Frontispiece: A Cyclometalated Ir^III Complex as a Lysosome‐Targeted Photodynamic Therapeutic Agent for Integrated Imaging and Therapy in Cancer Cells

Abstract

Organelle‐targeted photosensitizers with luminescence properties are potential theranostic agents for simultaneous imaging and photodynamic therapy. Described herein is a cyclometalated IrIII complex, Ir‐Bp‐Ly, that exhibits high triplet quantum yield and singlet‐oxygen‐generation efficiency. The close‐proximity energy levels between triplet energy states of Ir‐Bp‐Ly and molecular oxygen favors efficient singlet oxygen and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The good lysosomal specificity of Ir‐Bp‐Ly leads to its increased efficacy as a photodynamic therapeutic and imaging agent. More information can be found in the Full Paper by A. Ajayaghosh et al. on page 10999 ff.