Noble metals in pharmaceuticals: Applications and limitations

Abstract

Metal-based drugs like Cisplatin are still the most widely employed therapeutics in the treatment of cancer. Nevertheless, due to their severe drawbacks, such as extended toxicity, scarce bioavailability and drug resistance, the need of a valid alternative to Cisplatin and its derivatives has led to the synthesis and assessment as therapeutical agents of a series of complexes based on platinum and other noble metals, which showed not only anticancer activity but also antibacterial and antiprotozoal action with outstanding results. Here, the most used metals are discussed, together with their applications in medicine and limitations.