Selective cytotoxicity and luminescence imaging of cancer cells with a dipicolinato-based Eu complex

Four new species [Ln(dipicNH 2 ) 3 ] 3− (Ln = La III , Eu III , Gd III , Tb III ), with the ligand dipicNH 2 2− (dipic = dipicolinato), were synthesized. Incubation of the Eu III complex with glioma NG97 and pancreatic cancer PANC1 cells showed that it penetrates the cell membrane and can be used to image the cells, while also being moderately cytotoxic. Four new lanthanide complexes with the ligand dipicNH 2 2− (dipic = dipicolinato) show selective cancer cell toxicity and are used for cell luminescence imaging.