Photofunctional triplet excited states of cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes: beyond electroluminescence

Protein Labelling with Versatile Phosphorescent Metal Complexes for Live Cell Luminescence Imaging

To take advantage of the luminescent properties of d(6) transition metal complexes to label proteins, versatile bifunctional ligands were prepared. Ligands that contain a 1,2,3-triazole heterocycle were synthesised using Cu(I) catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition "click" chemistry and were used to form phosphorescent Ir(III) and Ru(II) complexes. Their emission properties were readily tuned, by changing either the metal ion or the co-ligands. The complexes were tethered to the metalloprotein transferrin using several conjugation strategies. The Ir(III)/Ru(II)-protein conjugates could be visualised in cancer cells using live cell imaging for extended periods without significant photobleaching. These versatile phosphorescent protein-labelling agents could be widely applied to other proteins and biomolecules and are useful alternatives to conventional organic fluorophores for several applications.

Crystal structure of [1,1'''-bis-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4,4':2',2'':4'',4'''-quaterpyridine-1,1'''-diium-κ(2) N (1'),N (1'')]bis-[2-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl-κ(2) N,C (1)]iridium(III) tris-(hexa-fluorido-phosphate) aceto-nitrile tris-olvate

In the title compound, [Ir(C11H8N)2(C28H20N8)](PF6)3·3CH3CN or [Ir(III)(ppy)2{(2-pym)2qpy(2+)}](PF6)3·3CH3CN (ppy = deprotonated 2-phenyl-pyridine, pym = pyrimidyl and qpy = 4,4':2',2'':4'',4'''-quaterpyrid-yl), the Ir(3+) cation is coordinated by two C atoms and four N atoms in a slightly distorted octa-hedral geometry. The asymmetric unit consists of one complex trication, three hexa-fluorido-phosphate anions and three aceto-nitrile solvent mol-ecules. The average Ir-C distance is 2.011 (14) Å, the average Ir-N(ppy) distance is 2.05 (6) Å and the average Ir-N(qpy) distance is longer at 2.132 (10) Å. The dihedral angles within the 4,4'-bipyridyl units are 31.5 (6) and 23.8 (7)°, while those between the 2-pym and attached pyridyl rings are rather smaller, at 11.7 (9) and 7.1 (9)°. The title compound was refined as a two-component inversion twin.

Cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes as lysosome-targeted photodynamic anticancer and real-time tracking agents

We report the rational design and photodynamic anticancer mechanism studies of iridium(iii) complexes with pH-responsive singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production and lysosome-specific imaging properties.

Stimuli-activatable photosensitizers (PSs) are highly desirable for photodynamic therapy (PDT) to selectively demolish tumor cells. On the other hand, lysosomes are emerging as attractive anticancer targets. Herein, four cyclometalated iridium(iii)–β-carboline complexes with pH-responsive singlet oxygen (¹O₂) production and lysosome-specific imaging properties have been designed and synthesized. Upon visible light (425 nm) irradiation, they show highly selective phototoxicities against cancer cells. Notably, complex 2 ([Ir(N^C)₂(N^N)](PF₆) in which N^C = 2-phenylpyridine and N^N = 1-(2-benzimidazolyl)-β-carboline) displays a remarkably high phototoxicity index (PI = IC₅₀ in the dark/IC₅₀ in light) of >833 against human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Further studies show that 2-mediated PDT induces caspase-dependent apoptosis through lysosomal damage. The pH-responsive phosphorescence of complex 2 can be utilized to monitor the lysosomal integrity upon PDT, which provides a reliable and convenient method for in situ monitoring of therapeutic effect and real-time assessment of treatment outcome. Our work provides a strategy for the construction of highly effective multifunctional subcellular targeted photodynamic anticancer agents through rational structural modification of phosphorescent metal complexes.

