A novel Ni-based complex inducing apoptosis through mitochondrial dysfunction in osteosarcoma HOS cells

Abstract

Osteosarcoma, a common primary cancer of the bone in young people, presents major difficulties in medical care because of its resistance to chemotherapy and poor outlook. Consequently, there is an urgent demand for effective and low-toxicity therapeutic approaches. Recently, metal–organic complexes have emerged as promising contenders for anti-cancer investigations. This study includes the successful development of a novel Ni-based complex with 3D supramolecular structure, which was subsequently assessed for its efficacy against osteosarcoma HOS cells. The study also aimed to understand how the complex works on a cellular level. Our experiment results show that the Ni complex causes cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 stage by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in HOS cells, disturbing intracellular redox balance, affecting mitochondrial activity, and triggering apoptosis pathways. Furthermore, this study confirms the ability of the Ni complex to effectively induce apoptosis in HOS cells. These results not only unveil the potential of the Ni complex to trigger apoptosis through ROS-mediated DNA damage mechanisms but also provide a novel therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma.