ABSTRACT
The synthetic versatility of the ruthenium(II)–arene complexes has led to the synthesis of a large number of structurally diverse complexes, which include different ligand systems. Some of these compounds inhibit proliferation of cancer cells and tumour growth via interaction with a variety of intracellular and extracellular targets. This chapter describes the development of ruthenium(II)-p-cymene complexes with pyridine derivatives as anti-cancer agents and achievements in investigation of their biological activity in our Laboratory for pharmacology at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. Some of the ruthenium-based complexes are reported to exhibit unique and impressive anti-metastatic properties regardless of their cytotoxic effect. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis of total intracellular accumulation of ruthenium has shown time-dependent increase of intracellular ruthenium content. Ruthenium-arene complexes of similar structures containing quinoline derivatives have been initially synthesized as successful anti-bacterial and anti-malarial agents, and were characterized by balanced structural and lipophilic properties.
