From Chemotherapy to Phototherapy - Changing the Therapeutic Action of a Metallo-Intercalating Ru -Re Luminescent System by Switching its Sub-Cellular Location.

The synthesis of a new heterodinuclear Re Ru metallointercalator containing Ru (dppz) and Re (dppn) moieties is reported. Cell-free studies reveal that the complex has similar photophysical properties to its homoleptic M(dppz) analogue and it also binds to DNA with a similar affinity. However, the newly reported complex has very different in-cell properties to its parent.

Serum Albumin Binding Inhibits Nuclear Uptake of Luminescent Metal-Complex-Based DNA Imaging Probes.

The DNA binding and cellular localization properties of a new luminescent heterobimetallic Ir(III) Ru(II) tetrapyridophenazine complex are reported. Surprisingly, in standard cell media, in which its tetracationic, isostructural Ru(II) Ru(II) analogue is localized in the nucleus, the new tricationic complex is poorly taken up by live cells and demonstrates no nuclear staining. Consequent cell-free studies reveal that the Ir(III) Ru(II) complex binds bovine serum albumin, BSA, in Sudlow's Site I with a similar increase in emission and binding affinity to that observed with DNA.