Reaction Behavior of [1,3-Diethyl-4,5-diphenyl-1-imidazol-2-ylidene] Containing Gold(I/III) Complexes against Ingredients of the Cell Culture Medium and the Meaning on the Potential Use for Cancer Eradication Therapy.

The reactivities of halido[1,3-diethyl-4,5-diphenyl-1-imidazol-2-ylidene]gold(I) (chlorido (), bromido (), iodido ()), bis[1,3-diethyl-4,5-diphenyl-1-imidazol-2-ylidene]gold(I) (), and bis[1,3-diethyl-4,5-diphenyl-1-imidazol-2-ylidene]dihalidogold(III) (chlorido (), bromido (), iodido ()) complexes against ingredients of the cell culture medium were analyzed by HPLC. The degradation in the RPMI 1640 medium was studied, too. Complex quantitatively reacted with chloride to , while showed additionally ligand scrambling to . Interactions with non-thiol containing amino acids could not be detected. However, glutathione (GSH) reacted immediately with and yielding the (NHC)gold(I)-GSH complex . The most active complex was stable under conditions and strongly participated on the biological effects of . The gold(III) species - were completely reduced by GSH to and are prodrugs. All complexes were tested for inhibitory effects in Cisplatin-resistant cells, as well as against cancer stem cell-enriched cell lines and showed excellent activity. Such compounds are of utmost interest for the therapy of drug-resistant tumors.