The Medicinal Chemistry of Metal-Containing Anticancer drugs

Research into cancer treatments has led to the identification of potential drugs based on metal containing scaffolds. A landmark in history has been established after the finding of cisplatin’s antiproliferative activity. Significant attempts have been cantered on designing new metal-based anticancer agents as well as therapeutic tactics which should target cancer cells without hampering normal cells. Platinum drugs, for instance, cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin are prevailing in cancer treatment. However, some major obstacles of these drugs like toxicity, side effects of the drugs along with the generation of drug resistance are causing hindrance for wide clinical usage. Recently, however, an intense effort has been given on the structural optimisation and drug delivery strategy of these drugs. It has focused on either improving or redesigning the existing chemical structure of metal-based compounds with superior protection as well as cytotoxic profile. In this review, an outline is given on recently synthesise metal-based compounds such as Platinum, Ruthenium, Gold and Copper mentioning the limitations of their ancestors besides a new methodology for developing metal-based drugs for the cure of cancer.