Design of photoactivatable metallodrugs: Selective and rapid light-induced ligand dissociation from half-sandwich [Ru([9]aneS3)(N–N′)(py)]2+ complexes

Ligand Rigidity Steers the Selectivity and Efficiency of the Photosubstitution Reaction of Strained Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes

While photosubstitution reactions in metal complexes are usually thought of as dissociative processes poorly dependent on the environment, they are, in fact, very sensitive to solvent effects. Therefore, it is crucial to explicitly consider solvent molecules in theoretical models of these reactions. Here, we experimentally and computationally investigated the selectivity of the photosubstitution of diimine chelates in a series of sterically strained ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes in water and acetonitrile. The complexes differ essentially by the rigidity of the chelates, which strongly influenced the observed selectivity of the photosubstitution. As the ratio between the different photoproducts was also influenced by the solvent, we developed a full density functional theory modeling of the reaction mechanism that included explicit solvent molecules. Three reaction pathways leading to photodissociation were identified on the triplet hypersurface, each characterized by either one or two energy barriers. Photodissociation in water was promoted by a proton transfer in the triplet state, which was facilitated by the dissociated pyridine ring acting as a pendent base. We show that the temperature variation of the photosubstitution quantum yield is an excellent tool to compare theory with experiments. An unusual phenomenon was observed for one of the compounds in acetonitrile, for which an increase in temperature led to a surprising decrease in the photosubstitution reaction rate. We interpret this experimental observation based on complete mapping of the triplet hypersurface of this complex, revealing thermal deactivation to the singlet ground state through intersystem crossing.

Synthesis and photobiological evaluation of Ru(II) complexes with expanded chelate polypyridyl ligands

Photoreactive Ru(II) complexes capable of ejecting ligands have been used extensively for photocaging applications and for the creation of "photocisplatin" reagents. The incorporation of distortion into the structure of the coordination complex lowers the energy of dissociative excited states, increasing the yield of the photosubstitution reaction. While steric clash between ligands induced by adding substituents at the coordinating face of the ligand has been extensively utilized, a lesser known, more subtle approach is to distort the coordination sphere by altering the chelate ring size. Here a systematic study was performed to alter metal-ligand bond lengths, angles, and to cause intraligand distortion by introducing a "linker" atom or group between two pyridine rings. The synthesis, photochemistry, and photobiology of five Ru(II) complexes containing CH₂, NH, O, and S-linked dipyridine ligands was investigated. All systems where stable in the dark, and three of the five were photochemically active in buffer. While a clear periodic trend was not observed, this study lays the foundation for the creation of photoactive systems utilizing an alternative type of distortion to facilitate photosubstitution reactions.

Photosubstitution in a trisheteroleptic ruthenium complex inhibits conjunctival melanoma growth in a zebrafish orthotopic xenograft model

