Luminescent Dendritic Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Polypyridine Complexes: Synthesis, Emission Behavior, and Biological Properties

Shining New Light on Biological Systems: Luminescent Transition Metal Complexes for Bioimaging and Biosensing Applications

Luminescence imaging is a powerful and versatile technique for investigating cell physiology and pathology in living systems, making significant contributions to life science research and clinical diagnosis. In recent years, luminescent transition metal complexes have gained significant attention for diagnostic and therapeutic applications due to their unique photophysical and photochemical properties. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the recent development of luminescent transition metal complexes for bioimaging and biosensing applications, with a focus on transition metal centers with a d6, d8, and d10 electronic configuration. We elucidate the structure-property relationships of luminescent transition metal complexes, exploring how their structural characteristics can be manipulated to control their biological behavior such as cellular uptake, localization, biocompatibility, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution. Furthermore, we introduce the various design strategies that leverage the interesting photophysical properties of luminescent transition metal complexes for a wide variety of biological applications, including autofluorescence-free imaging, multimodal imaging, organelle imaging, biological sensing, microenvironment monitoring, bioorthogonal labeling, bacterial imaging, and cell viability assessment. Finally, we provide insights into the challenges and perspectives of luminescent transition metal complexes for bioimaging and biosensing applications, as well as their use in disease diagnosis and treatment evaluation.

Dicopper Complexes of p-Cresol-2,6-bis(amide-tether-dpa4-X) (X = MeO and Cl): Selective ROS Generation and Cytotoxicity Enhancement Controlled by Electronic and Hydrophobic Effects of the MeO and Cl Groups

Two new p-cresol-2,6-bis(amide-tether-dpa4-X) ligands (HL4-X, X = MeO and Cl) and their dicopper complexes [Cu2(μ-1,1-OAc)(μ-1,3-OAc)(L4-MeO)]Y (Y = PF6 1a, OAc 1b) and [Cu2(μ-1,3-OAc)2(L4-Cl)]Y (Y = ClO4 2a, OAc 2b) were synthesized. The electronic and hydrophobic effects of the MeO and Cl groups were examined compared with nonsubstituted complex [Cu2(μ-1,1-OAc)(μ-1,3-OAc)(L)]+ (3). The electronic effects were found in crystal structures, spectroscopic characterization, and redox potentials of these complexes. 1b and 2b were reduced to Cu(I)Cu(I) with sodium ascorbate and reductively activated O2 to produce H2O2 and HO•. The H2O2 release and HO• generation are promoted by the electronic effects. The hydrophobic effects increased the lipophilicity of 1b and 2b. Cellular ROS generation of 1b, 2b, and 3 was visualized by DCFH-DA. To examine the intracellular behavior, boron dipyrromethene (Bodipy)-modified complexes 4B and 5B corresponding to 1b and 2b were synthesized. These support that 1b and 2b are localized at the ER and Golgi apparatus. The cytotoxicity of 1b and 2b against various cell lines was examined by MTT assay. 1b and 2b were 7- and 41-fold more cytotoxic than 3. 1b generated ROS selectively in cancer cell but 2b nonselectively in cancer and normal cells, causing cancer- and normal-cell-selective cytotoxicity, respectively.

Metal Peptide Conjugates in Cell and Tissue Imaging and Biosensing

Metal complex luminophores have seen dramatic expansion in application as imaging probes over the past decade. This has been enabled by growing understanding of methods to promote their cell permeation and intracellular targeting. Amongst the successful approaches that have been applied in this regard is peptide-facilitated delivery. Cell-permeating or signal peptides can be readily conjugated to metal complex luminophores and have shown excellent response in carrying such cargo through the cell membrane. In this article, we describe the rationale behind applying metal complexes as probes and sensors in cell imaging and outline the advantages to be gained by applying peptides as the carrier for complex luminophores. We describe some of the progress that has been made in applying peptides in metal complex peptide-driven conjugates as a strategy for cell permeation and targeting of transition metal luminophores. Finally, we provide key examples of their application and outline areas for future progress.