Iridium(III) Luminescent Probe for Detection of the Malarial Protein Biomarker Histidine Rich Protein-II

This work outlines the synthesis of a non-emissive, cyclometalated Ir(III) complex, Ir(ppy)2(H2O)2(+) (Ir1), which elicits a rapid, long-lived phosphorescent signal when coordinated to a histidine-containing protein immobilized on the surface of a magnetic particle. Synthesis of Ir1, in high yields,is complete O/N and involves splitting of the parent cyclometalated Ir(III) chloro-bridged dimer into two equivalents of the solvated complex. To confirm specificity, several amino acids were probed for coordination activity when added to the synthesized probe, and only histidine elicited a signal response. Using BNT-II, a branched peptide mimic of the malarial biomarker Histidine Rich Protein II (pfHRP-II), the iridium probe was validated as a tool for HRP-II detection. Quenching effects were noted in the BNT-II/Ir1 titration when compared to L-Histidine/Ir1, but these were attributed to steric hindrance and triplet state quenching. Biolayer interferometry was used to determine real-time kinetics of interaction of Ir1 with BNT-II. Once the system was optimized, the limit of detection of rcHRP-II using the probe was found to be 12.8 nM in solution. When this protein was immobilized on the surface of a 50 µm magnetic agarose particle, the limit of detection was 14.5 nM. The robust signal response of this inorganic probe, as well as its flexibility of use in solution or immobilized on a surface, can lend itself toward a variety of applications, from diagnostic use to imaging.

Ratiometric Molecular Probes Based on Dual Emission of a Blue Fluorescent Coumarin and a Red Phosphorescent Cationic Iridium(III) Complex for Intracellular Oxygen Sensing

Ratiometric molecular probes RP1 and RP2 consisting of a blue fluorescent coumarin and a red phosphorescent cationic iridium complex connected by a tetra- or octaproline linker, respectively, were designed and synthesized for sensing oxygen levels in living cells. These probes exhibited dual emission with good spectral separation in acetonitrile. The photorelaxation processes, including intramolecular energy transfer, were revealed by emission quantum yield and lifetime measurements. The ratios (RI=(Ip/If)) between the phosphorescence (Ip) and fluorescence (If) intensities showed excellent oxygen responses; the ratio of RI under degassed and aerated conditions (RI0/RI) was 20.3 and 19.6 for RP1 and RP2. The introduction of the cationic Ir (III) complex improved the cellular uptake efficiency compared to that of a neutral analogue with a tetraproline linker. The emission spectra of the ratiometric probes internalized into living HeLa or MCF-7 cells could be obtained using a conventional microplate reader. The complex RP2 with an octaproline linker provided ratios comparable to the ratiometric measurements obtained using a microplate reader: the ratio of the RI value of RP2 under hypoxia (2.5% O₂) to that under normoxia (21% O₂) was 1.5 and 1.7 for HeLa and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Thus, the intracellular oxygen levels of MCF-7 cells could be imaged by ratiometric emission measurements using the complex RP2.

The effect of the regioisomeric naphthalimide acetylide ligands on the photophysical properties of N^N Pt(II) bisacetylide complexes

Two N^N Pt(II) bis(acetylide) complexes Pt-1 and Pt-2 with regioisomeric amino NI acetylide ligands (L-1 and L-2, L-1 = 5-amino-4-ethylnaphthaleneimide; L-2 = 3-amino-4-ethylnaphthaleneimide) were prepared. The photophysical properties of the complexes were studied by steady state and time-resolved spectroscopy. The two complexes with regioisomeric ligands (Pt-1 and Pt-2) show different photophysical properties such as maximal absorption wavelength (485 nm vs. 465 nm), triplet excited state lifetimes (23.7 μs vs. 0.9 μs), and different solvent-polarity dependences of the emission properties. The absorption of the complexes is red-shifted as compared with the previously reported Pt(II) complex containing the 4-ethylnaphthaleneimide ligand. The two complexes with regioisomeric NI ligands were used as triplet photosensitizers for triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) upconversion; drastically different upconversion quantum yields (15.0% vs. 1.1%) were observed. Our results are useful for designing new visible light-harvesting Pt(II) bisacetylide complexes as triplet photosensitizers which can be used in areas such as photocatalysis, photodynamic therapy and TTA upconversion.

Fluorescent/phosphorescent dual-emissive conjugated polymer dots for hypoxia bioimaging

Fluorescent/phosphorescent dual-emissive conjugated polymer dots were designed and synthesized, ere used for tumor hypoxia sensing via ratiometric imaging and photoluminescence lifetime imaging.

