Nuevos Complejos Metálicos de Pt(II), Ir(III), Ru(II) y Rh(III) con Propiedades Anticancerígenas y Antimicrobianas

Abstract

Cancer and the emergence of multi-drug resistant microorganisms are two of the main causes of death in developed countries. In addition, the global rise of antibiotic resistance and the lack of new antimicrobials on the market are major challenges facing modern medicine nowadays. Therefore, there is a real need to synthesize some more effective antitumour drugs with minimal side effects and new antimicrobial agents able to overcome bacteria resistance. Currently, metal complexes have been considered as a new and promising alternative to treat cancer and infectious diseases, since their threedimensional shape and the coordinated ligands can modulate their pharmacological properties. In this thesis, new Pt(II), Ir(III) and Ru(II) complexes were synthesized by Dra Monica Vaquero and the organometallic Ir(III) and Rh(III) complexes were synthesized by Dr Igor Echevarria, both from the University of Burgos. These complexes were physicochemically characterized, and their antitumour and antibacterial activities were determined both in the dark and upon photoactivation. For this purpose, several human tumour cells and clinically relevant bacterial strains were employed. Moreover, structure–activity relationships were unveiled, showing other chemical optimizations of novel Pt(II), Ir(III), Ru(II) and Rh(III) derivatives.