In‐vitro and In‐vivo Photocatalytic Cancer Therapy with Biocompatible Iridium(III) Photocatalysts

Abstract

Photocatalytic anticancer profile of a IrIII photocatalyst (Ir3) with strong light absorption, high turnover frequency, and excellent biocompatibility is reported. Ir3 showed selective photo‐cytotoxicity against cisplatin‐ and sorafenib‐resistant cell lines while remaining dormant to normal cell lines in the dark. Ir3 exhibited excellent photo‐catalytic oxidation of cellular co‐enzyme, the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), and amino acids via a single electron transfer mechanism. The photo‐induced intracellular redox imbalance and change in mitochondrial membrane potential resulted in necrosis and apoptosis of cancer cells. Importantly, Ir3 exhibited high biocompatibility and photo‐catalytic anticancer efficiency as evident from in vivo zebrafish and mouse cancer models. To the best of our knowledge, Ir3 is the first IrIII based photocatalyst with such a high biocompatibility and photocatalytic anticancer therapeutic effect.

A new family of luminescent iridium complexes: synthesis, optical, and cytotoxic studies

“…genation reactions leading to H 2 O 2 and reactive oxygen species. 91,92 Thus, the quantification of changes in NADH/ NAD + , is a good method to know if these compounds can produce changes in ROS content by this mechanism. The interaction with NADH was performed with the cytotoxic complex 2a-Cl, and the results are shown in Fig.…”

A Literature Review on High-Performance Photocatalysts for Sustainable Cancer Therapy

“…Ir 3 exhibits excellent photocatalytic oxidation of cellular coenzymes, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and amino acids through a single electron transfer mechanism. Light-induced intracellular redox imbalance and changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential lead to necrosis and apoptosis of cancer cells [48]. Sadler and colleagues reported that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) photooxidized can be reduced to NAD+ in the cell under the catalysis of acyclic metallized IrIII complex, which can cause cancer cells even under hypoxic conditions [59].…”

Polypyridyl CoII‐Curcumin Complexes as Photoactivated Anticancer and Antibacterial Agents

“…[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] In general metal-based photo-sensitizers contain photoresponsive ligand(s) that lead to light absorption properties in the visible region. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][18][19][20] Over the past few years, curcumin, a bright yellow polyphenolic constituent of turmeric, has been used as an efficient photoresponsive ligand to design metal-based photosensitizers. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Besides its photosensitizing capabilities under visible light, it promotes apoptosis in cancerous cells by changing NF-kB functioning.…”

“…Therefore, the development of new metal‐based photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy has gained great interest [8–15] . In general metal‐based photosensitizers contain photoresponsive ligand(s) that lead to light absorption properties in the visible region [7–15,18–20] . Over the past few years, curcumin, a bright yellow polyphenolic constituent of turmeric, has been used as an efficient photoresponsive ligand to design metal‐based photosensitizers [21–27] .…”