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The Generation Of Novel Metal-Folate- Phenanthroline Complexes And Phenanthroline-Folate Conjugates With Potential As Chemotherapeutic Agents, Aisling Crowley

Doctoral

The folate receptor (FR) was identified in 1986 and has been established as a ‘molecular Trojan Horse’ target for the uptake of folate-conjugated organic molecules into cells. The FR is overexpressed in many malignancies, including those of the ovary, uterus, breast, cervix, and prostate, yet it is reportedly under-expressed in normal healthy cells. This difference in expression and the high affinity/specificity of folate towards the folate receptor presents a promising drug delivery system. The aim of this research was to utilise folic acid as a targeting moiety and generate simple metal folate and novel folate-phenanthroline complexes with cytotoxic properties. A …