wang2

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, P. R. China.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|June 1, 2021
PubMed

Insights

New platinum-based anticancer drugs target mitochondria, overcoming limitations of traditional platinum drugs. These mitochondrion-targeted complexes offer a promising new strategy for cancer treatment by interfering with cellular energy and survival mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Platinum-based drugs are crucial in cancer therapy but suffer from poor targeting, low bioavailability, and resistance.
  • Mitochondria play vital roles in cell metabolism, survival, and cancer progression, making them a key target for cancer intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop novel platinum complexes with enhanced anti-cancer efficacy by targeting mitochondria.
  • To explore new mechanisms of action for platinum-based drugs through mitochondrial interference.

Main Methods:

  • Chemical modification of platinum complexes with triphenylphosphine (TPP+) to achieve mitochondrial targeting.
  • Investigation of the effects of TPP+-modified platinum complexes on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

Main Results:

  • Successful synthesis of TPP+-modified platinum (II, IV) complexes.
  • Demonstration that these complexes can interfere with mitochondrial functions, including mtDNA, MMP, morphology, bioenergetics, and ROS production.

Conclusions:

  • TPP+-modified platinum complexes represent a novel class of anticancer agents with improved targeting and efficacy.
  • Targeting mitochondrial functions with platinum drugs opens new therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment.
Keywords:
DetectionMitochondrionPlatinum complexSynthesisTriphenylphosphine

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