The development of ruthenium(ii) polypyridyl complexes and conjugates forin vitrocellular andin vivoapplications

Abstract

Ruthenium(ii) [Ru(ii)] polypyridyl complexes have been the focus of intense investigations since work began exploring their supramolecular interactions with DNA. In recent years, there have been considerable efforts to translate this solution-based research into a biological environment with the intention of developing new classes of probes, luminescent imaging agents, therapeutics and theranostics. In only 10 years the field has expanded with diverse applications for these complexes as imaging agents and promising candidates for therapeutics. In light of these efforts this review exclusively focuses on the developments of these complexes in biological systems, both in cells and in vivo, and hopes to communicate to readers the diversity of applications within which these complexes have found use, as well as new insights gained along the way and challenges that researchers in this field still face.

Towards the Development of Photo‐Reactive Ruthenium(II) Complexes Targeting Telomeric G‐Quadruplex DNA

“…In this context, polyazaaromatic ruthenium(II) complexes represent ideal candidates to target genetic material such as G4s. By virtue of their optical properties, including a large Stokes shift, good photostability, high quantum yield, and long‐lived luminescence, they have been developed to probe different DNA sequences, such as mismatches, abasic sites, or G4s . More recently, two ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(phen) 2 (dph)] 2+ and [{Ru(phen) 2 } 2 (dph)] 4+ , based on the dph ligand (dph=dipyrazino[2,3‐ a :2′,3′‐ h ]phenazine), have been reported to show good selectivity towards G4s .…”

Highly Charged Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes as Effective Photosensitizer in Photodynamic Therapy

“…Of note, the ruthenium compounds appear to being not randomly distributed into the cellular cytosol but ratherf inely localized aroundt he outer membrane of the nuclei. Despite further studies will be carried out to define the mechanism of internalization of both L and L-Cu II ,t his finding let us to speculate that the cellular uptake of such compounds would be ruled by specific endocytosis phenomena, [52] as discussed by Poynton et al [53] in the case of analogues Ru II polypyridyl complexes.…”

X‐ray Crystal Structures Show DNA Stacking Advantage of Terminal Nitrile Substitution in Ru‐dppz Complexes

“…[4,5] Relatedc omplexes can oxidiseg uanine upon irradiation, [6][7][8][9] explicitly directing DNA damage. [10] Such damage pathways are utilized in the studyo fa nti-cancer photodynamic therapies( PDT) [11][12][13][14][15][16] for which ruthenium polypyridyl complexes are considered promising candidates for the next generation of photosensitizers. [13,16,17] The extension of the dppz ligand with additional rings for example, leads to powerfula nti-tumour properties.…”