Red-emitting heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes: photophysical and cell labeling study

Two red-emitting heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes (Ir-p and Ir-q) were synthesized and their photophysical and biological properties were analyzed. After their structures have been confirmed by several techniques, such as ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis, and MALDI TOF analyses, their luminescence behavior was investigated in ethanol and PBS (physiological medium, pH ~ 7.4) solutions. Emission spectra of both complexes are dominated by ³MLCT states at room temperature in ethanolic solution, but at 77 K the Ir-q exhibits the ³LC as the dominant emission state. The Ir-q complex shows one of the highest emission quantum yields, 11.5%, for a red emitter based on iridium(III) complexes in aerated PBS solution, with color coordinates (x;y) of (0.712;0.286). Moreover, both complexes display high potential to be used as a biological marker with excitation wavelengths above 400 nm, high water solubility (Ir-p 1838 μmol L^-1, Ir-q 7601 μmol L^-1), and distinct emission wavelengths from the biological autofluorescence. Their cytotoxicity was analyzed in CHO-k1 cells by MTT assays, and the IC₅₀ was estimated as being higher than 131 μmol L^-1 for Ir-p, and higher than 116 μmol L^-1 for Ir-q. Concentrations above 70% of viability were used to perform cell imaging by confocal and fluorescence microscopies and the results suggest that the complexes were internalized by the cell membrane and they are staining the cytoplasm region.

Investigation on Optical and Biological Properties of 2-(4-Dimethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole Based Cycloplatinated Complexes

The optical and biological properties of 2-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole cycloplatinated complexes featuring bioactive ligands ([{Pt(Me2 N-pbt)(C6 F5 )}L] [L=Me2 N-pbtH 1, p-dpbH (4-(diphenylphosphino)benzoic acid) 2, o-dpbH (2-(diphenylphosphino)benzoic acid) 3), [Pt(Me2 N-pbt)(o-dpb)] 4, [{Pt(Me2 N-pbt)(C6 F5 )}2 (μ-PRn P)] [PR4 P=O(CH2 CH2 OC(O)C6 H4 PPh2 )2 5, PR12 P=O{(CH2 CH2 O)3 C(O)C6 H4 PPh2 }2 6] are presented. Complexes 1-6 display 1 ILCT and metal-perturbed 3 ILCT dual emissions. The ratio between both bands is excitation dependent, accomplishing warm-white emissions for 2, 5 and 6. The phosphorescent emission is lost in aerated solutions owing to photoinduced electron transfer to 3 O2 and the formation of 1 O2 , as confirmed in complexes 2 and 4. They also exhibit photoinduced phosphorescence enhancement in non-degassed DMSO due to local oxidation of DMSO by sensitized 1 O2 , which causes a local degassing. Me2 N-pbtH and the complexes specifically accumulate in the Golgi apparatus, although only 2, 3 and 6 were active against A549 and HeLa cancer cell lines, 6 being highly selective in respect to nontumoral cells. The potential photodynamic property of these complexes was demonstrated with complex 4.

Evaluation of the Synthesized Novel Iridium (III) Complexes Against HeLa Cell Lines Through In-Silico, In-Vitro and DNA Nicking

Globally, the pharmaceutical industry is continuously driven in search of new anticancer drugs due to increasing rate of cancer patients. Clinical trials of Cisplatin has been explored, however, usage of Cisplatin as a drug is limited due to its various side effects, hence, alternative to platinum based complex drugs and its analogues are needed. Iridium complexes have been attracted widespread interests by virtue of their pharmacological and photo-physical properties; however the less number of complexes was reported in the literature. In this article, a new series of novel Iridium (III) complexes were synthesized using substituted quinoline Schiff Base (SB) ligands and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The in- vitro cyto-toxicity assay showed that the Iridium (III) complex activity is equal to standard Cisplatin. In addition, computational docking studies have shown that the prominent binding sites for synthesized complexes against HeLa cell lines, which is comparable with standard Cisplatin drugs and other Ruthenium complexes.

Photophysics and Cell Uptake of Self-Assembled Ru(II)Polypyridyl Vesicles

Effective delivery of luminescent probes for cell imaging requires both cell membrane permeation and directing to discrete target organelles. Combined, these requirements can present a significant challenge for metal complex luminophores, that have excellent properties as imaging probes but typically show poor membrane permeability. Here, we report on highly luminescent Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes based on the parent; [Ru(dpp)2(x-ATAP)](PF6)2 structure, where dpp is 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline and x-ATAP is 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline with pendant alkyl-acetylthio chains of varying length; where x is 6; 5-Amido-1,10-phenanthroline-(6-acetylthio-hexanyl). 8; 5-Amido-1,10-phenanthroline-(8-acetylthio-octanyl). 11; 5-Amido-1,10-phenanthroline-(11-acetylthio-undecanyl); and 16; 5-Amido-1,10-phenanthroline-(16-acetylthio-hexadecanyl). Soluble in organic media, the alkyl-acetylthiolated complexes form nanoaggregates of low polydispersity in aqueous solution. From dynamic light scattering the nanoaggregate diameter was measured as 189 nm and 135 nm for 5 × 10-6 M aqueous solutions of [Ru(dpp)2(N∧N)](PF6)2 with the hexadecanoyl and hexanyl tails respectivly. The nanoaggregate exhibited dual exponential emission decays with kinetics that matched closely those of the [Ru(dpp)2(16-ATAP)]2+ incorporated into the membrane of a DPPC liposome. Cell permeability and distribution of [Ru(dpp)2(11-ATAP)]2+ or [Ru(dpp)2(16-ATAP)]2+ were evaluated in detail in live HeLa and CHO cell lines and it was found from aqueous media, that the nanoaggregate complexes spontaneously cross the membrane of mammalian cells. This process seems, on the basis of temperature dependent studies to be activated. Fluorescence imaging of live cells reveal that the complexes localize highly specifically within organelles and that organelle localization changes dramatically in switching the pendent alkyl chains from C16 to C11 as well as on cell line identity. Our data suggests that building metal complexes capable of self-assembling into nano-dimensional vesicles in this way may be a useful means of promoting cell membrane permeability and driving selective targeting that is facile and relatively low cost compared to use of biomolecular vectors.

Chiral Ru(ii) complexes act as a potential non-viral gene carrier for directional transportation to the nucleus and cytoplasm

Guanine-rich DNA sequences can spontaneously fold into four-stranded structures called G-quadruplexes (G4s). G4s have been identified extensively in the promoter regions of several proto-oncogenes, including c-myc, as well as telomeres. G4s have attracted an increasing amount of attention in the field of nanotechnology because of their use as versatile building blocks of DNA-based nanostructures. In this study, we report the self-assembly of c-myc G-quadruplex DNA controlled by a pair of chiral ruthenium(ii) complexes coordinated by 2-(4-phenyacetylenephenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline (PBEPIP), Λ-[Ru(bpy)₂(PBEPIP)](ClO₄)₂ (Λ-RM0627, bpy = bipyridine) and Δ-[Ru(bpy)₂(PBEPIP)](ClO₄)₂ (Δ-RM0627). Λ-RM0627 could promote the high-order self-assembly of c-myc G-quadruplex DNA into a nanowire structure, whereas Δ-RM0627 could induce DNA condensation into G-quadruplex aggregates. Moreover, in vitro studies on human liver carcinoma HepG2 cells showed that the nanowire of c-myc G-quadruplex DNA promoted by Λ-RM0627 could be localized in the nuclei of cells, whereas the nanoparticle of c-myc G-quadruplex DNA generated by Δ-RM0627 was taken up and localized in the cytoplasm. This study provides examples of the enantioselective self-assembly of G4 DNA molecules controlled by chiral ruthenium(ii) complexes and suggests the potential applications of assembled nanostructures as non-viral DNA vectors for gene therapy.

Cyclometalated rhodium and iridium complexes with imidazole containing Schiff bases: Synthesis, structure and cellular imaging

Cyclometalated rhodium(III) and iridium(III) complexes (1-4) of two Schiff base ligands L1 and L2 with the general formula [M(ppy)2(Ln)]Cl {M = Rh, Ir; ppy = 2-phenylpyridine; n = 1, 2; L = Schiff base ligand} have been synthesized. The new ligands and the complexes have been characterized with spectroscopic techniques. Electrochemistry of the complexes revealed anodic behavior, corresponding to an M(III) to M(IV) oxidation. The X-ray crystal structures of complexes 2 and 4 have also been determined to interpret the coordination behavior of the complexes. Photophysical study shows that all the complexes display fluorescence at room temperature with quantum yield of about 3 × 10-2 to 5 × 10-2. The electronic absorption spectra of all the complexes fit well with the computational studies. Cellular imaging studies were done with the newly synthesized complexes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of organometallic complexes of rhodium(III) and iridium(III) with Schiff base ligands explored for cellular imaging. Emphasis of this work lies on the structural features, photophysical behavior, cellular uptake and imaging of the fluorescent transition metal complexes.

