Carbohydrate – organometallic conjugates
Platinum complexes have been used in the treatment of cancer for decades. Currently, a large number of organometallic complexes are synthesized worldwide and tested as antitumor agents. Using antitumor organometallic complexes with carbohydrates attached or tethered to ligands could help overcome the disadvantages of anticancer metallodrugs: low selectivity to cancer cells and severe side effects. Exploiting the interactions of glycoconjugates with lectins, monosaccharide transporters, and other targets and utilizing synthetic modifications of the carbohydrate and organometallic moieties, we hope to create organometallic glycoconjugates and glycomimetics with selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells or completely non-toxic complexes with strong antimetastatic activity.