Rational design of photoactivatable metal complexes to target and modulate amyloid-β peptides

The accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates is found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients. Thus, numerous efforts have been made to develop chemical reagents capable of targeting Aβ peptides and controlling their aggregation. In particular, tunable coordination and photophysical properties of transition metal complexes, with variable oxidation and spin states on the metal centers, can be utilized to probe Aβ aggregates and alter their aggregation profiles. In this review, we illustrate some rational strategies for designing photoactivatable metal complexes as chemical sensors for Aβ peptides or modulators against their aggregation pathways, with some examples. This review describes some examples of photoactivatable metal complexes that can probe and modulate amyloid-β peptides, with an emphasis on design approaches. [Display omitted] •Chemical reagents for amyloid-β (Aβ) are needed for elucidating the amyloid pathology.•Photoactivatable metal complexes are designed to probe Aβ peptides.•Aβ aggregation is controlled by metal complexes with photoillumination.