Room temperature phosphorescent triarylborane functionalized iridium complexes

We report a series of room temperature phosphorescent compounds 1-6 composed of triarylborane (TAB) and cyclometallated iridium complexes. The optical characteristics such as energy of transition and luminescence quantum yield of these compounds can be conveniently fine-tuned by judiciously varying the cyclometallating ligand and the spacer between boron and iridium centers. Compounds 1-6 exhibit bright phosphorescence with the emission color ranging from green to red under a N2 atmosphere. A maximum quantum yield of 0.95 was observed for complex 2. Complexes 1-6 exhibit a rare type of dual emission from singlet and triplet excited states under ambient conditions. The experimental observations are well supported by the theoretical calculations.

New Properties of a Bioinspired Pyridine Benzimidazole Compound as a Novel Differential Staining Agent for Endoplasmic Reticulum and Golgi Apparatus in Fluorescence Live Cell Imaging

In this study, we explored new properties of the bioinspired pyridine benzimidazole compound B2 (2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-2-yl)phenol) regarding its potential use as a differential biomarker. For that, we performed 1D ¹HNMR (TOCSY), UV-Vis absorption spectra in different organic solvents, voltammetry profile (including a scan-rate study), and TD-DFT calculations that including NBO analyses, to provide valuable information about B2 structure and luminescence. In our study, we found that the B2 structure is highly stable, where the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) seems to have a crucial role in the stability of luminescence, and its emission can be assigned as fluorescence. In fact, we found that the relatively large Stokes Shift observed for B2 (around 175 nm) may be attributed to the stability of the B2 geometry and the strength of its IHB. On the other hand, we determined that B2 is biocompatible by cytotoxicity experiments in HeLa cells, an epithelial cell line. Furthermore, in cellular assays we found that B2 could be internalized by passive diffusion in absence of artificial permeabilization at short incubation times (15 min to 30 min). Fluorescence microscopy studies confirmed that B2 accumulates in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, two organelles involved in the secretory pathway. Finally, we determined that B2 exhibited no noticeable blinking or bleaching after 1 h of continuous exposure. Thus, B2 provides a biocompatible, rapid, simple, and efficient way to fluorescently label particular organelles, producing similar results to that obtained with other well-established but more complex methods.

Design and synthesis of a luminescent iridium complex-peptide hybrid (IPH) that detects cancer cells and induces their apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) triggers the cell-extrinsic apoptosis pathway by complexation with its signaling receptors such as death receptors (DR4 and DR5). TRAIL is a C₃-symmetric type II transmembrane protein, consists of three monomeric units. Cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes such as fac-Ir(tpy)₃ (tpy = 2-(4-tolyl)pyridine) also possess a C₃-symmetric structure and are known to have excellent luminescence properties. In this study, we report on the design and synthesis of a C₃-symmetric and luminescent Ir complex-peptide hybrid (IPH), which contains a cyclic peptide that had been reported to bind to death receptor (DR5). The results of MTT assay of Jurkat, K562 and Molt-4 cells with IPH and co-staining experiments with IPH and an anti-DR5 antibody indicate that IPH binds to DR5 and induces apoptosis in a manner parallel to the DR5 expression level. Mechanistic studies of cell death suggest that apoptosis and necrosis-like cell death are differentiated by the position of the hydrophilic part that connects Ir complex and the peptide units. These findings suggest that IPHs could be a promising tool for controlling apoptosis and necrosis by activation of the extra-and intracellular cell death pathway and to develop new anticancer drugs that detect cancer cells and induce their cell death.

