Facile synthesis of a hydrazone-based zinc(ii) complex for ferroptosis-augmented sonodynamic therapy.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), as a novel non-invasive cancer treatment modality derived from photodynamic therapy (PDT), has drawn much attention due to its unique advantages for the treatment of deep tumors. Zinc-based complexes have shown great clinical prospect in PDT due to their excellent photodynamic activity and biosafety. However, their application in SDT has lagged seriously behind.

DNA interaction of ruthenium(ii) complexes with imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline derivatives.

In this paper, the DNA interaction properties of four Ru(ii) polypyridyl complexes, [Ru(bpy)2(pip)]2+ (1), bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, pip = 2-phenyl-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline, [Ru(bpy)2(nip)]2+ (2), nip = 2-naphthyl-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline, [Ru(bpy)2(aip)]2+ (3), aip = 2-(9-anthryl)-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline and [Ru(bpy)2(pyip)]2+ (4), pyip = 2-(1-pyrenyl)-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline, were investigated by spectral titration. The intensity increases in the MLCT band of the complexes and the decrease in absorption due to the DNA secondary structure was attributed to DNA condensation by these complexes. The DNA condensing behavior of these complexes was investigated in more detail by gel electrophoresis (GAR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Highly Charged Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes as Lysosome-Localized Photosensitizers for Two-Photon Photodynamic Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive medical technique that has received increasing attention over the last years and been applied for the treatment of certain types of cancer. However, the currently clinically used PDT agents have several limitations, such as low water solubility, poor photostability, and limited selectivity towards cancer cells, aside from having very low two-photon cross-sections around 800 nm, which limits their potential use in TP-PDT. To tackle these drawbacks, three highly positively charged ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes were synthesized.

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of mixed-ligand ruthenium(II) complexes for photodynamic therapy.

This study investigated the photodynamic therapy (PDT) and anticancer activity of mixed ligand Ru(ii) terpyridyl complexes (Ru1-Ru3). The photophysical and photochemical properties, hydrophobic properties, DNA binding and DNA transcription inhibition abilities, cell uptake efficiency, cellular localization and photo-cytotoxicity were investigated. Ru1-Ru3 exhibited red luminescence between 670-710 nm and functioned as photo-sensitizers (PSs) by generating both singlet oxygen and radical ions.

Rhodium-catalyzed C-H activation of hydrazines leads to isoquinolones with tunable aggregation-induced emission properties.

Using an internally oxidizing directing group (DG) strategy, we report a Rh(III)-catalyzed synthesis of isoquinolones via C-H activation/annulation of benzoylhydrazines and alkynes. Tunable double cascade cyclization of benzoylhydrazines with two equivalents of alkynes led to tetracyclic amides. These N-heterocycles demonstrated adjustable AIE properties.

A dendritic nano-sized hexanuclear ruthenium(II) complex as a one- and two-photon luminescent tracking non-viral gene vector.

Fluorescent tracking gene delivery could provide us with a better understanding of the critical steps in the transfection process. However, for in vivo tracking applications, a small diameter (<10 nm) is one of the rigorous requirements for tracking vectors. Herein, we have demonstrated a new paradigm for two-photon tracking gene delivery based on a dendritic nano-sized hexanuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex.

Unexpected high photothemal conversion efficiency of gold nanospheres upon grafting with two-photon luminescent ruthenium(II) complexes: A way towards cancer therapy?

The design and development of functional hybrid nanomaterials is currently a topic of great interest in biomedicine. Herein we investigated the grafting of Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes onto gold nanospheres (Ru@AuNPs) to improve the particles' near infrared (NIR) absorption, and ultimately allow for application in photothermal cancer therapy. As demonstrated in this article, these ruthenium(II) complexes could indeed significantly enhance gold nanospheres' two-photon luminescence (PTL) intensity and photothermal therapy (PTT) efficiency.

A mitochondrial targeted two-photon iridium(III) phosphorescent probe for selective detection of hypochlorite in live cells and in vivo.

Endogenous hypochlorite ion (ClO(-)) is a highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) that is produced from hydrogen peroxide and chloride ions catalyzed by myeloperoxidase (MPO). And mitochondrion is one of the major sources of ROS including ClO(-). In the present work, a two-photon phosphorescent probe for ClO(-) in mitochondria was developed.

Tetranuclear ruthenium(II) complexes with oligo-oxyethylene linkers as one- and two-photon luminescent tracking non-viral gene vectors.

To prolong the observation time, increase the penetration depth and decrease self-absorption and phototoxicity, two-photon luminescent vectors have emerged as promising tools for tracking gene delivery in living cells. Herein, we report four new tetranuclear Ru(ii) complexes based on oligo-oxyethylene and polybenzimidazole as one- and two- photon luminescent tracking non-viral gene vectors. In such a molecular design, the oligo-oxyethylene, polybenzimidazole and Ru(ii) polypyridyl complexes were expected to render the vectors with increased cell permeability, biocompatibility, proton buffering capacity and one- and two-photon luminescence.

Lipophilic tetranuclear ruthenium(II) complexes as two-photon luminescent tracking non-viral gene vectors.

Fluorescence detection is the most effective tool for tracking gene delivery in living cells. To reduce photodamage and autofluorescence and to increase deep penetration into cells, choosing appropriate fluorophores that are capable of two-photon activation under irradiation in the NIR or IR regions is an effective approach. In this work, we have developed six tetranuclear ruthenium(II) complexes, GV1-6, and have studied their one- and two-photon luminescence properties.

Targeting nucleus DNA with a cyclometalated dipyridophenazineruthenium(II) complex.

Recently, coordinatively saturated and substitutionally inert Ru(II) complexes have been investigated as anticancer agents. Herein a cyclometalated Ru(II) complex, [Ru(bpy)(phpy)(dppz)](+), was found to be rapidly taken up by cancer cells, and nearly 90% of the complex accumulated in the nuclei of cancer cells after a 2 h incubation. The anticancer activity of this complex was screened against a panel of cancer cell lines.

Mitochondria-specific phosphorescent imaging and tracking in living cells with an AIPE-active iridium(III) complex.

An AIPE-active iridium(III) complex was found to possess high specificity for mitochondria, superior photostability, low cytotoxicity, and high resistance to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Thus, this complex can be used for mitochondrial imaging and tracking in living cells.

A luminescent tetranuclear ruthenium(II) complex as a tracking non-viral gene vector.

A luminescent tetranuclear ruthenium(II) complex was developed to act as a DNA carrier and at the same time offer luminescent imaging to follow the DNA intracellular trafficking with time.

Synthesis, characterization and DNA-binding studies of ruthenium(II) mixed-ligand complexes containing dipyrido[1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-b]quinoxaline.

A novel ligand dipyrido[1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-b]quinoxaline (dpoq) and its complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)(dpoq)](2+) and [Ru(phen)(2)(dpoq)](2+) (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine; phen=1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, electrospray mass spectra and (1)H NMR. The interaction of Ru(II) complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated by absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, thermal denaturation and viscosity measurements. Results suggest that two Ru(II) complexes bind to DNA via an intercalative mode.

DNA condensation induced by ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)(PIPSH)](2+) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(PIPNH)](2+).

Two novel DNA-intercalating ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(bpy)(2)(PIPSH)](2+) and [Ru(bpy)(2)(PIPNH)](2+), have been synthesized and characterized. Gel retardation assay, atomic force microscopy, and dynamic light scattering studies show that both complexes can induce the condensation of originally circular plasmid pBR322 DNA to particulate structures under neutral conditions.