Effects of chirality on the intracellular localization of binuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes
Journal article, 2012

Interest in binuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes as luminescent cellular imaging agents and for biomedical applications is increasing rapidly. We have investigated the cellular localization, uptake, and biomolecular interactions of the pure enantiomers of two structural isomers of [mu-bipb(phen)(4)Ru-2](4+) (bipb is bis(imidazo[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthrolin-2-yl)benzene and phen is 1,10-phenanthroline) using confocal laser scanning microscopy, emission spectroscopy, and linear dichroism. Both complexes display distinct enantiomeric differences in the staining pattern of fixed cells, which are concluded to arise from chiral discrimination in the binding to intracellular components. Uptake of complexes in live cells is efficient and nontoxic at 5 mu M, and occurs through an energy-dependent mechanism. No differences in uptake are observed between the structural isomers or the enantiomers, suggesting that the interactions triggering uptake are rather insensitive to structural variations. Altogether, these findings show that the complexes investigated are promising for future applications as cellular imaging probes. In addition, linear dichroism shows that the complexes exhibit DNA-condensing properties, making them interesting as potential gene delivery vectors.

Imaging agents

cytotoxicity

Cellular uptake

affinity

probe

DNA

nucleic-acids

cellular uptake

dna-binding

intercalation

metal-complexes

Enantioselectivity

linear dichroism

cells

Ruthenium

Author

Frida Svensson

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Johanna Andersson

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Helene Åmand

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Per Lincoln

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry

0949-8257 (ISSN) 1432-1327 (eISSN)

Vol. 17 4 565-571

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Life Science Engineering (2010-2018)

Subject Categories

Chemical Sciences

DOI

10.1007/s00775-012-0877-0

More information

Created

10/7/2017