A major obstacle in the treatment of solid tumors is the resistance against treatments, caused by several factors including disorganized growth that creates regions of reduced vascularization. As a result, drugs cannot reach the innermost cells of the tumor in appreciable concentrations. These cells also become poorly oxygenated, generating a condition of hypoxia.  Hypoxic cells are also considered a potential target for selective drug development due to its more reductive environment compared to normal cells. Substances able to move intact throughout the organism would be reduced when reaching the hypoxic regions, becoming cytotoxic and killing tumor cells. In this scenario, we have synthesized an inert Co(III) complex, that in reducing conditions is converted to its Co(II)-labile form, releasing a cytotoxic naphthoquinone from the coordination sphere of the metal. Structure, electrochemistry, reactivity and biological studies will be presented.

New cobalt(III) complex as a prototype for pro-drugs activated by hypoxia

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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