Metallodrugs offer potential for unique mechanisms of drug action based on the choice of the metal, its oxidation state, the types and number of coordinated ligands and the coordination geometry. We discuss recent progress in identifying new target sites and elucidating the mechanisms of action of anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-neurodegenerative agents, as well as in the design of metal-based diagnostic agents. Progress in identifying and defining target sites has been accelerated recently by advances in proteomics, genomics and metal speciation analysis. Examples of metal compounds and chelating agents (enzyme inhibitors) currently in clinical use, clinical trials or preclinical development are highlighted.

This mini-review highlights the latest advances in the chemistry and biology of Pluronic® triblock copolymers. We focus on their applications in medicine, as drug delivery carriers, biological response modifiers, and pharmaceutical ingredients. Examples of drug delivery systems and formulations currently in clinical use, clinical trials or preclinical development are highlighted. We also discuss the role that Pluronic® copolymers may play in the innovative design of new nanomedicines in the near future.

Platinum complexes are the most widely used anticancer drugs; however, new generations of agents are needed. The organoiridium(III) complex [(η⁵‐Cp^xbiph)Ir(phpy)(Cl)] (1‐Cl), which contains π‐bonded biphenyltetramethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp^xbiph) and C^N‐chelated phenylpyridine (phpy) ligands, undergoes rapid hydrolysis of the chlorido ligand. In contrast, the pyridine complex [(η⁵‐Cp^xbiph)Ir(phpy)(py)]⁺(1‐py) aquates slowly, and is more potent (in nanomolar amounts) than both1‐Cland cisplatin towards a wide range of cancer cells. The pyridine ligand protects1‐pyfrom rapid reaction with intracellular glutathione. The high potency of1‐pycorrelates with its ability to increase substantially the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells. The unprecedented ability of these iridium complexes to generate H₂O₂by catalytic hydride transfer from the coenzyme NADH to oxygen is demonstrated. Such organoiridium complexes are promising as a new generation of anticancer drugs for effective oxidant therapy.

The synthesis of nanoparticles of conjugates of caffeic acid-modified chitosan with ruthenium arene complexes is described. The chemical structure and physical properties of the nanoparticles were characterised by electronic absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ¹H NMR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and circular dichroism (CD) analysis. The multi-spectral results revealed that caffeic acid is covalently bound to chitosan and chelates to {Ru(p-cymene)Cl}⁺. The DLS studies indicated that the Ru–caffeic acid modified chitosan nanoparticles are well-defined and of nanometre size. Such well-defined nanocomposites of chitosan and metal complexes might find a range of applications, for example in drug delivery. Introduction to the international collaboration Yanqing Wang from Yancheng Teachers University, People's Republic of China is developing a research programme in the exciting area of medicinal inorganic chemistry, and in particular the design of nanoparticles for the delivery of metal anticancer complexes. He was awarded a research fellowship from the Jiangsu Overseas Research & Training Program for University Prominent Young & Middle-aged Teachers and President to spend the year from February 2014 to February 2015 in the laboratory of Peter Sadler at the University of Warwick, UK. There he carried out research in bioinorganic chemistry on topics related to the design and synthesis of nanoparticle conjugates of natural polymers with organo-ruthenium complexes. He synthesised nanocomposites of caffeic acid-modified chitosan linked to ruthenium arene complexes. Chitosan is deacetylated chitin, found in the exoskeleton of crustaceans and cell walls of fungi. Such well-defined nanocomposites of chitosan and metal complexes might find a range of applications, for example in drug delivery.