Multipronged Protein Engagement by a Ruthenium(II) Sunitinib Hydrazide Complex Elicits ROS‐Independent Immunogenic Cell Death

S Shilpendu Ghosh (Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur campus, Mohanpur 741246, India) S Soumee SenGupta R Ratan Halder (Polymer Research Centre, Centre for Advanced Functional Materials Institution Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India) S Sayar Ghosh (Department of Biological Sciences Institution Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India) S Soumyajit Biswas (Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics University of Kalyani Kalyani India) S Sujato Mukherjee (Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM) Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India) M Moumita Gupta (Polymer Research Centre, Centre for Advanced Functional Materials Institution Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India) B Banshi Roy (Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur campus, Mohanpur 741246, India) L Liebig Ranjan Debnath (Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics University of Kalyani Kalyani India) R Rima Das (Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics University of Kalyani Kalyani India) R Raja Shunmugam (Polymer Research Centre, Centre for Advanced Functional Materials Institution Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India) U Utpal Ghosh (Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics University of Kalyani Kalyani India) A Amirul Islam Mallick (Department of Biological Sciences Institution Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India) R Rahul Das A Arindam Mukherjee (Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur campus, Mohanpur 741246, India)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Metal‐based immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducers commonly rely on elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) to trigger endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The central regulator of inflammatory signaling, NF‐κB, can amplify oxidative stress responses and promote pro‐tumorigenic signaling. Thus, strategies that induce ICD independently of ROS may represent a conceptual shift from ROS‐driven paradigms. Here we show that using a hydrazide derivative of a clinical angiogenesis inhibitor sunitinib to form a Ru(II)–sunitinib hydrazide complex ( 5 ) inhibits NF‐κB signaling (reduced p65 phosphorylation and blocked p50–p65 nuclear translocation), suppresses VEGFR2 phosphorylation, and decreases telomerase activity (cell‐free TRAP assay), thereby redirecting cellular responses toward apoptotic ICD. The sunitinib hydrazide provides the VEGFR2 and telomerase inhibition properties but it also promotes NF‐κB (p50–p65) nuclear translocation and ROS generation. In contrast, the intracellular ROS levels remain largely unchanged with 5 which inhibits the NF‐κB pathway. Simultaneous inhibition of VEGFR2, NF‐κB, and telomerase enforces sustained non‐oxidative ER–mitochondrial stress, triggering DAMP release and apoptotic immunogenic cell death. Folate‐targeted PEG–PCL micellar delivery ( 5@PFC ) improves tumor selectivity fourfold and suppresses tumor growth in immunocompetent 4T1 mice, accompanied by an increased intratumoral CD4:CD8 ratio, indicating enhanced immune activation.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 1, Issue 1
Published July 24, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (15)

S

Shilpendu Ghosh

Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur campus, Mohanpur 741246, India

S

Soumee SenGupta

R

Ratan Halder

Polymer Research Centre, Centre for Advanced Functional Materials Institution Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India

S

Sayar Ghosh

Department of Biological Sciences Institution Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India

S

Soumyajit Biswas

Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics University of Kalyani Kalyani India

S

Sujato Mukherjee

Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM) Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India

M

Moumita Gupta

Polymer Research Centre, Centre for Advanced Functional Materials Institution Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India

B

Banshi Roy

Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur campus, Mohanpur 741246, India

L

Liebig Ranjan Debnath

Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics University of Kalyani Kalyani India

R

Rima Das

Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics University of Kalyani Kalyani India

R

Raja Shunmugam

Polymer Research Centre, Centre for Advanced Functional Materials Institution Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India

U

Utpal Ghosh

Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics University of Kalyani Kalyani India

A

Amirul Islam Mallick

Department of Biological Sciences Institution Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata Mohanpur India

R

Rahul Das

A

Arindam Mukherjee

Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur campus, Mohanpur 741246, India