A Chemical Approach to the Synthesis of an Antitumoral Pt-Based Drug Molecule Using a Protein-Ligand Interaction as a Carrier System

In this paper, we explore different strategies that can serve as models for both the design and delivery of candidate antitumoral molecules intended for cancer therapy. For example, a novel platinum-based compound, called 1.Cl, was synthesized, and its interaction with the iron-transport protein transferrin, proposed as a potential targeted drug delivery system, was studied. The synthesis of 1.Cl and its interaction with transferrin were studied using a multimethodological approach based on spectroscopic, thermodynamic, and solid-state methods, including UV–vis absorption and emission spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, and protein crystal X-ray diffraction. The successful synthesis and design of 1.Cl, a compound with structural and chemical properties that may enable antitumoral activity, along with the study of its interaction with a native iron-transport protein, provide a promising foundation for the design of potential cancer drugs. The results indicate that 1.Cl interacts with transferrin effectively in solution, supporting the hypothesis that this protein can be used as a selective delivery system to enhance cytotoxicity in malignant cells while reducing side effects.