Semisandwich cobalt(III) complexes as antitumor agents: high intracellular ROS activity and low in vivo toxicity

Cp*Co(III) complexes based on the ligand 1-amidino-2-thiourea (guanylylthiourea) have been synthesized and characterized. The antitumor potential of the synthesized complexes was evaluated in vitro using HeLa and HepG2 cell lines. The cytotoxicity of the complexes was assessed, along with their effect on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), activation of apoptotic pathways, and cell cycle progression. Finally, the acute toxicity of the complexes was evaluated using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans.