Synthesis and evaluation of four novel nitrogen-heterocyclic ruthenium polypyridyl complexes as photosensitizers for one and two-photon photodynamic therapy

Four novel PSs (photosensitizers) of nitrogen-heterocyclic ruthenium polypyridyl complexes Ru(dip) 2 ( o -pipppz)(PF 6 ) 2 (Ru1) (dip = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline; o -pipppz = 1-(4-aldehydephenyl)-3-(pyridazyl-2-yl)-1 H -pyrazole), Ru(dip) 2 ( o -pipp) (PF 6 ) 2 (Ru2) ( o -pipp = 1-(4-aldehydephenyl)-3-(pyrid-2-yl)-1 H -pyrazole), Ru(dip) 2 ( m -pipp)(PF 6 ) 2 (Ru3) ( m -pipp = 1-(4-aldehydephenyl)-3-(pyrid-3-yl)-1 H -pyrazole) and Ru(dip) 2 ( p -pipp)(PF 6 ) 2 (Ru4) ( p -pipp = 1-(4-aldehydephenyl)-3-(pyrid-4-yl)-1 H -pyrazole) were reported, and the photodynamic activities of these complexes were studied on 2D and 3D HeLa cancer models. The longest visible absorption wavelength of these complexes was approximately 622 nm. The four Ru( ii ) complexes show preferable photodynamic activity and low dark toxicity (0.2-0.4 μM) in vitro against 2D HeLa tumor cells. These complexes exhibit very high singlet oxygen quantum yields in methanol (0.70-0.95), TPA cross-sections (7-31 GM), and high penetration depth. Thus, Ru1-Ru4 were utilized as one-photon and two-photon absorbing photosensitizers in both monolayer cells and 3D multicellular spheroids (MCSs). Among them, Ru2 revealed a higher singlet oxygen yield (0.95), a larger TPA cross-section (31 GM), and the strongest phototoxicity (EC 50 = 0.20 μM). Moreover, flow cytometry shows that the four Ru( ii ) complexes can induced cell death mainly through apoptosis upon singlet oxygen-dependent reaction. Four novel one-photon and two-photon absorbing PSs (photosensitizers) of nitrogen-heterocyclic ruthenium polypyridyl complexes were reported, and the photodynamic activities of these complexes were studied on 2D and 3D HeLa cancer models.