Platinum-based metal complexes as chloride transporters that trigger apoptosis.

In this paper we demonstrate that Pt(ii) complexes can function as efficient transmembrane chloride transporters. A series of Pt(ii) metal complexes with urea-appended isoquinoline ligands were synthesised and operate via classical hydrogen bonding interactions rather than ligand exchange. A number of the complexes exhibited potent transmembrane chloride activity in vesicle studies, while also showing strong antiproliferative activity in cisplatin-resistant cell lines via induction of apoptosis and inhibition of intracellular ROS.