Target-specific mononuclear and binuclear rhenium(i) tricarbonyl complexes as upcoming anticancer drugs

Abstract

Metal complexes have gradually been attracting interest from researchers worldwide as potential cancer therapeutics. Driven by the many side effects of the popular platinum-based anticancer drug cisplatin, the tireless endeavours of researchers have afforded strategies for the design of appropriate metal complexes with minimal side effects compared to cisplatin and its congeners to limit the unrestricted propagation of cancer. In this regard, transition metal complexes, especially rhenium-based complexes are being identified and highlighted as promising cancer theranostics, which are endowed with the ability to detect and annihilate cancer cells in the body. This is attributed the amazing photophysical properties of rhenium complexes together with their ability to selectively attack different organelles in cancer cells. Therefore, this review presents the properties of different rhenium-based complexes to highlight their recent advances as anticancer agents based on their cytotoxicity results.