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Mitochondria-targeted phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes: synthesis, characterization, and anticancer properties

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Abstract

Cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes represent a promising approach to developing new anticancer metallodrugs. In this work, three phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes Ir1–Ir3 have been explored as mitochondria-targeted anticancer agents. All three complexes display higher antiproliferative activity than cisplatin against the cancer cells screened, and with the IC50 values ranging from 0.23 to 5.6 μM. Colocalization studies showed that these complexes are mainly localized in the mitochondria. Mechanism studies show that these complexes exert their anticancer efficacy through initiating a series of events related to mitochondrial dysfunction, including depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and induction of apoptosis.

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Mitochondria-targted cyclometalated iridium complexes induce apoptosis through depolarized mitochondria, elevation of intracellular ROS and activated caspase.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21601210, 21572282, 21701195, and 21601208), the 973 Program (No. 2015CB856301), the Ministry of Education of China (No. IRT_17R111), Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province (Nos. 2013B051000047 and 207999), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (Nos. 2019JJ50188 and 2019JJ50145), and the Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department (No. 18C0340).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Theoretical Organic Chemistry and Function Molecule, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, 411201, China

    Yi Li, Ben Liu & Yi-Chao Wan

  2. MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, People’s Republic of China

    Yi Li, Liang-Nian Ji & Zong-Wan Mao

  3. Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biofunctional Molecules, College of Life Science and Chemistry, Jiangsu Second Normal University, Nanjing, 210013, People’s Republic of China

    Cui-Xia Xu

  4. College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Liang He

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Li, Y., Liu, B., Xu, CX. et al. Mitochondria-targeted phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes: synthesis, characterization, and anticancer properties. J Biol Inorg Chem 25, 597–607 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-020-01783-2

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