Singlet Oxygen Production and Biological Activity of Hexanuclear Chalcocyanide Rhenium Cluster Complexes [{Re6Q8}(CN)6]4- (Q = S, Se, Te)

Inorg Chem. 2017 Nov 6;56(21):13491-13499. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.7b02212. Epub 2017 Oct 9.

Abstract

Octahedral rhenium cluster complexes have recently emerged as relevant building blocks for the design of singlet oxygen photosensitizing materials toward biological applications such as blue-light photodynamic therapy. However, their singlet oxygen generation ability as well as biological properties have been studied only superficially. Herein we investigate in detail the singlet oxygen photogeneration, dark and photoinduced cytotoxicity, cellular uptake kinetics, cellular localization and in vitro photoinduced oxidative stress, and photodynamic cytotoxicity of the series of octahedral rhenium cluster complexes [{Re6Q8}(CN)6]4-, where Q = S, Se, Te. Our results demonstrate that the selenium-containing complex possesses optimal properties in terms of absorption and singlet oxygen productivity. These features coupled with the cellular internalization and low dark toxicity lead to the first photoinduced cytotoxic effect observed for a molecular [{M6Q8}L6] complex, making it a promising object for further study in terms of blue-light PDT.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Contrast Media / chemical synthesis
  • Contrast Media / pharmacology*
  • Contrast Media / radiation effects
  • Contrast Media / toxicity
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology*
  • Coordination Complexes / radiation effects
  • Coordination Complexes / toxicity
  • Heterochromatin / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Light
  • Luminescence
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology*
  • Photosensitizing Agents / radiation effects
  • Photosensitizing Agents / toxicity
  • Rhenium / chemistry*
  • Singlet Oxygen / chemistry*

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Heterochromatin
  • Ligands
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Singlet Oxygen
  • Rhenium