Photochemically Controlled Release of the Glucose Transporter 1 Inhibitor for Glucose Deprivation Responses and Cancer Suppression Research

Cancer cells need a greater supply of glucose mainly due to their aerobic glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect. Glucose transport by glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) is the rate-limiting step for glucose uptake, making it a potential cancer therapeutic target. However, GLUT1 is widely expressed and performs crucial functions in a variety of cells, and its indiscriminate inhibition will cause serious side effects. In this study, we designed and synthesized a photocaged GLUT1 inhibitor WZB117-PPG to suppress the growth of cancer cells in a spatiotemporally controllable manner. WZB117-PPG exhibited remarkable photolysis efficiency and substantial cytotoxicity toward cancer cells under visible light illumination with minimal side effects, ensuring its safety as a potential cancer therapy. Furthermore, our quantitative proteomics data delineated a comprehensive portrait of responses in cancer cells under glucose deprivation, underlining the mechanism of cell death via necrosis rather than apoptosis. We reason that our study provides a potentially reliable cancer treatment strategy and can be used as a spatiotemporally controllable trigger for studying nutrient deprivation-related stress responses.

Metallosurfactant aggregates: Structures, properties, and potentials for multifarious applications

Metallosurfactants offer important scientific and technological advances due to their novel interfacial properties. As a special class of structures formed by the integration of metal ions into amphiphilic surfactant molecules, these metal-based amphiphilic molecules possess both organometallic and surface chemistries. This review critically examines the structural transitions of metallosurfactants from micelle to vesicle upon metal coordination. The properties of a metallosurfactant can be changed by tuning the coordination between the metal ions and surfactants. The self-assembled behavior of surfactants can be controlled by selecting transition-metal ions that enhance their catalytic efficiency in environmental applications by applying a hydrogen evolution reaction or oxygen evolution reaction. We present the different scattering techniques available to examine the properties of metallosurfactants (e.g., size, shape, structure, and aggregation behavior). The utility of metallosurfactants in catalysis, the synthesis of nanoparticles, and biomedical applications (involving diagnostics and therapeutics) is also explored.

Progress in construction and release of natural polysaccharide-platinum nanomedicines: A review

Natural polysaccharides are natural biomaterials that have become candidate materials for nano-drug delivery systems due to their excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility. Platinum (Pt) drugs have been widely used in the clinical therapy for various solid tumors. However, their extensive systemic toxicity and the drug resistance acquired by cancer cells limit the applications of platinum drugs. Modern nanobiotechnology provides the possibility for targeted delivery of platinum drugs to the tumor site, thereby minimizing toxicity and optimizing the efficacies of the drugs. In recent years, numerous natural polysaccharide-platinum nanomedicine delivery carriers have been developed, such as nanomicelles, nanospheres, nanogels, etc. Herein, we provide an overview on the construction and drug release of natural polysaccharide-Pt nanomedicines in recent years. Current challenges and future prospectives in this field are also put forward. In general, combining with irradiation and tumor microenvironment provides a significant research direction for the construction of natural polysaccharide-platinum nanomedicines and the release of responsive drugs in the future.

Study of the biological activity of photoactive bipyridyl-Ru(II) complexes containing 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA)

The water-soluble ruthenium complex cis-[Ru(dcbpyH)₂(PTAH)₂]Cl₂·3H₂O (1) (dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine; PTA = 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane) has been synthesized and characterised by NMR, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The optical properties of 1 were studied, including photoactivation under visible light, as well as its biological properties, together with those of the previously published Ru complexes cis-[Ru(bpy)₂(PTA)₂]Cl₂ (2), trans-[Ru(bpy)₂(PTA)₂](CF₃SO₃)₂ (3) and cis-[Ru(bpy)₂(H₂O)(PTA)](CF₃SO₃)₂ (4) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). Anticancer activities of the complexes against human lung (A549), cervical (HeLa) and prostate (PC3) carcinoma cells were evaluated under dark conditions and upon photoactivation with visible light. None of the complexes exhibited cytotoxic activity in the absence of light irradiation (IC₅₀ > 100 μM). However, after photoactivation, the cytotoxicity of complexes 1, 2 and 3 against the three cell lines markedly increased, resulting in IC₅₀ values between 25.3 μM and 9.3 μM. Notably, these complexes did not show toxicity against red blood cells. These findings show the potential of complexes 1, 2 and, particularly, 3 for selective and controlled cancer photochemotherapy. The reactivity of the Ru complexes against DNA under UV-Vis irradiation was studied by analysing plasmid mobility. Experimental data shows that 4 unfolds supercoiled DNA (SC DNA) both in the dark and under visible irradiation, while 1 and 3 are only active under light, being 2 inactive in either case. The unfolding activities of complexes 3 and 4 were dependent on the air present in the reaction. The measured intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon irradiation with complexes 1, 2 and 3 suggest that their mechanism of action is related to oxidative stress.

Water-Soluble Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecules (CORMs)

Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs) are promising candidates for producing carbon monoxide in the mammalian body for therapeutic purposes. At higher concentrations, CO has a harmful effect on the mammalian organism. However, lower doses at a controlled rate can provide cellular signaling for mandatory pharmacokinetic and pathological activities. To date, exploring the therapeutic implications of CO dose as a prodrug has attracted much attention due to its therapeutic significance. There are two different methods of CO insertion, i.e., indirect and direct exogenous insertion. Indirect exogenous insertion of CO suggests an advantage of reduced toxicity over direct exogenous insertion. For indirect exogenous insertion, researchers are facing the issue of tissue selectivity. To solve this issue, developers have considered the newly produced CORMs. Herein, metal carbonyl complexes (MCCs) are covalently linked with CO molecules to produce different CORMs such as CORM-1, CORM-2, and CORM-3, etc. All these CORMs required exogenous CO insertion to achieve the therapeutic targets at the optimized rate under peculiar conditions or/and triggering. Meanwhile, the metal residue was generated from i-CORMs, which can propagate toxicity. Herein, we explain CO administration, water-soluble CORMs, tissue accumulation, and cytotoxicity of depleted CORMs and the kinetic profile of CO release.

Dual-sensitive dual-prodrug nanoparticles with light-controlled endo/lysosomal escape for synergistic photoactivated chemotherapy

The clinical application of conventional chemotherapeutic agents, represented by cisplatin, is limited by severe side effects. So, it is essential to explore more safer and controlled drug delivery systems for synergistic chemotherapy. In this work, we designed dual-sensitive dual-prodrug nanoparticles (DDNPs) for photoactivated platinum-based synergistic chemotherapy. With photosensitivity, DDNPs could be photoactivated from inert Pt(IV) to toxic Pt(II) under safe UVA light in a spatiotemporally controlled manner. Concurrently, mild could be generated from DDNPs to assist the endo/lysosomal escape of DDNPs for better photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT). Furthermore, with acid-sensitivity, demethylcantharidin (DMC), a protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibitor, was released to block the DNA repair pathway and thereby could sensitize platinum-based chemotherapy in intracellular acidic microenvironments. Along with a precise ratio (Pt : DMC = 1 : 2), DDNPs had a powerful synergistic anti-cancer effect in vitro and in vivo. In the future, DDNPs have great potential as a safe and multifunctional drug delivery system for precise nanomedicine in clinical treatments.

Isothiocyanate l-argininato copper(II) complexes - Solution structure, DNA interaction, anticancer and antimicrobial activity

l-argininato copper(II) complexes have been intensively investigated in a variety of diseases due to their therapeutic potential. Here we report the results of comprehensive structural studies (ESI-MS, NIR-VIS-UV, EPR) on the complexes arising in aqueous solutions of two ternary copper(II) complexes with molecular formulas from crystal structures, [Cu(l-Arg)₂(NCS)](NCS)·H₂O (1) and [Cu(l-Arg)(NCS)₂] (2) (l-Arg = l-arginine). Reference systems, the ternary Cu(II)/l-Arg/NCS^- as well as binary Cu(II)/NCS^- and Cu(II)/l-Arg, were studied in parallel in aqueous solutions by pH-potentiometric titration, EPR and VIS spectroscopy to characterize stability, structures and speciation of the formed species over the broad pH range. Comparative analysis of the obtained results showed that at a pH close to 7.0 mononuclear [Cu(l-Arg)₂(NCS)]⁺ is the only species in water solution of 1, while equilibrium between [Cu(l-Arg)(SCN)]⁺ and binary [Cu(l-Arg)₂]²⁺ was detected in water solution of 2. According to DNA binding studies, the [Cu(l-Arg)₂(NCS)]⁺, [Cu(l-Arg)(SCN)]⁺ and [Cu(l-Arg)₂]²⁺ species could be considered as strong minor groove binding agents causing, in the presence of H₂O_2, the involvement of ROS in plasmid damage. The human carcinoma cells (A549 cell line) were generally significantly more sensitive to cytotoxic and antiproliferative effect of compounds 1 and 2 than human normal cells. The studied compounds shown antimicrobial activity against bacteria belonging to Enterobacteriaceae family.

Enhanced luminescence intensity of near-infrared-sensitized upconversion nanoparticles via Ca2+ doping for a nitric oxide release platform

Light-induced NO release based on exogenous NO donors has attracted substantial attention in clinical applications; the induction light source usually converts near-infrared light to blue or ultraviolet light. However, the low efficiency of near-infrared light-assisted chemical light energy conversion remains a challenge, especially for NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+ photoconverting near-infrared light to ultraviolet (UV) and blue light. In this paper, a luminescence-enhanced strategy is reported by doping Ca2+ into NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+ and coating it with NaGdF4 through a two-step solvothermal method. Then, UCNPs modified with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (M-β-CD) are loaded on a ruthenium nitrosyl complex [(3)Ru(NO)(Cl)] as nitric oxide release-molecules (NORMs). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) data demonstrated that Ca2+ was successfully doped into NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+ nanoparticles as the core, and a pure hexagonal phase, NaYF4, was obtained from the doping of Ca2+. TEM revealed that the crystallinity was significantly improved after Ca2+ doping, and the core-shell structure was successfully synthesized, with NaGdF4 directionally grown on the NaYF4:Ca/Yb/Tm core. Fluorescence tests showed that, especially in the ultraviolet and blue light excitation wavelength regions, the UC emission intensity of the Ca-doped NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@NaGdF4 core-shell UCNPs increased by 302.95 times vs. NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+ UCNPs. Finally, the release of NO was tested by the Griess method. Under 980 nm irradiation, the cell viability distinctly decreased with increasing UCNPs@M-β-CD-NORMs concentration. This study shows that NORM release of NO is triggered by enhanced up-converted UV and blue light, which can be used for the development of UV photo-sensitive drugs.

New AlIIIZnII and AlIIICuII dinuclear complexes: Phosphatase-like activity and cytotoxicity

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of the first two Al^III(μ-OH)M^II (M = Zn (1) and Cu (2)) complexes with the unsymmetrical ligand H₂L{2-[[(2-hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)]aminomethyl]-6-bis(pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl}-4-methylphenol. The complexes were characterized through elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and potentiometric titration. In addition, complex 2 was characterized by electronic spectroscopy. Kinetics studies on the hydrolysis of the model substrate bis(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate by 1 and 2 show Michaelis-Menten behavior, with 1 being slightly more active (8.31%) than 2 (at pH 7.0). The antimicrobial effect of the compounds was studied using four bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeuruginosa, Shigella sonnei and Shigella dysenteriae) and for both complexes the inhibition of bacterial growth was superior to that caused by sulfapyridine, but inferior to that of tetracycline. The dark cytotoxicity and photocytotoxicity (under UV-A light) of the complexes in a chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line were investigated. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against K562 cells, which undergoes a 2-fold increase on applying 5 min of irradiation with UV-A light. Complex 2 was more effective and a good correlation between cytotoxicity and intracellular concentration was observed, the intracellular copper concentration required to inhibit 50% of cell growth being 3.5 × 10^-15 mol cell^-1.

Photofunctional transition metal complexes as cellular probes, bioimaging reagents and phototherapeutics

This critical review summarises the recent biological applications of transition metal complexes as cellular probes, bioimaging reagents and phototherapeutics.

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.

Understanding the Role of Aromaticity and Conformational Changes in Bond Dissociation Processes of Photo-Protecting Groups

Photoremovable protecting groups (PPGs) provide spatial and temporal control over the release of various chemicals. Using surface hopping studies with multireference electronic structure methods we have unravelled the nuclear and the electronic events at play. Furthermore, the electronic changes along the reaction path were probed using excited state aromaticity quantifiers and orbital analysis. We find that upon irradiation with light of appropriate wavelength on the substituted coumarin system a π-π* electronic excitation occurs which is followed by an electron loss from the aromatic ring on gaining proper alignment between the π* and the C-LG (LG = leaving group) σ*. This alignment is brought about by a critical dihedral angle change in the molecule, which subsequently triggers C-LG bond cleavage. The sequence of events is indicative of an intramolecular electron catalyzed process which is established through investigations of changes in aromaticity of the phenyl ring which acts as an electron reservoir.

Photo-Uncaging of a Microtubule-Targeted Rigidin Analogue in Hypoxic Cancer Cells and in a Xenograft Mouse Model

Marine alkaloid rigidins are cytotoxic compounds known to kill cancer cells at nanomolar concentrations by targeting the microtubule network. Here, a rigidin analogue containing a thioether group was "caged" by coordination of its thioether group to a photosensitive ruthenium complex. In the dark, the coordinated ruthenium fragment prevented the rigidin analogue from inhibiting tubulin polymerization and reduced its toxicity in 2D cancer cell line monolayers, 3D lung cancer tumor spheroids (A549), and a lung cancer tumor xenograft (A549) in nude mice. Photochemical activation of the prodrug upon green light irradiation led to the photosubstitution of the thioether ligand by water, thereby releasing the free rigidin analogue capable of inhibiting the polymerization of tubulin. In cancer cells, such photorelease was accompanied by a drastic reduction of cell growth, not only when the cells were grown in normoxia (21% O₂) but also remarkably in hypoxic conditions (1% O₂). In vivo, low toxicity was observed at a dose of 1 mg·kg^-1 when the compound was injected intraperitoneally, and light activation of the compound in the tumor led to 30% tumor volume reduction, which represents the first demonstration of the safety and efficacy of ruthenium-based photoactivated chemotherapy compounds in a tumor xenograft.

CO-Releasing Materials: An Emphasis on Therapeutic Implications, as Release and Subsequent Cytotoxicity Are the Part of Therapy

The CO-releasing materials (CORMats) are used as substances for producing CO molecules for therapeutic purposes. Carbon monoxide (CO) imparts toxic effects to biological organisms at higher concentration. If this characteristic is utilized in a controlled manner, it can act as a cell-signaling agent for important pathological and pharmacokinetic functions; hence offering many new applications and treatments. Recently, research on therapeutic applications using the CO treatment has gained much attention due to its nontoxic nature, and its injection into the human body using several conjugate systems. Mainly, there are two types of CO insertion techniques into the human body, i.e., direct and indirect CO insertion. Indirect CO insertion offers an advantage of avoiding toxicity as compared to direct CO insertion. For the indirect CO inhalation method, developers are facing certain problems, such as its inability to achieve the specific cellular targets and how to control the dosage of CO. To address these issues, researchers have adopted alternative strategies regarded as CO-releasing molecules (CORMs). CO is covalently attached with metal carbonyl complexes (MCCs), which generate various CORMs such as CORM-1, CORM-2, CORM-3, ALF492, CORM-A1 and ALF186. When these molecules are inserted into the human body, CO is released from these compounds at a controlled rate under certain conditions or/and triggers. Such reactions are helpful in achieving cellular level targets with a controlled release of the CO amount. However on the other hand, CORMs also produce a metal residue (termed as i-CORMs) upon degradation that can initiate harmful toxic activity inside the body. To improve the performance of the CO precursor with the restricted development of i-CORMs, several new CORMats have been developed such as micellization, peptide, vitamins, MOFs, polymerization, nanoparticles, protein, metallodendrimer, nanosheet and nanodiamond, etc. In this review article, we shall describe modern ways of CO administration; focusing primarily on exclusive features of CORM's tissue accumulations and their toxicities. This report also elaborates on the kinetic profile of the CO gas. The comprehension of developmental phases of CORMats shall be useful for exploring the ideal CO therapeutic drugs in the future of medical sciences.

Predictive Strength of Photophysical Measurements for in Vitro Photobiological Activity in a Series of Ru(II) Polypyridyl Complexes Derived from π-Extended Ligands

This study investigates the correlation between photocytotoxicity and the prolonged excited-state lifetimes exhibited by certain Ru(II) polypyridyl photosensitizers comprised of π-expansive ligands. The eight metal complexes selected for this study differ markedly in their triplet state configurations and lifetimes. Human melanoma SKMEL28 and human leukemia HL60 cells were used as in vitro models to test photocytotoxicity induced by the compounds when activated by either broadband visible or monochromatic red light. The photocytotoxicities of the metal complexes investigated varied over 2 orders of magnitude and were positively correlated with their excited-state lifetimes. The complexes with the longest excited-state lifetimes, contributed by low-lying 3IL states, were the most phototoxic toward cancer cells under all conditions.

Radical-Mediated Thiol-Ene Strategy: Photoactivation of Thiol-Containing Drugs in Cancer Cells

Photoactivated drugs provide an opportunity to improve efficacy alongside reducing side-effects in the treatment of severe diseases such as cancer. Described herein is a photoactivation decaging method of isobutylene-caged thiols through a UV-initiated thiol-ene reaction. The method was demonstrated with an isobutylene-caged cysteine, cyclic disulfide-peptide, and thiol-containing drug, all of which were rapidly and efficiently released under mild UV irradiation in the presence of thiol sources and a photoinitiator. Importantly, it is shown that the activity of histone deacetylase inhibitor largazole can be switched off when stapled, but selectively switched on within cancer cells when irradiated with non-phototoxic light.

Photocytotoxic copper(II) complexes of N-salicylyl-l-tryptophan and phenanthroline bases

Four ternary copper(II) complexes of N-salicylyl-l-Tryptophan (Sal-TrpH) and phenanthroline bases of general formula [Cu(Sal-Trp)(L)], where L is 1,10-phenanthroline (phen, 1), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq, 2), dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz, 3) and 2-(anthracen-1-yl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (aip, 4), were synthesized and fully characterized. The complexes were evaluated for their affinity for biomolecules and photocytotoxic activities. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of complex 1 revealed that it has a square pyramidal CuN₃O₂ core with the phenolate oxygen of salicylaldehyde occupying the axial coordination site in the solid state. Complexes 1-4 displayed the Cu(II)-Cu(I) redox couples at ~-0.3 V vs. Ag/AgCl reference electrode in DMF-0.1 M [Buⁿ₄N](ClO₄). A Cu(II)-based weak d-d band ~650 nm and a moderately strong ligand to metal charge transfer band at ~430 nm were observed in DMF-Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.2) (1:4 v/v). The complexes are efficient binders to calf thymus DNA and model proteins such as bovine serum albumin and lysozyme. They cleave supercoiled plasmid DNA efficiently when exposed to 446 and 660 nm laser radiation. They are cytotoxic to HeLa (human cervical cancer) and MCF-7 (human breast cancer) cells showing significant enhancement of cytotoxicity upon photo-excitation with low energy visible light. The complexes are found to kill cancer cells through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as confirmed by DCFDA (2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate) assay. The apoptotic cell death induced by complex 4 was confirmed by Annexin V-Fluorescein isothiocyanate-Propidium iodide assay. Confocal microscopic images using 4 showed its primary cytosolic localization in the HeLa and MCF-7 cells.

Synthesis and Avidin Binding of Ruthenium Complexes Functionalized with a Light-Cleavable Free Biotin Moiety

In this work the synthesis, photochemistry, and streptavidin interaction of new [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(SRR′)](PF₆)₂ complexes where the R′ group contains a free biotin ligand, are described. Two different ligands SRR′ were investigated: An asymmetric ligand 1 where the Ru‐bound thioether is a N‐acetylmethionine moiety linked to the free biotin fragment via a triethylene glycol spacer and a symmetrical ligand 2 containing two identical biotin moieties. The coordination of these two ligands to the precursor [Ru(tpy)(bpy)Cl]Cl was studied in water at 80 °C. In such conditions the coordination of the asymmetric ligand 1 occurred under thermodynamic control. After the reaction, a mononuclear and a binuclear complex were isolated. In the mononuclear complex, the ratio of methionine‐ {[6](PF₆)₂} vs. biotin‐bound {[7](PF₆)₂} regioisomer was 5.3 and the free biotin fragment of [6](PF₆)₂ allowed to purify it from its isomer [7](PF₆)₂ at small scales using avidin affinity chromatography. Coordination of the symmetrical ligand 2 afforded [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(2)](PF₆)₂ {[8](PF₆)₂} in synthetically useful scales (100 mg), good yield (82 %), and without traces of the binuclear impurity. In this complex, one of the biotin remains free whereas the second one is coordinated to ruthenium. Photochemical release of ligand 2 from [8](PF₆)₂ occurred upon blue light irradiation (465 nm) with a photosubstitution quantum yield of 0.011 that was independent of the binding of streptavidin to the free biotin ligand.

Why develop photoactivated chemotherapy?

Photoactivated chemotherapy is an approach where a biologically active compound is protected against interaction with the cell environment by a light-cleavable protecting group, and unprotected by light irradiation. As such, PACT represents a major scientific opportunity for developing new bioactive inorganic compounds. However, the societal impact of this approach will only take off if the PACT field is used to address real societal challenges, i.e., therapeutic questions that make sense in a clinical context, rather than purely chemical questions. In particular, I advocate here that the field has become mature enough to switch from a compound-based approach, where a particular cancer model is chosen only to demonstrate the utility of a compound, to a disease-based approach, where the question of which disease to cure comes first: which PACT compound should I make to solve that particular clinical problem? The advantages and disadvantages of PACT vs. other phototherapeutic techniques are discussed, and a roadmap towards real clinical applications of PACT is drawn.

CO-Induced apoptotic death of colorectal cancer cells by a luminescent photoCORM grafted on biocompatible carboxymethyl chitosan

A photo-active luminescent rhenium carbonyl complex namely, [Re(CO)₃(phen)(pyAl)](CF₃SO₃) was grafted on a biocompatible carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) matrix through Schiff base condensation reaction. The light-induced CO delivery from ReCMC has been shown to eradicate human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29) very efficiently in a dose-dependent fashion. The onset of CO-induced apoptosis was realized by caspase-3,-7 detection aided by fluorescence confocal microscopy. ReCMC represents a unique example of a biocompatible and biodegradable antineoplastic agent that could find its use in cancer photopharmacology.

Photoactivation of the Cytotoxic Properties of Platinum(II) Complexes through Ligand Photoswitching

The development of photoactivatable metal complexes with potential anticancer properties is a topical area of current investigation. Photoactivated chemotherapy using coordination compounds is typically based on photochemical processes occurring at the metal center. In the present study, an innovative approach is applied that takes advantage of the remarkable photochemical properties of diarylethenes. Following a proof-of-concept study with two complexes, namely, C1 and C2, a series of additional platinum(II) complexes from dithienylcyclopentene-based ligands was designed and prepared. Like C1 and C2, these new coordination compounds exhibit two thermally stable, interconvertible photoisomers that display distinct properties. The photochemical behavior of ligands L3-L7 has been analyzed by ¹H NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies. Subsequently, the corresponding platinum(II) complexes C3-C7 were synthesized and fully characterized, including by single-crystal X-ray diffraction for some of them. Next, the interaction of each photoisomer (i.e., containing the open or closed ligand) of the metal complexes with DNA was examined thoroughly using various techniques, revealing their distinct DNA-binding modes and affinities, as observed for the earlier compounds C1 and C2. The antiproliferative activity of the two forms of the complexes was then assessed with five cancer cell lines and compared with that of C1 and C2, which supported the use of such diarylethene-based systems for the generation of a new class of potential photochemotherapeutic metallodrugs.

DNA damage photo-induced by chloroharmine isomers: hydrolysis versus oxidation of nucleobases

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging clinical treatment currently being used against a wide range of both cancerous and noncancerous diseases. The search for new active photosensitizers as well as the development of novel selective delivery systems are the major challenges faced in the application of PDT. We investigated herein three chloroharmine derivatives (6-, 8- and 6,8-dichloroharmines) with quite promising intrinsic photochemical tunable properties and their ability to photoinduce DNA damage in order to elucidate the underlying photochemical mechanisms. Data revealed that the three compounds are quite efficient photosensitizers. The overall extent of photo-oxidative DNA damage induced by both 8-chloro-substituted β-carbolines is higher than that induced by 6-chloro-harmine. The predominant type of lesion generated also depends on the position of the chlorine atom in the β-carboline ring. Both 8-chloro-substituted β-carbolines mostly oxidize purines via type I mechanism, whereas 6-chloro-harmine mainly behaves as a "clean" artificial photonuclease inducing single-strand breaks and site of base loss via proton transfer and concerted (HO^--mediated) hydrolytic attack. The latter finding represents an exception to the general photosensitizing reactions and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that this process is well documented. The controlled and selective production of different oxygen-independent lesions could be fine-tuned by simply changing the substituent groups in the β-carboline ring. This could be a promising tool for the design and development of novel photo-therapeutic agents aimed to tackle hypoxic conditions shown in certain types of tumours.

Unusually Short-Lived Solvent-Dependent Excited State in a Half-Sandwich Ru(II) Complex Induced by Low-Lying 3MC States

A ruthenium complex with a half-sandwich geometry ([(p-cymene)Ru(Cl)(curcuminoid)]) was synthesized, characterized, and investigated regarding its ultrafast photophysics. These photophysical investigations of the complex revealed a weak and short-lived emission from the initially populated ¹MLCT state and solvent-dependent photoinduced dynamics, where the secondarily populated ³MC state is stabilized by nonpolar solvents. Overall the decay of the ³dd-MC state to the ground state is completed within picoseconds. This short excited-state lifetime is in stark contrast to the typically observed long-lived ³MLCT states with lifetimes of nanoseconds or microseconds in unstrained, octahedral ruthenium complexes but is in good agreement with the findings for distorted octahedral complexes. This is pointing to the half-sandwich geometry as a new and easy approach to study these otherwise often concealed dd states.

Perspectives of ruthenium(ii) polyazaaromatic photo-oxidizing complexes photoreactive towards tryptophan-containing peptides and derivatives

This review focuses on recent advances in the search for Ru^II polyazaaromatic complexes as molecular photoreagents for tryptophan-containing peptides and proteins, in view of future biomedical applications.

A Red-Light-Activated Ruthenium-Caged NAMPT Inhibitor Remains Phototoxic in Hypoxic Cancer Cells

We describe two water-soluble ruthenium complexes, [1]Cl₂ and [2]Cl₂ , that photodissociate to release a cytotoxic nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibitor with a low dose (21 J cm^-2 ) of red light in an oxygen-independent manner. Using a specific NAMPT activity assay, up to an 18-fold increase in inhibition potency was measured upon red-light activation of [2]Cl₂ , while [1]Cl₂ was thermally unstable. For the first time, the dark and red-light-induced cytotoxicity of these photocaged compounds could be tested under hypoxia (1 % O₂ ). In skin (A431) and lung (A549) cancer cells, a 3- to 4-fold increase in cytotoxicity was found upon red-light irradiation for [2]Cl₂ , whether the cells were cultured and irradiated with 1 % or 21 % O₂ . These results demonstrate the potential of photoactivated chemotherapy for hypoxic cancer cells, in which classical photodynamic therapy, which relies on oxygen activation, is poorly efficient.

Ruthenium(ii) arene complexes showing DNA photobinding: the role of the basicity of the monodentate ligand

With a decrease in the basicity of the monodentate ligand X, the ligand photodissociation efficiencies of the complexes increase gradually.

d- Versus l-Glucose Conjugation: Mitochondrial Targeting of a Light-Activated Dual-Mode-of-Action Ruthenium-Based Anticancer Prodrug

Light-activated ruthenium polypyridyl anticancer prodrugs often suffer from poor water solubility, poor selectivity, and/or ill-defined intracellular targets. Coordination of the d- or l-glucose thioether ligand 3 (2-(2-(2-(methylthio)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl-β-glucopyranoside) to the highly lipophilic ruthenium complex [Ru(tpy)(dppn)(H2 O)]2+ ([1]2+ ; dppn=benzo[i]dipyrido-[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, tpy=2,2':6',2''-terpyridine) solved all these problems at once. The two enantiomers of [Ru(tpy)(dppn)(3)][PF6 ]2 , [d-2][PF6 ]2 and [l-2][PF6 ]2 , were soluble in water, which allowed the influence of the chirality of the glucose moiety on uptake, toxicity, and intracellular localization of the prodrug to be probed without changing any other physicochemical properties. Both compounds showed mild, but different, cytotoxicity in A549 (human lung carcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cancer cells in the dark, whereas following low doses of visible light irradiation (3.1 J cm-2 at λ = 454 nm), a similar, but high cytotoxicity (EC50 < 1 μm), was observed. Irrespective of the chirality, both slightly emissive Ru complexes were found in the mitochondria, and two modes of action may contribute to light-induced cell death: 1) the glucose thioether ligand is photosubstituted by water, thus [1]2+ , which interacts with DNA at an exceptionally high 400:1 base pair/Ru ratio, is released; 2) both [1]2+ and [2]2+ produce massive amounts of singlet oxygen, which leads to very efficient photodynamic DNA cleavage.

Parameters influencing the photo-induced electron transfer from tryptophan-containing peptides to a Ru(II) complex: a systematic study

Ruthenium(II) polyazaaromatic complexes have gained interest in recent decades as biomolecular tools, especially in the development of new phototherapeutic agents. These light emissive Ru complexes based on π-deficient ligands were first designed to allow a photo-induced electron transfer (PET) with the guanine base in DNA since their (3)MLCT state is highly photo-oxidizing. Later the field of research was extended to proteins with the highlighting of a PET process with the tryptophan residue. This paper reports the kinetics of the luminescence quenching of [Ru(TAP)2phen](2+) by several selected peptide sequences containing at least one tryptophan residue. By using a peptide library we highlight the important parameters influencing the kinetics of the photo-electron transfer process, such as the net electrostatic charge and the number of tryptophan residues. The best peptide candidates were selected to study the formation of photo-products by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry. A high photoreactivity of the [Ru(TAP)2phen](2+) complex was observed and multiple photoadducts were characterized, among them inter-peptidic adducts as well as intra-peptidic adducts.

Extended charge accumulation in ruthenium-4H-imidazole-based black absorbers: a theoretical design concept

A theoretical-guided design concept aiming to achieve highly efficient unidirectional charge transfer and multi-charge separation upon successive photoexcitation for light-harvesting dyes in the scope of supramolecular photocatalysts is presented. Four 4H-imidazole-ruthenium(ii) complexes incorporating a biimidazole-based electron-donating ligand sphere have been designed based on the well-known 4H-imidazole-ruthenium(ii) polypyridyl dyes. The quantum chemical evaluation, performed at the density functional and time-dependent density functional level of theory, revealed extraordinary unidirectional charge transfer bands from the near-infrared to the ultraviolet region of the absorption spectrum upon multi-photoexcitation. Spectro-electrochemical simulations modeling photoexcited intermediates determined the outstanding multi-electron storage capacity for this novel class of black dyes. These remarkable photochemical and photophysical properties are found to be preserved upon site-specific protonation rendering 4H-imidazole-ruthenium(ii) biimidazole dyes ideal for light-harvesting applications in the field of solar energy conversion.

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.