Scientists developed an anti-cancer drug that would not affect healthy cells

A new effective medication against lung cancer was obtained and studied by MIET scientists together with Polish colleagues. According to the researchers, the drug based on the organic complex differs from analogues in a simple application procedure and will be non-toxic to healthy cells. The results are published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

According to WHO, lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and is a foremost cause of cancer deaths; thus, it is a major health problem. Cisplatin-based drugs are now actively used to treat cancer, but they can also negatively affect healthy cells.

An international group of scientists synthesized a promising compound with high antitumor activity. According to the researchers, on the basis of this substance, it is possible to develop a new effective anti-cancer drug that will be safe for healthy cells.

“Our development is based on organic ligand molecules, the active part of which is metal complexes such as copper, zinc and cadmium. We intensified their properties by physically depositing silver nanoparticles. The analysis showed that complexes with cadmium have the greatest antitumor activity,” said Sergey Dubkov, associate professor of the Institute of Advanced Materials and Technologies.

The antitumor effect of ligand-based organic complexes, as experts explained, is based on a number of mechanisms, including suppression of proteasome and telomerase activity, formation of reactive oxygen species, DNA degradation, and others. According to the scientists, the resulting compound, unlike analogues, is toxic only to cancer cells and will be easily removed from the body without negative consequences. Silver nanoparticles, included in the composition of the complex according to the technology developed at MIET, help the agent to penetrate the membrane and accumulate in the internal parts of the cancer cell, destroying it from the inside.

The scientists explained that the drug based on the proposed complex will reach cancer cells with “smart delivery” technologies using targeted molecules.