DINURU · The Synthesis and Evaluation of Organometallic Dinuclear Ruthenium Complexes as Anti-Cancer Drugs

Current platinum-based anti-cancer drugs, such as cisplatin, are well established in the successful treatment of various forms of cancer, however, the use of these drugs is significantly limited by associated side effects and drug resistance. Ruthenium-based alternatives, some of which are in clinical testing, have shown considerable promise, exhibiting low general toxicity alongside selectivity and high activity toward cancerous tissue.This proposal takes advantage of these remarkable properties in the design, synthesis and evaluation of novel dinuclear ruthenium-based anti-cancer drugs. These complexes will contain two ruthenium moieties linked by an organic tether – the structure of which will have a major influence on the conformation of the complexes and will therefore influence their interactions with biomolecular targets. The relationship between complex structures and their anti-cancer properties will be studied and their biomolecular targets identified, allowing the rational development of more potent anti-cancer drugs that express their activity by non-DNA damaging modes of action – essential in overcoming the toxicity and resistance problems of established metal complexes.To achieve these objectives the candidate will build upon his experience in synthetic and analytical chemistry to isolate and characterize the complexes