In vivo data are rare but essential for establishing the clinical potential of ruthenium-based photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) compounds, a new family of phototherapeutic drugs that are activated via ligand photosubstitution. Here a novel trisheteroleptic ruthenium complex [Ru(dpp)(bpy)(mtmp)](PF₆)₂ ([2](PF₆)₂, dpp = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, mtmp = 2-methylthiomethylpyridine) was synthesized and its light-activated anticancer properties were validated in cancer cell monolayers, 3D tumor spheroids, and in embryonic zebrafish cancer models. Upon green light irradiation, the non-toxic mtmp ligand is selectively cleaved off, thereby releasing a phototoxic ruthenium-based photoproduct capable notably of binding to nuclear DNA and triggering DNA damage and apoptosis within 24–48 h. In vitro, fifteen minutes of green light irradiation (21 mW cm⁻², 19 J cm⁻², 520 nm) were sufficient to generate high phototherapeutic indexes (PI) for this compound in a range of cancer cell lines including lung (A549), prostate (PC3Pro4), conjunctival melanoma (CRMM1, CRMM2, CM2005.1) and uveal melanoma (OMM1, OMM2.5, Mel270) cancer cell lines. The therapeutic potential of [2](PF₆)₂ was further evaluated in zebrafish embryo ectopic (PC3Pro4) or orthotopic (CRMM1, CRMM2) tumour models. The ectopic model consisted of red fluorescent PC3Pro4-mCherry cells injected intravenously (IV) into zebrafish, that formed perivascular metastatic lesions at the posterior ventral end of caudal hematopoietic tissue (CHT). By contrast, in the orthotopic model, CRMM1- and CRMM2-mCherry cells were injected behind the eye where they developed primary lesions. The maximally-tolerated dose (MTD) of [2](PF₆)₂ was first determined for three different modes of compound administration: (i) incubating the fish in prodrug-containing water (WA); (ii) injecting the prodrug intravenously (IV) into the fish; or (iii) injecting the prodrug retro-orbitally (RO) into the fish. To test the anticancer efficiency of [2](PF₆)₂, the embryos were treated 24 h after engraftment at the MTD. Optimally, four consecutive PACT treatments were performed on engrafted embryos using 60 min drug-to-light intervals and 90 min green light irradiation (21 mW cm⁻², 114 J cm⁻², 520 nm). Most importantly, this PACT protocol was not toxic to the zebrafish. In the ectopic prostate tumour models, where [2](PF₆)₂ showed the highest photoindex in vitro (PI > 31), the PACT treatment did not significantly diminish the growth of primary lesions, while in both conjunctival melanoma orthotopic tumour models, where [2](PF₆)₂ showed more modest photoindexes (PI ∼ 9), retro-orbitally administered PACT treatment significantly inhibited growth of the engrafted tumors. Overall, this study represents the first demonstration in zebrafish cancer models of the clinical potential of ruthenium-based PACT, here against conjunctival melanoma.

A new tris-heteroleptic photoactivated chemotherapy ruthenium complex induces apoptosis upon green light activation in a zebrafish orthothopic conjunctival melanoma xenograft model.

Ruthenium-based PACT agents based on bisquinoline chelates: synthesis, photochemistry, and cytotoxicity

The known ruthenium complex [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(Hmte)](PF6)2 ([1](PF6)2, where tpy = 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, Hmte = 2-(methylthio)ethanol) is photosubstitutionally active but non-toxic to cancer cells even upon light irradiation. In this work, the two analogs complexes [Ru(tpy)(NN)(Hmte)](PF6)2, where NN = 3,3'-biisoquinoline (i-biq, [2](PF6)2) and di(isoquinolin-3-yl)amine (i-Hdiqa, [3](PF6)2), were synthesized and their photochemistry and phototoxicity evaluated to assess their suitability as photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) agents. The increase of the aromatic surface of [2](PF6)2 and [3](PF6)2, compared to [1](PF6)2, leads to higher lipophilicity and higher cellular uptake for the former complexes. Such improved uptake is directly correlated to the cytotoxicity of these compounds in the dark: while [2](PF6)2 and [3](PF6)2 showed low EC50 values in human cancer cells, [1](PF6)2 is not cytotoxic due to poor cellular uptake. While stable in the dark, all complexes substituted the protecting thioether ligand upon light irradiation (520 nm), with the highest photosubstitution quantum yield found for [3](PF6)2 (Φ[3] = 0.070). Compounds [2](PF6)2 and [3](PF6)2 were found both more cytotoxic after light activation than in the dark, with a photo index of 4. Considering the very low singlet oxygen quantum yields of these compounds, and the lack of cytotoxicity of the photoreleased Hmte thioether ligand, it can be concluded that the toxicity observed after light activation is due to the photoreleased aqua complexes [Ru(tpy)(NN)(OH2)]2+, and thus that [2](PF6)2 and [3](PF6)2 are promising PACT candidates.