A kind of fluorescent/phosphorescent dual-emissive conjugated polyelectrolyte has been prepared by introducing phosphorescent platinum(ii) porphyrin (O₂-sensitive) into a fluorene-based conjugated polyelectrolyte (O₂-insensitive), which can form ultrasmall conjugated polymer dots (FP-Pdots) in the phosphate buffer solution (PBS) via self-assembly caused by their amphiphilic structures with hydrophobic backbones and hydrophilic side chains. These FP-Pdots can exhibit an excellent ratiometric luminescence response to O₂ content with high reliability and full reversibility for measuring oxygen levels, and the excellent intracellular ratiometric O₂ sensing properties of the FP-Pdots nanoprobe have also been confirmed by the evident change in the I_red/I_blue ratio values in living cells cultured at different O₂ concentrations. To confirm the reliability of the O₂ sensing measurements of the FP-Pdots nanoprobe, O₂ quenching experiments based on lifetime measurements of phosphorescence from Pt(ii) porphyrin moieties have also been carried out. Utilizing the sensitivity of the long phosphorescence lifetime from Pt(ii) porphyrins to oxygen, the FP-Pdots have been successfully applied in time-resolved luminescence imaging of intracellular O₂ levels, including photoluminescence lifetime imaging and time-gated luminescence imaging, which will evidently improve the sensing sensitivity and reliability. Finally, in vivo oxygen sensing experiments were successfully performed by luminescence imaging of tumor hypoxia in nude mice.

Cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes of (aryl)ethenyl functionalized 2,2′-bipyridine: synthesis, photophysical properties and trans–cis isomerization behavior

The syntheses and photoinduced trans–cis isomerization behavior of 4,4′-(aryl)ethenyl functionalized 2,2′-bipyridyls and their cyclometalated iridium(iii) complexes have been investigated by NMR and electronic spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and combined DFT-TDDFT studies.

Solvent dependent photosensitized singlet oxygen production from an Ir(iii) complex: pointing to problems in studies of singlet-oxygen-mediated cell death

The photophysics of an Ir(iii) complex with phenanthroline and phenylpyridine ligands depends appreciably on the local environment.

Cyclometalated Ir(iii) complexes of deprotonated N-methylbipyridinium ligands: effects of quaternised N centre position on luminescence

The optical emission behaviour of tricationic Ir^III complexes depends markedly on the position of the N-methyl unit in cyclometalating ligands.

The triplet excited state of Bodipy: formation, modulation and application

The accessing of the triplet excited state of one of the most popular fluorophores, boron-dipyrromethene (Bodipy), was summarized.

Highly phosphorescent green emitting iridium(iii) complexes for application in OLEDs

Phenanthrimidazole based iridium(iii) complexes show good performance in terms of brightness and power and current efficiencies.

FIrpic: archetypal blue phosphorescent emitter for electroluminescence

FIrpic is the most investigated bis-cyclometallated iridium complex. This Perspective reviews the main experimental and theoretical aspects of FIrpic as well as its use as sky-blue emitter for OLED.

Visible-light-controlled homo- and copolymerization of styrenes by a bichromophoric Ir–Pd catalyst

Visible-light-controlled polymerization was achieved by a bichromophoric organopalladium catalyst which possesses a naphthyl-substituted cyclometallated Ir(iii) light-absorbing moiety.

Switching of the photophysical properties of Bodipy-derived trans bis(tributylphosphine) Pt(ii) bisacetylide complexes with rhodamine as the acid-activatable unit

A rhodamine moiety was used in two Bodipy-derived trans bis(tributylphosphine) Pt(ii) bisacetylide complexes for switching the photophysical properties of the complexes.

Ir(iii) complexes designed for light-emitting devices: beyond the luminescence color array

This Perspective highlights the photophysics and recent breakthroughs in the study of emissive Ir(iii) compounds, including a personal account elucidating the role of molecular and electronic structures in controlling the photophysics of heteroleptic [Ir(N^C)₂(L^X)]⁺ complexes.

Blue-green emitting cationic iridium complexes with 1,3,4-oxadiazole cyclometallating ligands: synthesis, photophysical and electrochemical properties, theoretical investigation and electroluminescent devices

Oxadiazole-type cyclometallating ligands lead to blue-green-emitting cationic iridium complexes, showing piezochromism and good performances in LECs.

Theoretical research on the effect of regulated π-conjugation on the photophysical properties of Ir(iii) complexes

Larger π-skeleton-conjugation in host ligands of Ir(iii) carbene complexes can result in remarkably blue-shifted emission and can effectively improve the quantum efficiency.

