Towards novel photodynamic anticancer agents generating superoxide anion radicals: A cyclometalated IrIII complex conjugated to a far-red emitting coumarin

Although cyclometalated IrIII complexes have emerged as promising photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy, some key drawbacks still hamper clinical translation, such as operability in the phototherapeutic window and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production efficiency and selectivity. In this work,...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Novohradsky, Vojtech, Rovira, Anna, Hally, Cormac, Galindo Muñoz, Alex, Vigueras, Gloria, Gandioso, Albert, Svitelova, Marie, Bresolí-Obach, Roger, Kostrhunova, Hana, Markova, Lenka, Kasparkova, Jana, Nonell, Santi, Ruiz, José, Brabec, Viktor, Marchán Sancho, Vicente
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/133584
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/133584
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Cumarines
Cèl·lules canceroses
Coumarins
Cancer cells
Descripción
Sumario:Although cyclometalated IrIII complexes have emerged as promising photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy, some key drawbacks still hamper clinical translation, such as operability in the phototherapeutic window and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production efficiency and selectivity. In this work, a cyclometalated IrIII complex conjugated to a far-red-emitting coumarin, IrIII-COUPY, is reported with highly favourable properties for cancer phototherapy. IrIII-COUPY was efficiently taken up by HeLa cells and showed no dark cytotoxicity and impressive photocytotoxicity indexes after irradiation with green and blue light, even under hypoxia. Importantly, a clear correlation between cell death and intracellular generation of superoxide anion radicals after visible light irradiation was demonstrated. This strategy opens the door to novel fluorescent photodynamic therapy agents with promising applications in theragnosis.