Ruthenium(II) 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane complexes of curcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin: Synthesis, characterization, and biological activity

Two cationic ruthenium(II) 1,4,7-trithiacyclononane ([9]aneS₃) complexes of curcumin (curcH) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (bdcurcH), namely [Ru(curc)(dmso-S)([9]aneS₃)]Cl (1) and [Ru(bdcurc)(dmso-S)([9]aneS₃)]Cl (2) were prepared from the [RuCl₂(dmso-S)([9]-aneS₃)] precursor and structurally characterized, both in solution and in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. The corresponding PTA complexes [Ru(curc)(PTA)([9]aneS₃)]Cl (3) and [Ru(bdcurc)(PTA)([9]aneS₃)]Cl (4) have been also synthesized and characterized (PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane). Bioinorganic studies relying on mass spectrometry were performed on complexes 1-4 to assess their interactions with the model protein lysozyme. Overall, a rather limited reactivity with lysozyme was highlighted accompanied by a modest cytotoxic potency against three representative cancer cell lines. The moderate pharmacological activity is likely connected to the relatively high stability of these complexes.

Visible-to-NIR-Light Activated Release: From Small Molecules to Nanomaterials

Photoactivatable (alternatively, photoremovable, photoreleasable, or photocleavable) protecting groups (PPGs), also known as caged or photocaged compounds, are used to enable non-invasive spatiotemporal photochemical control over the release of species of interest. Recent years have seen the development of PPGs activatable by biologically and chemically benign visible and near-infrared (NIR) light. These long-wavelength-absorbing moieties expand the applicability of this powerful method and its accessibility to non-specialist users. This review comprehensively covers organic and transition metal-containing photoactivatable compounds (complexes) that absorb in the visible- and NIR-range to release various leaving groups and gasotransmitters (carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and hydrogen sulfide). The text also covers visible- and NIR-light-induced photosensitized release using molecular sensitizers, quantum dots, and upconversion and second-harmonic nanoparticles, as well as release via photodynamic (photooxygenation by singlet oxygen) and photothermal effects. Release from photoactivatable polymers, micelles, vesicles, and photoswitches, along with the related emerging field of photopharmacology, is discussed at the end of the review.

Diastereoselective Synthesis and Two-Step Photocleavage of Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complexes Bearing a Bis(thioether) Ligand

Thioethers are good ligands for photoactivatable ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes, as they form thermally stable complexes that are prone to ligand photosubstitution. Here, we introduce a novel symmetric chelating bis(thioether) ligand scaffold, based on 1,3-bis(methylthio)-2-propanol (4) and report the synthesis and stereochemical characterization of the series of novel ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes [Ru(bpy)₂(L)](PF₆)₂ ([1]–[3](PF₆)₂), where L is ligand 4, its methyl ether, 1,3-bis(methylthio)-2-methoxypropane (5), or its carboxymethyl ether, 1,3-bis(methylthio)-2-(carboxymethoxy)propane (6). Coordination of ligands 4–6 to the bis(bipyridine)ruthenium center gives rise to 16 possible isomers, consisting of 8 possible Λ diastereoisomers and their Δ enantiomers. We found that the synthesis of [1]–[3](PF₆)₂ is diastereoselective, yielding a racemic mixture of the Λ-(S)-eq-(S)-ax-OH_eq-[Ru]²⁺ and Δ-(R)-ax-(R)-eq-OH_eq-[Ru]²⁺ isomers. Upon irradiation with blue light in water, [1]–[3](PF₆)₂ selectively substitute their bis(thioether) ligands for water molecules in a two-step photoreaction, ultimately producing [Ru(bpy)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺ as the photoproduct. The relatively stable photochemical intermediate was identified as cis-[Ru(bpy)₂(κ¹-L)(H₂O)]²⁺ by mass spectrometry. Global fitting of the time evolution of the UV–vis absorption spectra of [1]–[3](PF₆)₂ was employed to derive the photosubstitution quantum yields (Φ₄₄₃) for each of the two photochemical reaction steps separately, revealing very high quantum yields of 0.16–0.25 for the first step and lower values (0.0055–0.0093) for the second step of the photoreaction. The selective and efficient photochemical reaction makes the photocleavable bis(thioether) ligand scaffold reported here a promising candidate for use in e.g. ruthenium-based photo-activated chemotherapy.

