Vanadium Complexes for Mitochondria-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy.

This minireview focuses on vanadium complexes in photodynamic therapy (PDT), particularly for their potential as mitochondria-targeted anticancer agents. Vanadium's coordination versatility supports its bioactivity, showing promise in insulin-mimetic, lipid-lowering, and antitumor effects. PDT leverages these complexes' redox properties, producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) within mitochondria to induce cancer cell apoptosis with minimal impact on healthy cells. The review covers design strategies to improve mitochondrial localization, photodynamic efficiency, and selective cytotoxicity while addressing challenges like photostability and targeting for next-gen PDT applications.