Issue 7, 2021
From the journal:

Chemical Science

Phosphorescent metal complexes as theranostic anticancer agents: combining imaging and therapy in a single molecule

Cai-Ping Tan, ORCID logo *a   Yan-Mei Zhong,a   Liang-Nian Jia  and  Zong-Wan Mao ORCID logo *a  

* Corresponding authors

a MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
E-mail: tancaip@mail.sysu.edu.cn, cesmzw@mail.sysu.edu.cn

Abstract

Phosphorescent metal complexes are a new kind of multifunctional antitumor compounds that can integrate imaging and antitumor functions in a single molecule. In this minireview, we summarize the recent research progress in this field, concentrating on the theranostic applications of phosphorescent iridium(III), ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) complexes. The molecular design that affords these complexes with tumour- or subcellular organelle-targeting properties is elucidated. The potential of these complexes to induce and monitor the dynamic behavior of subcellular organelles and the changes in microenvironment during the process of therapy is demonstrated. Moreover, the potential and advantages of applying new technologies, such as super-resolution imaging and phosphorescence lifetime imaging, are also described. Finally, the challenges faced in the development of novel theranostic metallo-anticancer complexes for possible clinical translation are proposed.

Graphical abstract: Phosphorescent metal complexes as theranostic anticancer agents: combining imaging and therapy in a single molecule

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06885C
Article type
Review Article
Submitted
17 Dec 2020
Accepted
03 Jan 2021
First published
27 Jan 2021
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 2357-2367

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Phosphorescent metal complexes as theranostic anticancer agents: combining imaging and therapy in a single molecule

C. Tan, Y. Zhong, L. Ji and Z. Mao, Chem. Sci., 2021, 12, 2357 DOI: 10.1039/D0SC06885C

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