Thioethers are excellent photocleavable ligands for ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes but may lead to the formation of several stereoisomers when they are present in bidentate ligands. Here, a chelating bis(thioether) ligand was found to coordinate to Ru(II) diastereoselectively, in spite of the four chiral centers of the resulting complex. Photosubstitution of this bis(thioether) ligand in water occurs via a selective, two-step process that involves a relatively stable mono(aqua) intermediate.

Ruthenium-arene complexes bearing naphthyl-substituted 1,3-dioxoindan-2-carboxamides ligands for G-quadruplex DNA recognition

Quadruplex nucleic acids - DNA/RNA secondary structures formed in guanine rich sequences - proved to have key roles in the biology of cancers and, as such, in recent years they emerged as promising targets for small molecules. Many reports demonstrated that metal complexes can effectively stabilize quadruplex structures, promoting telomerase inhibition, downregulation of the expression of cancer-related genes and ultimately cancer cell death. Although extensively explored as anticancer agents, studies on the ability of ruthenium arene complexes to interact with quadruplex nucleic acids are surprisingly almost unknown. Herein, we report on the synthesis and characterization of four novel Ru(ii) arene complexes with 1,3-dioxoindan-2-carboxamides ligands bearing pendant naphthyl-groups designed to bind quadruplexes by both stacking and coordinating interactions. We show how improvements on the hydrolytic stability of such complexes, by substituting the chlorido leaving ligand with pyridine, have a dramatic impact on their interaction with quadruplexes and on their cytotoxicity against ovarian cancer cells.

Rapid screening of photoactivatable metallodrugs: photonic crystal fibre microflow reactor coupled to ESI mass spectrometry

We explore the efficacy of a hyphenated photonic crystal fibre microflow reactor – high-resolution mass spectrometer system as a method for screening the activity of potential new photoactivatable drugs.

We explore the efficacy of a hyphenated photonic crystal fibre microflow reactor – high-resolution mass spectrometer system as a method for screening the activity of potential new photoactivatable drugs. The use of light to activate drugs is an area of current development as it offers the possibility of reduced side effects due to improved spatial and temporal targeting and novel mechanisms of anticancer activity. The di-nuclear ruthenium complex [{(η⁶-indan)RuCl}₂(μ-2,3-dpp)](PF₆)₂, previously studied by Magennis et al. (Inorg. Chem., 2007, 46, 5059) is used as a model drug to compare the system to standard irradiation techniques. The photodecomposition pathways using blue light radiation are the same for PCF and conventional cuvette methods. Reactions in the presence of small biomolecules 5′-guanosine monophosphate (5′-GMP), 5′-adenosine monophosphate (5′-AMP), l-cysteine (l-Cys) and glutathione (γ-l-glutamyl-l-cysteinyl-glycine, GSH) were studied. The complex was found to bind to nucleobases in the dark and this binding increased upon irradiation with 488 nm light, forming the adducts [(η⁶-indan)Ru₂(μ-2,3-dpp) + 5′-GMP]²⁺ and [(η⁶-indan)Ru + (5′-AMP)]⁺. These findings are consistent with studies using conventional methods. The dinuclear complex also binds strongly to GSH after irradiation, a possible explanation for its lack of potency in cell line testing. The use of the PCF-MS system dramatically reduced the sample volume required and reduced the irradiation time by four orders of magnitude from 14 hours to 12 seconds. However, the reduced sample volume also results in a reduced MS signal intensity. The dead time of the combined system is 15 min, limited by the intrinsic dead volume of the HR-MS.

