Metal Complexes: Medical Uses

• Metal complexes have diverse applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry.
• Coordination compounds, also known as metal complexes, feature a central metal atom or ion bonded to ligands.
• Their color, catalytic activity, and magnetic properties make metal complexes useful in many applications.

Applications in Medicine

• Metal complexes are used in chemotherapy.
• Cisplatin, a platinum-based complex, is an anticancer drug that inhibits DNA replication in cancer cells.
• Ruthenium, iridium, and gold complexes are researched for anticancer activity.
• Metal complexes are used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• Gadolinium complexes enhance visibility in MRI scans.
• Certain metal complexes act as disinfectants or antibacterial agents due to their antimicrobial properties.
• Silver nanoparticles and silver-containing complexes are used in wound dressings and catheters to prevent infection.
• Metal complexes treat metal poisoning.
• EDTA and deferoxamine chelate and remove toxic metals from the body.
• Some metal complexes treat anemia.
• Iron(II) sulfate and iron(III) hydroxide polymaltose complex supplement iron levels for individuals with iron deficiency anemia.

Applications in Agriculture

• Metal complexes are used as fertilizers, providing plants with micronutrients.
• Iron, zinc, copper, and manganese, are supplied as metal complexes to improve bioavailability.
• Metal complexes are used as pesticides and fungicides
• Copper sulfate and copper oxychloride control fungal diseases in plants.
• Metal complexes are used as growth regulators
• Gibberellic acid is applied as a metal complex to enhance stability and effectiveness.

Applications in Industry

• Metal complexes act as catalysts in industrial processes.
• Ziegler-Natta catalysts, containing titanium or aluminum complexes, facilitate the polymerization of olefins into polyethylene and polypropylene.
• Wilkinson's catalyst, a rhodium complex, is used in the hydrogenation of alkenes.
• Metal complexes are used as pigments and dyes in paints, inks, and textiles.
• Phthalocyanine complexes of copper, cobalt, and nickel are used as blue and green pigments.
• Metal complexes play a role in electroplating.
• Gold, silver, and chromium complexes are used to electroplate jewelry, electronic components, and automotive parts.
• Metal complexes purify water.
• Iron and aluminum complexes coagulate and remove suspended solids.
• Metal complexes are used in the production of solar cells.
• Ruthenium complexes are used as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells.
• Metal complexes are involved in manufacturing polymers and plastics.
• Nickel complexes act as stabilizers in polymers, preventing degradation from heat and light.

Experiment: Synthesis of a Metal Complex

• The objective is to synthesize a metal complex and observe its properties.
• Needed materials include: Metal salt (e.g., copper(II) sulfate), ligand (e.g., ammonia), distilled water, beakers, stirring rod, hot plate, filter paper.
• Procedure:
  • Dissolve the metal salt in distilled water contained in a beaker.
  • Add the ligand to the metal salt solution while stirring.
  • Observe the color change and formation of the metal complex.
  • Heat the solution gently to promote complex formation.
  • Cool the solution and filter the solid metal complex.
  • Dry the complex and determine its yield and properties (e.g., color, solubility).
• Expected results: Creation of a metal complex with a distinct color and specific properties.

Observations and Discussion

• Adding a ligand induces a color change, which indicates the formation of a new metal complex.
• The properties of a metal complex depend on the metal ion and ligand.
• Metal complexes have wide-ranging applications because of their properties.
• Research and technology developments continuously expand the application of metal complexes.