This review will focus on copper homeostasis in mammalian cells and on our current understanding of copper dysregulation in cancer and recent therapeutic breakthroughs using copper coordination complexes as anticancer drugs.

In a bid to come up with potential anticancer agents, a class of thiosemicarbazone ligands bearing substituted thiophene were synthesized followed by complexation with various Pd(II) and Pt(II) metal precursors. The ligands (E)-1-((thiophen-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide (L1), (E)-1-((4-bromothiophen-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide (L2), and (E)-1-((5-bromothiophen-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide (L3) were synthesized by condensation reactions and obtained in good yields. Complexation of L1 and L2 with Pd(cod)Cl₂ gave C1 (C₆H₇Cl₂N₃PdS₂) and C2 (C₆H₆BrCl₂N₃PdS₂), respectively. Complexation of L1 with K₂PtCl₄ gave C3 (C₆H₇Cl₂N₃PtS₂), while L3 with K₂PtCl₂[(PPh)₃]₂ gave C4 (C₂₄H₂₁BrClN₃PPtS₂). The structures and coordination for all compounds were established by FTIR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, UV-Vis, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies for ligand L1. Tuning of the spectral and anticancer activity of the compounds was investigated by changing the position of the bromide substituent, metal center, and the σ or π-donor/acceptor strength of the groups surrounding the metal center. The compounds had low to moderate anticancer potency with their spectral and structural properties correlating with the corresponding anticancer activity profiles. DNA binding modes were studied by spectroscopy and were comparable to known DNA intercalators. Structure-activity profiles were evident especially between C1 and C2 differing by the presence of a Br in position 5 of thiophene ring, which caused a remarkable increase in IC₅₀ values, from 14.71 ± 0.016 (C1) to 43.08 ± 0.001(C2) in Caco-2 cells, 1.973 ± 0.048 (C1) to 59.56 ± 0.010 (C2) in MCF-7 cells, 16.65 ± 0.051 (C1) to 72.25 ± 0.003 (C2) in HeLa cells, 14.64 ± 0.037 (C1) to 94.34 ± 0.003 (C2) in HepG2, and 14.05 ± 0.042 (C1) to >100(C2) in PC-3 cells.

Modern anti-cancer drugs target DNA specifically for rapid division of malignant cells. One downside of this approach is that they also target other rapidly dividing healthy cells, such as those involved in hair growth leading to serious toxic side effects and hair loss. Therefore, it would be better to develop novel agents that address cellular signaling mechanisms unique to cancerous cells, and new research is now focussing on such approaches. Although the classical chemotherapy area involving DNA as the set target continues to produce important findings, nevertheless, a distinctly discernible emerging trend is the divergence from the cisplatin operation model that uses the metal as the primary active center of the drug. Many successful anti-cancer drugs present are associated with elevated toxicity levels. Cancers also develop immunity against most therapies and the area of cancer research can, therefore, be seen as an area with a high unaddressed need. Hence, ongoing work into cancer pathogenesis is important to create accurate preclinical tests that can contribute to the development of innovative drugs to manage and treat cancer. : Some of the emergent frontiers utilizing different approaches include nanoparticles delivery, use of quantum dots, metal complexes, tumor ablation, magnetic hypothermia and hyperthermia by use of Superparamagnetic Iron oxide Nanostructures, pathomics and radiomics, laser surgery and exosomes. : This review summarizes these new approaches in good detail, giving critical views with necessary comparisons. It also delves into what they carry for the future, including their advantages and disadvantages.

Oxathiacrown ether modified ruthenium complex2facilitates a selective naked-eye detection of Hg²⁺with an instrumental detection limit of 68 ppm.

New complexes derived from the reaction of Mo(NO)T_p^*Cl₂; T_p^*= tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl) borate with a series of manganese(II) Schiff bases have been synthesized. Characterization by UV, IR, MS and elemental analysis support their formulations. Cyclic and differential pulse voltammograms of manganese(II) Schiff base monometallic complexes exhibit one reduction peak which may be associated with the reduction of the manganese(II) center. In CH₃CN solutions, the molybdenum(II)-manganese(II) bimetallic complexes showed two reversible reduction peaks which are associated with the reduction of the molybdenum and manganese centers. In CH₂Cl₂, only the reduction of molybdenum(II) center exhibited reversibility while the reduction of manganese(II) center was irreversible. These observations demonstrate that reduction potentials for bimetallic complexes are solvent dependent. KEY WORDS: Tetradentate N,N’,O,O, Schiff base ligands, Monometallic manganese(II) Schiff base complexes, Bimetallic, Mn(II)-Mo(NO)T_p^*Cl₂ [T_p^* = tris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl) borate] complexes Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2010, 24(1), 47-58.