Group 9 organometallic compounds for therapeutic and bioanalytical applications

CONSPECTUS: Compared with organic small molecules, metal complexes offer several distinct advantages as therapeutic agents or biomolecular probes. Carbon atoms are typically limited to linear, trigonal planar, or tetrahedral geometries, with a maximum of two enantiomers being formed if four different substituents are attached to a single carbon. In contrast, an octahedral metal center with six different substituents can display up to 30 different stereoisomers. While platinum- and ruthenium-based anticancer agents have attracted significant attention in the realm of inorganic medicinal chemistry over the past few decades, group 9 complexes (i.e., iridium and rhodium) have garnered increased attention in therapeutic and bioanalytical applications due to their adjustable reactivity (from kinetically liable to substitutionally inert), high water solubility, stability to air and moisture, and relative ease of synthesis. In this Account, we describe our efforts in the development of group 9 organometallic compounds of general form [M(C(∧)N)2(N(∧)N)] (where M = Ir, Rh) as therapeutic agents against distinct biomolecular targets and as luminescent probes for the construction of oligonucleotide-based assays for a diverse range of analytes. Earlier studies by researchers had focused on organometallic iridium(III) and rhodium(III) half-sandwich complexes that show promising anticancer activity, although their precise mechanisms of action still remain unknown. More recently, kinetically-inert group 9 complexes have arisen as fascinating alternatives to organic small molecules for the specific targeting of enzyme activity. Research in our laboratory has shown that cyclometalated octahedral rhodium(III) complexes were active against Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) or NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) activity, or against NO production leading to antivasculogenic activity in cellulo. At the same time, recent interest in the development of small molecules as modulators of protein-protein interactions has stimulated our research group to investigate whether kinetically-inert metal complexes could also be used to target protein-protein interfaces relevant to the pathogenesis of certain diseases. We have recently discovered that cyclometalated octahedral iridium(III) and rhodium(III) complexes bearing C(∧)N ligands based on 2-phenylpyridine could function as modulators of protein-protein interactions, such as TNF-α, STAT3, and mTOR. One rhodium(III) complex antagonized STAT3 activity in vitro and in vivo and displayed potent antitumor activity in a mouse xenograft model of melanoma. Notably, these studies were among the first to demonstrate the direct inhibition of protein-protein interfaces by kinetically-inert group 9 metal complexes. Additionally, we have discovered that group 9 solvato complexes carrying 2-phenylpyridine coligands could function as inhibitors and probes of β-amyloid fibrillogenesis. Meanwhile, the rich photophysical properties of iridium complexes have made them popular tools for the design of luminescent labels and probes. Luminescent iridium(III) complexes benefit from a high quantum yield, responsive emissive properties, long-lived phosphorescence lifetimes, and large Stokes shift values. Over the past few years, our group has developed a number of kinetically-inert, organometallic iridium(III) complexes bearing various C(∧)N and N(∧)N ligands that are selective for G-quadruplex DNA, which is a DNA secondary structure formed from planar stacks of guanine tetrads stabilized by Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding. These complexes were then employed to develop G-quadruplex-based, label-free luminescence switch-on assays for nucleic acids, enzyme activity, small molecules, and metal ions.

Development of a cyclometalated iridium complex with specific intramolecular hydrogen-bonding that acts as a fluorescent marker for the endoplasmic reticulum and causes photoinduced cell death

Cyclometalated iridium complexes have important applications as phosphorescent probes for cellular imaging due to their photophysical properties. Moreover, these properties also make them potential candidates as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors and skin diseases. Treatment of MCF7 breast carcinoma cells with a heteroleptic phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complex C2 followed by confocal imaging indicates that the complex selectively localizes and exhibits high fluorescence in the endoplasmic reticulum. In an unprecedented approach, systematic alteration of functional groups or the metal core in C2 to synthesize a series of iridium(III) complexes (C1–C10) and an organometallic rhenium complex C11 with an imidazolyl modified phenanthroline ligand has indicated the functional groups and their interactions that are responsible for this selective localization. Remarkably, the exposure of the cells treated with C2 to irradiation at 405 nm for one hour led to membrane blebbing and cell death, demonstrating a photosensitizing property of the compound.

Cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes as targeted theranostic anticancer therapeutics: combining HDAC inhibition with photodynamic therapy

The successful design and anticancer mechanistic studies of a series of cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes with histone deacetylase inhibitory and photodynamic therapy (PDT) activities are reported.