Gold(I) Complexes Derived from Alkynyloxy-Substituted Anthraquinones: Syntheses, Luminescence, Preliminary Cytotoxicity, and Cell Imaging Studies

A series of mono- and dimetallic Au­(I) triphenylphosphine complexes derived from 1,2-, 1,4-, and 1,8-dialkynyloxyanthraquinone have been prepared. The photophysical and cytotoxic behavior of the ligands and complexes have been explored, with all of the complexes showing both appreciable cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 carcinoma cell line and useful room-temperature anthraquinone-based visible luminescence, which allowed their successful application as fluorophores in cell imaging microscopy. The implications of the photophysical and toxicological properties for the design and investigation of gold-based anticancer agents are discussed

Gold(I) Complexes Derived from Alkynyloxy-Substituted Anthraquinones: Syntheses, Luminescence, Preliminary Cytotoxicity, and Cell Imaging Studies

A series of mono- and dimetallic Au­(I) triphenylphosphine complexes derived from 1,2-, 1,4-, and 1,8-dialkynyloxyanthraquinone have been prepared. The photophysical and cytotoxic behavior of the ligands and complexes have been explored, with all of the complexes showing both appreciable cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 carcinoma cell line and useful room-temperature anthraquinone-based visible luminescence, which allowed their successful application as fluorophores in cell imaging microscopy. The implications of the photophysical and toxicological properties for the design and investigation of gold-based anticancer agents are discussed

Bioconjugated Rhenium(I) Complexes with Amino Acid Derivatives: Synthesis, Photophysical Properties, and Cell Imaging Studies

The synthesis of a series of bioconjugated <i>fac</i> tricarbonyl rhenium bis-imine complexes with amino acid ester derivatives and their application in fluorescent microscopy cell imaging is reported. A range of <i>meta</i>- and <i>para</i>-bioconjugated pyridyl derivatives were synthesized, and their photophysical properties were analyzed upon coordination to <i>fac</i>-[Re­(bipy)­(CO)₃(CF₃SO₃)]. Their long lifetimes (270–370 ns) and large Stokes shifts (>140 nm) suggested the new bioconjugated rhenium complexes could be strong candidates for cell imaging applications. All species were taken up by MCF-7 cells and seemed to have a distinct localization pattern. However, while cells incubated with <i>para</i> derivatives had an anomalous cellular growth pattern and suffered from photobleaching upon irradiation, promoting cellular death, those incubated with the <i>meta</i> derivatives behaved in a normal manner and did not photobleach, emphasizing the importance of the ligand design when it is necessary to have an optimum outcome: i.e., cell imaging or phototherapy applications

Bioconjugated Rhenium(I) Complexes with Amino Acid Derivatives: Synthesis, Photophysical Properties, and Cell Imaging Studies

The synthesis of a series of bioconjugated <i>fac</i> tricarbonyl rhenium bis-imine complexes with amino acid ester derivatives and their application in fluorescent microscopy cell imaging is reported. A range of <i>meta</i>- and <i>para</i>-bioconjugated pyridyl derivatives were synthesized, and their photophysical properties were analyzed upon coordination to <i>fac</i>-[Re­(bipy)­(CO)₃(CF₃SO₃)]. Their long lifetimes (270–370 ns) and large Stokes shifts (>140 nm) suggested the new bioconjugated rhenium complexes could be strong candidates for cell imaging applications. All species were taken up by MCF-7 cells and seemed to have a distinct localization pattern. However, while cells incubated with <i>para</i> derivatives had an anomalous cellular growth pattern and suffered from photobleaching upon irradiation, promoting cellular death, those incubated with the <i>meta</i> derivatives behaved in a normal manner and did not photobleach, emphasizing the importance of the ligand design when it is necessary to have an optimum outcome: i.e., cell imaging or phototherapy applications

Simple Polyphenyl Zirconium and Hafnium Metallocene Room-Temperature Lumophores for Cell Imaging

Zirconium and hafnium metallocene dihalides based on simple polyphenyl cyclopentadienes are stable room-temperature lumophores with large Stokes shifts, emitting from states with substantial LMCT character. Their synthesis is described, including by a rapid solvent-free approach compatible with the lifetime of PET-active isotopes (⁸⁹Zr). Preliminary experiments indicate the viability of these species as lumophores for fluorescence cell-imaging microscopy

Simple Polyphenyl Zirconium and Hafnium Metallocene Room-Temperature Lumophores for Cell Imaging

Zirconium and hafnium metallocene dihalides based on simple polyphenyl cyclopentadienes are stable room-temperature lumophores with large Stokes shifts, emitting from states with substantial LMCT character. Their synthesis is described, including by a rapid solvent-free approach compatible with the lifetime of PET-active isotopes (⁸⁹Zr). Preliminary experiments indicate the viability of these species as lumophores for fluorescence cell-imaging microscopy