Green light-induced apoptosis in cancer cells by a tetrapyridyl ruthenium prodrug offering two trans coordination sites

In this work, two new photopharmacological ruthenium prodrugs are described that can be activated by green light. Cell death occurs via apoptosis; it is not a consequence of singlet oxygen generation, but of light-induced photosubstitution reactions.

In this work, two new photopharmacological ruthenium prodrugs are described that can be activated by green light. They are based on the tetrapyridyl biqbpy ligand (6,6′-bis[N-(isoquinolyl)-1-amino]-2,2′-bipyridine), which coordinates to the basal plane of the metal centre and leaves two trans coordination sites for the binding of monodentate sulphur ligands. Due to the distortion of the coordination sphere these trans ligands are photosubstituted by water upon green light irradiation. In vitro cytotoxicity data on A431 and A549 cancer cell lines shows an up to 22-fold increase in cytotoxicity after green light irradiation (520 nm, 75 J cm^–2), compared to the dark control. Optical microscopy cell imaging and flow cytometry indicate that the cancer cells die via apoptosis. Meanwhile, very low singlet oxygen quantum yields (∼1–2%) and cell-free DNA binding studies conclude that light-induced cell death is not caused by a photodynamic effect, but instead by the changes induced in the coordination sphere of the metal by light, which modifies how the metal complexes bind to biomolecules.

Upconverting Nanoparticles Prompt Remote Near-Infrared Photoactivation of Ru(II)-Arene Complexes

The synthesis and full characterisation (including X-ray diffraction studies and DFT calculations) of two new piano-stool Ru(II) -arene complexes, namely [(η(6) -p-cym)Ru(bpy)(m-CCH-Py)][(PF)6]2 (1) and [(η(6) -p-cym)Ru(bpm)(m-CCH-Py)][(PF)6]2 (2; p-cym=p-cymene, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, bpm=2,2'-bipyrimidine, and m-CCH-Py=3-ethynylpyridine), is described and discussed. The reaction of the m-CCH-Py ligand of 1 and 2 with diethyl-3-azidopropyl phosphonate by Cu-catalysed click chemistry affords [(η(6) -p-cym)Ru(bpy)(P-Trz-Py)][(PF)6]2 (3) and [(η(6) -p-cym)Ru(bpm)(P-Trz-Py)][(PF)6]2 (4; P-Trz-Py=[3-(1-pyridin-3-yl-[1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)-propyl]phosphonic acid diethyl ester). Upon light excitation at λ=395 nm, complexes 1-4 photodissociate the monodentate pyridyl ligand and form the aqua adduct ions [(η(6) -p-cym)Ru(bpy)(H2O)](2+) and [(η(6) -p-cym)Ru(bpm)(H2O)](2+). Thulium -doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are functionalised with 4, thus exploiting their surface affinity for the phosphonate group in the complex. The so-obtained nanosystem UCNP@4 undergoes near-infrared (NIR) photoactivation at λ=980 nm, thus producing the corresponding reactive aqua species that binds the DNA-model base guanosine 5'-monophosphate.

Anticancer potential of a photoactivated transplatin derivative containing the methylazaindole ligand mediated by ROS generation and DNA cleavage

Photoinduced DNA damage by trans-[PtCl₂(NH₃)(1-methyl-7-azaindole)] is related to its photocytotoxic activity.

Photo-induced DNA cleavage and cytotoxicity of a ruthenium(II) arene anticancer complex