Luminescent Iridium Complex-Peptide Hybrids (IPHs) for Therapeutics of Cancer: Design and Synthesis of IPHs for Detection of Cancer Cells and Induction of Their Necrosis-Type Cell Death

Death receptors (DR4 and DR5) offer attractive targets for cancer treatment because cancer cell death can be induced by apoptotic signal upon binding of death ligands such as tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) with death receptors. Cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes such as fac-Ir(tpy)₃ (tpy = 2-(4-tolyl)pyridine) possess a C₃-symmetric structure like TRAIL and exhibit excellent luminescence properties. Therefore, cyclometalated Ir complexes functionalized with DR-binding peptide motifs would be potent TRAIL mimics to detect cancer cells and induce their cell death. In this study, we report on the design and synthesis of C₃-symmetric and luminescent Ir complex-peptide hybrids (IPHs), which possess cyclic peptide that had been reported to bind DR5. The results of 27 MHz quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements of DR5 with IPHs and costaining experiments of IPHs and anti-DR5 antibody, suggest that IPHs bind with DR5 and undergo internalization into cytoplasm, possibly via endocytosis. It was also found that IPHs induce slow cell death of these cancer cells in a parallel manner to the DR5 expression level. These results indicate that IPHs may offer a promising tool as artificial luminescent mimics of death ligands to develop a new category of anticancer agents that detect and kill cancer cells.

Tracking mitochondrial dynamics during apoptosis with phosphorescent fluorinated iridium(iii) complexes

A series of phosphorescent fluorinated Ir(iii) complexes, which exhibit low cytotoxicity, excellent photostability and specificity of mitochondria-targeting, were used for tracking mitochondrial dynamics during apoptosis.

Preparation of metalated azine complexes of iridium(iii)

The preparation of half-sandwich κ¹-aldazine and κ¹-ketazine complexes of iridium and their metalation reaction affording chelate κ²-azine derivatives are described. The photoluminescence properties of the chelate complexes are also described.

Heteronuclear Ir(III)-Ln(III) Luminescent Complexes: Small-Molecule Probes for Dual Modal Imaging and Oxygen Sensing

Luminescent, mixed metal d-f complexes have the potential to be used for dual (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and luminescence) in vivo imaging. Here, we present dinuclear and trinuclear d-f complexes, comprising a rigid framework linking a luminescent Ir center to one (Ir·Ln) or two (Ir·Ln2) lanthanide metal centers (where Ln = Eu(III) and Gd(III), respectively). A range of physical, spectroscopic, and imaging-based properties including relaxivity arising from the Gd(III) units and the occurrence of Ir(III) → Eu(III) photoinduced energy-transfer are presented. The rigidity imposed by the ligand facilitates high relaxivities for the Gd(III) complexes, while the luminescence from the Ir(III) and Eu(III) centers provide luminescence imaging capabilities. Dinuclear (Ir·Ln) complexes performed best in cellular studies, exhibiting good solubility in aqueous solutions, low toxicity after 4 and 18 h, respectively, and punctate lysosomal staining. We also demonstrate the first example of oxygen sensing in fixed cells using the dyad Ir·Gd, via two-photon phosphorescence lifetime imaging (PLIM).

Novel aminoalkyl tris-cyclometalated iridium complexes as cellular stains

Novel tris-cyclometalated luminescent iridium complexes capable of staining cells and showing in cellulo lifetimes in the microsecond regime are reported.

High-affinity sequence-selective DNA binding by iridium(iii) polypyridyl organometallopeptides

We demonstrate the application of solid-phase peptide synthesis methods for assembling polynuclear Ir(iii) organometallopeptides that exhibit high DNA-binding affinity, sequence selectivity, and high cytotoxic effect towards a set of cancer cell lines.

Functionalization of cyclometalated iridium(iii) polypyridine complexes for the design of intracellular sensors, organelle-targeting imaging reagents, and metallodrugs

We summarize the biological applications of selected organometallic iridium(iii) complexes as intracellular sensors, organelle-targeting imaging reagents, and metallodrugs.

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.

Visualization of Zn²⁺ ions in live zebrafish using a luminescent iridium(III) chemosensor

A novel luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complex-based chemosensor (1) bearing a zinc-specific receptor, tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, and the 3-phenyl-1H-pyrazole ligand has been designed and synthesized. Upon the addition of Zn(2+) ions to a solution of iridium(III) complex 1, a pronounced luminescence color change from blue to green can be observed, which may be attributed to the suppression of photoinduced electron transfer upon complexation of complex 1 with Zn(2+) ions. The interaction of iridium(III) complex 1 with Zn(2+) ions was investigated by UV-vis absorption titration, emission titration, and (1)H NMR titration. Furthermore, the iridium(III) complex 1 exhibited good selectivity for Zn(2+) over 13 other common metal ions, including K(+), Ag(+), Na(+), Ni(2+), Fe(3+), Hg(2+), Cd(2+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cu(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), and Pb(2+) ions. The practical application of the iridium(III) complex 1 in visualizing intracellular Zn(2+) distribution in live zebrafish was also demonstrated.

Advanced materials and nanotechnology for drug delivery

Many biological barriers are of great importance. For example, stratum corneum, the outmost layer of skin, effectively protects people from being invaded by external microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Cell membranes help organisms maintain homeostasis by controlling substances to enter and leave cells. However, on the other hand, these biological barriers seriously restrict drug delivery. For instance, stratum corneum has a very dense structure and only allows very small molecules with a molecular weight of below 500 Da to permeate whereas most drug molecules are much larger than that. A wide variety of drugs including genes needs to enter cells for proper functioning but cell membranes are not permeable to them. To overcome these biological barriers, many drug-delivery routes are being actively researched and developed. In this research news, we will focus on two advanced materials and nanotechnology approaches for delivering vaccines through the skin for painless and efficient immunization and transporting drug molecules to cross cell membranes for high-throughput intracellular delivery.

Synthesis and photochemical properties of pH responsive tris-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes that contain a pyridine ring on the 2-phenylpyridine ligand

In our previous publication, it was reported that fac-Ir(atpy)3 3 (atpy = 2-(5'-amino-4'-tolyl)pyridine), which contains three amino groups at the 5'-position of the atpy ligands, exhibits a pH-dependent change in the color of the emitted radiation. Aqueous solution of 3 shows a weak red emission (at around 613 nm) under neutral or basic conditions, but the emission color changes to green (at around 530 nm) under acidic conditions, where the NH2 group is protonated to become an electron-withdrawing (NH3)(+) group. In this manuscript, we report on the preparation of some new pH-responsive Ir(III) complexes; fac-Ir(4Pyppy)3 5 and fac-Ir(3Pyppy)3 6 that contain three pyridyl groups at the 5'-position of the 2-phenylpyridine (ppy) ligand, and Ir(4Pyppym)3 7 and Ir(3Pyppym)3 8 that contain a pyridyl group at the same position of the 2-phenylpyrimidine (ppym) ligand. The introduction of three pyridyl groups on iodinated Ir(ppy)3 and Ir(ppym)3 was achieved via Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction assisted by microwave irradiation. Solutions of the acid-free Ir(III) complexes 5, 6, 7, and 8 showed a strong green emission (at around 500 nm) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Protonation of three pyridyl groups of 5 and 7 causes a significant red-shift in the emission wavelength (at around 600 nm) with a decrease in emission intensity. The pH-dependent emission change of these complexes is also discussed. The generation of singlet oxygen ((1)O2) by the photoirradiation of the Ir complexes 5 and 6 was evidenced by the decomposition of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF), the oxidation of thioanisole, and the oxidation of 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-pyrroline-3-carboxamide (TPC). The induction of necrosis-like cell death of HeLa-S3 cells upon photoirradiation of 5 at 465 nm is also reported.

Ring-shaped Re(I) multinuclear complexes with unique photofunctional properties

We synthesized for the first time a series of emissive ring-shaped Re(I) complexes (Re-rings) with various numbers of Re(I) units and various lengths of bridge ligands. The photophysical properties of the Re-rings could be varied widely through changes in the size of the central cavity. A smaller central cavity of the Re-rings induced intramolecular π-π interactions between the ligands and consequently caused a stronger emission and a longer lifetime of the excited state. The Re-rings can function as efficient and durable photosensitizers. The combination of a trinuclear Re-ring photosensitizer with fac-[Re(bpy)(CO)3(MeCN)](+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) as a catalyst photocatalyzed CO2 reduction with the highest quantum yield of 82%.

A diamond nanoneedle array for potential high-throughput intracellular delivery

A dense diamond nanoneedle array is capable of rapidly and conveniently delivering fluorescent probe and drug molecules to a large number of cells. This simple approach paves the way for potential high-throughput delivery of genes, drugs, and fluorescent probes into cells without endocytosis.