Glycoconjugated Metal Compounds: Cytotoxicity and Cellular Distribution

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. Cancer patients suffer from the side effects (e.g., hair loss) of the chemotherapeutics, as they lack selectivity, killing both cancerous and non-cancerous cells. Thus, there is a need for more selective drugs.
Cancer cells need sugar for fast growth, having high levels of glucose transporters to deliver glucose. By attaching sugar-containing molecules to existing metal-based compounds with anticancer properties, the cancerous cells may have “preferred uptake” for such compounds, specifically accumulating the drug, leading to cell death.
We have selected copper, rhenium and ruthenium compounds with anticancer properties, replacing one of their ligands with a sugar-containing molecule, forming glycoconjugated compounds. Their toxicity towards cells is measured at the Federal University of São Carlos.
The key in understanding the mechanism of action of potential metal-based anticancer drugs is to identify their cellular target. We use the intense X-rays offered at synchrotron facilities (e.g. Sirius, Brazil) to excite electrons in metals, and monitor their emitted fluorescence specific to each metal, to obtain their distribution maps in the cellular level.
The interns will learn how to measure cytotoxicity, and students from both institutes will receive training to identify the cellular target of their compounds.

Faculty Supervisor:

Farideh Jalilehvand

Student:

Partner:

Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Calgary

Program: