Issue 32, 2020

Rational design of type I photosensitizers based on Ru(ii) complexes for effective photodynamic therapy under hypoxia

Abstract

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely used in conjunction with molecular oxygen to cause cancer cell death. Hypoxia, the inherent property in solid tumors, is the obstacle during the process of PDT. It is urgent to develop PDT photosensitizers independent of the oxygen concentration. Herein, triphenylamine-modified Ru(II) complexes have been used as photosensitizers to produce superoxide anions (O2˙) and hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) through a type I photochemical process. Ru(II) complexes with triphenylamine can provide a possibility to drive the reactive oxygen species production through low oxidation potential and good light-harvesting abilities. The investigation on light-mediated radical production showed that Ru4 could produce abundant ˙OH and O2˙ compared to Ru1–Ru3 under hypoxic environments owing to the strong absorption. These radicals exhibit potent toxicity, which can damage the neighbouring biomolecules and cause the apoptosis of cancer cells. The PDT effect was evaluated in vitro under hypoxia, suggesting that Ru4 could maintain excellent performance in inducing a sharp decrease in the activity of cancer cells.

Graphical abstract: Rational design of type I photosensitizers based on Ru(ii) complexes for effective photodynamic therapy under hypoxia

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
09 may. 2020
Accepted
14 jul. 2020
First published
17 jul. 2020

Dalton Trans., 2020,49, 11192-11200

Rational design of type I photosensitizers based on Ru(II) complexes for effective photodynamic therapy under hypoxia

X. Liu, G. Li, M. Xie, S. Guo, W. Zhao, F. Li, S. Liu and Q. Zhao, Dalton Trans., 2020, 49, 11192 DOI: 10.1039/D0DT01684E

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements