Platinated benzonaphthyridone is a stronger inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 and a more potent anticancer agent than is the parent inhibitor

• Platinated PARP-1 inhibitors have been designed, synthesized, and characterized.
• Complex 3 showed identical spectrum of anticancer activity compared with cisplatin.
• Complex 3 displayed an improved inhibitory effect against PARP-1.
• Complex 3 was able to enter into cells well and bind to DNA effectively.
• Complex 3 arrested cell cycle differently than cisplatin or parent inhibitor.

Inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) have shown to be promising in clinical trials against cancer and other diseases, and lots of efforts have been put into the development of organic compounds as more potent PARP-1 inhibitors. Here we describe a strategy to conveniently obtain metal-based PARP-1 inhibitors with enhanced biological activities by conjugating platinum moiety with an original inhibitor, e.g., benzonaphthyridone. Based on the structure–activity relationship analysis of PARP-1 inhibitors, three platinated PARP-1 inhibitors were designed, and the complexes were synthesized and characterized. Complex 3 presented significantly enhanced cytotoxicity against a panel of human cancer cells and a 10-fold increased inhibitory effect against recombinant PARP-1 compared with the original PARP-1 inhibitor. Complex 3 was as cytotoxic as cisplatin and its spectrum of anticancer activity was identical to that of cisplatin. The complex was able to enter into cancer cells efficiently, bind to DNA well, and block cell cycle at G2/M phase, indicating that complex 3 is an effective anticancer agent with a distinct mechanism of action. Our study implies that the conjugation of platinum with PARP-1 inhibitors could be a valid strategy to obtain more potent anticancer agents with improved biological activities.

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