The cyclometallated Ru(II) complexes cis -[Ru(phpy)(phen)(CH 3 CN) 2 ](PF 6 ) ( 1 ; phpy − =deprotonated 2-phenylpyridine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline) and cis -[Ru(phpy)(bpy)(CH 3 CN) 2 ](PF 6 ) ( 2 ; bpy=2,2′-bipyridine) were investigated as potential agents for photodynamic therapy. The presence of phpy − in the coordination sphere results in a red-shift of the Ru→phen and Ru→bpy metal-to-ligand charge transfer of 1 and 2 , respectively, thus improving the tissue penetration of light while maintaining the efficient photo-induced ligand exchange required for DNA binding. The 14-fold enhancement of OVCAR-5 cell death that occurs upon irradiation with 690 nm light can be attributed to photo-aquation. The role of glutathione (GSH) on the toxicity of the complex was also explored. Complexes 1 and 2 undergo ligand substitution in the presence of GSH in the dark, such that the metal may covalently bind to biomolecules. The combination of photo-induced ligand exchange and GSH-facilitated ligand exchange may explain the observed cytotoxicity.

Two new dirhodium complexes, the head-to-tail (H,T) and head-to-head (H,H) isomers of cis-[Rh(2)(HNOCCH(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(6)](2+), were synthesized, separated, and characterized following the reaction of Rh(2)(HNOCCH(3))(4) with trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate in CH(3)CN. The products were characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Each bis-amidato isomer has a total of six CH(3)CN ligands, two along the internuclear Rh-Rh axis, CH(3)CN(ax), two in equatorial positions trans to the oxygen atoms of the bridging amidato groups, CH(3)CN(eq)(O), and two in equatorial positions trans to the amidato nitrogen atoms, CH(3)CN(eq)(N). When aqueous solutions of the complexes are irradiated with low energy light (λ(irr) ≥ 495 nm, 60 min), both types of CH(3)CN(eq) ligands undergo efficient ligand exchange with solvent H(2)O molecules to form monoaqua, followed by bis-aqua, adducts, releasing two CH(3)CN(eq) ligands in the process. The quantum yields, Φ(400nm), for the H,T and H,H isomers to form monoaqua adducts are 0.43 and 0.38, respectively, which are substantially greater than the 0.13 yield observed for cis-[Rh(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(2)(CH(3)CN)(6)](2+); importantly, no ligand exchange is observed when the complexes are kept in the dark. Finally, low energy excitation (λ(irr) ≥ 610 nm, 30 min) of the H,T isomer was shown to generate photoproducts that covalently bind to linearized DNA, making 2 a potential agent for photochemotherapy that does not require the formation of (1)O(2), as is typical of organic photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents.

Two new complexes, cis-H,H-[Rh2 (OCCH3 NH)2 (LL)(CH3 CN)2 ](2+) , where LL=bpy (2, bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) and dppz (3, dppz=dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine), were prepared from the reaction of cis-H,H-[Rh2 (OCCH3 NH)2 (CH3 CN)6 ](2+) (1) with the corresponding bidentate ligand. The bpy and dppz ligands chelate to the same rhodium atom and are positioned trans to the amidato N atoms, as determined by the single crystal X-ray structure of 2. Irradiation of 2 and 3 with visible light in water results in the exchange of one CH3 CNeq ligand for an H2 O molecule with quantum yields, Φ400 , of 0.040 and 0.044, respectively (λirr =400 nm). The identities of the photoproducts of 2 and 3 were determined to be cis-H,H-[Rh2 (OCCH3 NH)2 (L)(H2 O)(CH3 CN)](2+) , where L is bpy (4) and dppz (5), respectively. Mobility shift assays show that 4 crosslinks double-stranded DNA, and ESI-MS experiments indicate that both 4 and 5 form covalent adducts with single-stranded DNA. In addition, relative viscosity and 2D NMR experiments show that the dppz ligand of 5 also intercalates into DNA upon irradiation, making 3 a dual-binding agent that both intercalates and covalently binds to DNA upon the absorption of visible light.

The purposes of this study were (i) to investigate the differences in effects between 160-kV low-energy and 6-MV high-energy X-rays, both by computational analysis and in vitro studies; (ii) to determine the effects of each on platinum-sensitized F98 rat glioma and murine B16 melanoma cells; and (iii) to describe the in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo toxicity of a Pt(II) terpyridine platinum (Typ-Pt) complex. Simulations were performed using the Monte Carlo code Geant4 to determine enhancement in absorption of low- versus high-energy X-rays by Pt and to determine dose enhancement factors (DEFs) for a Pt-sensitized tumor phantom. In vitro studies were carried out using Typ-Pt and again with carboplatin due to the unexpected in vivo toxicity of Typ-Pt. Cell survival was determined using clonogenic assays. In agreement with computations and simulations, in vitro data showed up to one log unit reduction in surviving fractions (SFs) of cells treated with 1–4 µg/ml of Typ-Pt and irradiated with 160-kV versus 6-MV X-rays. DEFs showed radiosensitization in the 50–200 keV range, which fell to approximate unity at higher energies, suggesting marginal interactions at MeV energies. Cells sensitized with 1–5 or 7 µg/ml of carboplatin and then irradiated also showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in SFs. However, it was unlikely this was due to increased interactions. Theoretical and in vitro studies presented here demonstrated that the tumoricidal activity of low-energy X-rays was greater than that of high-energy X-rays against Pt-sensitized tumor cells. Determining whether radiosensitization is a function of increased interactions will require additional studies.

The interactions between the 6-mer duplex oligonucleotide d(GTCGAC)2 and the photoactive dirhodium complexes cis-H,H-[Rh2(HNOCCH3)2(L)(CH3CN)4]2+, where L represents bpy (1, 2,2´-bipyridine) and dppz (2, dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine), were probed using 2D 1H–1H NOESY NMR spectroscopy. Complex 1 does not interact with the duplex in the dark, but binds covalently to the terminal guanine following irradiation with visible light. Similar behavior was observed for 2, but in addition to the photoinduced covalent DNA binding, the planar dppz ligand of the complex shields the terminal cytosine protons after irradiation. The results are consistent with photoinduced guanine coordination and end-capping of the duplex through π-stacking interactions with the terminal GC base pair. These data show that in the presence of the 6-mer duplex oligonucleotide, 1 and 2 exhibit photoinduced covalent binding to DNA. In addition, the π-stacking interactions of 2 with the duplex are enhanced upon irradiation.