Metal complexes as optical probes for DNA sensing and imaging

Jessica Berrones Reyes; Marina K Kuimova; Ramon Vilar

doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.02.007

Metal complexes as optical probes for DNA sensing and imaging

Curr Opin Chem Biol. 2021 Apr:61:179-190. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.02.007. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Authors

Jessica Berrones Reyes¹, Marina K Kuimova¹, Ramon Vilar²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 82 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
² Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, White City Campus, 82 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK. Electronic address: r.vilar@imperial.ac.uk.

PMID: 33784589
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.02.007

Abstract

Transition and lanthanide metal complexes have rich photophysical properties that can be used for cellular imaging, biosensing and phototherapy. One of the applications of such luminescent compounds is the detection and visualisation of nucleic acids. In this brief review, we survey the recent literature on the use of luminescent metal complexes (including Re^I, Ru^II, Os^II, Ir^III, Pt^II, Eu^III and Tb^III) as DNA optical probes, including examples of compounds that bind selectively to non-duplex DNA topologies such as quadruplex, i-motif and DNA mismatches. We discuss the applications of metal-based luminescent complexes in cellular imaging, including time-resolved microscopy and super-resolution techniques. Their applications in biosensing and phototherapy are briefly mentioned in the relevant sections.

Keywords: Cellular imaging; DNA; Lanthanides; Optical probes; Phototherapy; Transition metals.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
DNA / chemistry*
Metals / chemistry*

Substances

Coordination Complexes
Metals
DNA