A novel two-dimensional nickel-based complex regulate apoptosis in SKOV3 cells by enhancing reactive oxygen species generation

Disrupting cancer cells' fragile redox balance is one of the most promising cancer therapy strategies. Ovarian malignant tumours, the most common gynecological malignant tumours, are difficult to treat. Therefore, the search for highly effective and low-toxicity drugs for ovarian cancer treatment has become an urgent challenge for scientists to break through. Based on the excellent bio-activity and anti-tumour properties of metal-organic complexes, a novel nickel-based complex with a 2D structure was synthesized in this paper. Based on the experimental results, it was found that the Ni complex up-regulated the intracellular oxidation level of ovarian cancer cells SKOV3 to generate more reactive oxygen species (ROS). This enhanced mitochondrial breakage and DNA damage, and ultimately led to ovarian tumour cell apoptosis.