Coordination Compounds as Anticancer Agents: A Review

Abstract

Anticancer review has focused on coordination chemicals owing to their various coordination geometries, redox characteristics, and capacity to interact with biological macromolecules, and this review discusses platinum and non-platinum coordination complexes, such as gallium, copper, iron, ruthenium, and palladium, as possible anticancer drugs. These chemicals bind DNA, block topoisomerases, induce reactive oxygen species, and disturb cellular redox equilibrium. The structure-activity relationship studies also show how ligand structure, oxidation state, and coordination geometry affect biological activity; Also addressed are metal-based chemotherapy's toxicity, drug resistance, and inadequate cancer cell selectivity. We discuss targeted delivery techniques and ferroptosis-inducing metal complexes as therapeutic efficiency improvements. Overall, coordination chemistry offers intriguing potential for rationally designing next-generation metallodrugs with increased anticancer activity and lower systemic toxicity.