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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Author Spotlight: Functionalizing Metal-Organic Frameworks: Advancements, Challenges, and the Power of Post-Synthetic Ligand Exchange
Published on: June 23, 2023
The Synthesis, Metal Exchange, and Hyaluronate Functionalization of a Cationic Gallium-Based Thiosemicarbazone
Ye Ning1, Meng-Lin Dong1, Wen-Hua Zhang1
1College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
Abstract:
We herein demonstrate that the thiosemicarbazone (TSC) ligand N'-(di(pyridin-2-yl)methylene)-4-(thiazol-2-yl)piperazine-1-carbothiohydrazide (HL) can coordinate with Ga3+ to give cationic complex [Ga(L)2]NO3 featuring an octahedral Ga(III) center. [Ga(L)2]NO3 undergoes metathesis with both Fe2+ and Fe3+, resulting in the formation of respective Fe2+- and Fe3+ complexes. [Ga(L)2]NO3 is also susceptible to anion exchange with sodium hyaluronate (NaA) to produce the nanoformulation [Ga(L)2]A with boosted aqueous solubility and cell targeting. [Ga(L)2]A demonstrated remarkable in vitro cytotoxicity against NCI-H82 and A549 (lung cancer), as well as KYSE-510 and Te-1 (esophageal cancer) cell lines, featuring half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values in the range 0.102-2.616 μmol L-1. This work highlights the potential of using non-toxic and biocompatible Ga3+ as the central ion to prepare TSC-based nanomedicines for combating cancer.
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