We report DNA cleavage by ruthenium(II) arene anticancer complex [(η(6)-p-terp)Ru(II)(en)Cl](+) (p-terp=para-terphenyl, en=1,2-diaminoethane, complex 1) after its photoactivation by UVA and visible light, and the toxic effects of photoactivated 1 in cancer cells. It was shown in our previous work (T. Bugarcic et al., J. Med. Chem. 51 (2008) 5310-5319) that this complex exhibits promising toxic effects in several human tumor cell lines and concomitantly its DNA binding mode involves combined intercalative and monofunctional (coordination) binding modes. We demonstrate in the present work that when photoactivated by UVA or visible light, 1 efficiently photocleaves DNA, also in hypoxic media. Studies of the mechanism underlying DNA cleavage by photoactivated 1 reveal that the photocleavage reaction does not involve generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), although contribution of singlet oxygen ((1)O2) to the DNA photocleavage process cannot be entirely excluded. Notably, the mechanism of DNA photocleavage by 1 appears to involve a direct modification of mainly those guanine residues to which 1 is coordinatively bound. As some tumors are oxygen-deficient and cytotoxic effects of photoactivated ruthenium compounds containing {Ru(η(6)-arene)}(2+) do not require the presence of oxygen, this class of ruthenium complexes may be considered potential candidate agents for improved photodynamic anticancer chemotherapy.

Ruthenium complexes as inhibitors of the aldo-keto reductases AKR1C1-1C3

The human aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) from the 1C subfamily are important targets for the development of new drugs. In this study, we have investigated the possible interactions between the recombinant AKR1C enzymes AKR1C1-AKR1C3 and ruthenium(II) complexes; in particular, we were interested in the potential inhibitory actions. Five novel ruthenium complexes (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c), two precursor ruthenium compounds (P1, P2), and three ligands (a, b, c) were prepared and included in this study. Two different types of novel ruthenium(II) complexes were synthesized. First, bearing the sulphur macrocycle [9]aneS3, S-bonded dimethylsulphoxide (dmso-S), and an N,N-donor ligand, with the general formula of [Ru([9]aneS3)(dmso)(N,N-ligand)](PF6)2 (1a, 1b), and second, with the general formula of [(η(6)-p-cymene)RuCl(N,N-ligand)]Cl (2a, 2b, 2c). All of these synthesized compounds were characterized by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography (compounds a, b, c, 1a, 1b) and other standard physicochemical methods. To evaluate the potential inhibitory actions of these compounds on the AKR1C enzymes, we followed enzymatically catalyzed oxidation of the substrate 1-acenaphthenol by NAD(+) in the absence and presence of various micromolar concentrations of the individual compounds. Among 10 compounds, one ruthenium complex (2b) and two precursor ruthenium compounds (P1, P2) inhibited all three AKR1C enzymes, and one ruthenium complex (2a) inhibited only AKR1C3. Ligands a, b and c revealed no inhibition of the AKR1C enzymes. All four of the active compounds showed multiple binding with the AKR1C enzymes that was characterized by an initial instantaneous inhibition followed by a slow quasi-irreversible step. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has examined interactions between these AKR1C enzymes and ruthenium(II) complexes.

Photosolvolysis of cis-[Ru(α-diimine)2(4-aminopyridine)2](2+) complexes: photophysical, spectroscopic, and density functional theory analysis

The photochemical and photophysical properties of the cis-[Ru(II)(α-diimine)2(4-APy)2](2+) complexes, where α-diimine = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 4-APy = 4-aminopyridine I, 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Ph2phen) II, 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) III, and 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (Me2bpy) IV, are reported. The four complexes were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography, (1)H NMR, UV-visible, emission, and transient absorption spectroscopy. Upon photolysis in acetonitrile solution these complexes undergo 4-APy dissociation to give the monoacetonitrile complex (for II, III, and IV) or the bis(acetonitrile) complex (for I). A fairly wide range of excitation wavelengths (from 420 to 580 nm) were employed to explore the photophysics of these systems. Quantum yields and transient spectra are provided. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT analysis of singlet and triplet excited states facilitated our understanding of the photochemical behavior. A detailed assessment of the geometric and electronic structures of the lowest energy spin triplet charge transfer state ((3)MLCT) and spin triplet metal centered state ((3)MC) (dπ → σ* transitions) for species I-IV is presented. A second, previously unobserved, and nondissociative, (3)MC state is identified and is likely involved in the primary step of photodissociation. This new (3)MC state may indeed play a major role in many other photodissociation processes.