NIR‐II Emissive Ru(II) Metallacycle Assisting Fluorescence Imaging and Cancer Therapy
Abstract
Despite the success of emissive Ruthenium (Ru) agents in biomedicine, problems such as the visible‐light excitation/emission and single chemo‐ or phototherapy modality still hamper their applications in deep‐tissue imaging and efficient cancer therapy. Herein, an second nearinfrared window (NIR‐II) emissive Ru(II) metallacycle (Ru1000, λ em = 1000 nm) via coordination‐driven self‐assembly is reported, which holds remarkable deep‐tissue imaging capability (≈6 mm) and satisfactory chemo‐phototherapeutic performance. In vitro results indicate Ru1000 displays promising cellular uptake, good cancer‐cell selectivity, attractive anti‐metastasis properties, and remarkable anticancer activity against various cancer cells, including cisplatin‐resistant A549 cells (IC 50 = 3.4 × 10−6 m vs 92.8 × 10−6 m for cisplatin). The antitumor mechanism could be attributed to Ru1000‐induced lysosomal membrane damage and mitochondrial‐mediated apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, Ru1000 also allows the high‐performance in vivo NIR‐II fluorescence imaging‐guided chemo‐phototherapy against A549 tumors. This work may provide a paradigm for the development of long‐wavelength emissive metallacycle‐based agents for future biomedicine.
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Metal complexes are promising photofunctional materials due to superior photostability, large Stokes shifts, and high emission quantum yields compared to organic chromophores.
“Metal complexes are promising photofunctional materials due to their superior photostability, large Stokes shifts, and high emission quantum yields compared to organic chromophores”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [195]
Biomedical application of metal complexes is hindered by a reliance on high-energy, short-wavelength excitation, leading to phototoxicity and poor tissue penetration.
“Nevertheless, their biomedical application is hindered by a reliance on high-energy, short-wavelength excitation, which leads to phototoxicity and poor tissue penetration.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [195]
Upon 808 nm laser irradiation, Ru1000 exhibited excellent photothermal effects and ROS generation capabilities.
“Upon 808 nm laser irradiation, the complex exhibited excellent photothermal effects and ROS generation capabilities.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [195]
Ru1000 achieved a tissue penetration depth of approximately 6 mm, benefiting from its NIR-II emission wavelength with a maximum emission peak at 1000 nm.
“Benefiting from its NIR-II emission wavelength (with the maximum emission peak at 1000 nm), Ru1000 achieved a tissue penetration depth of ~6 mm.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [195]
In vivo, Ru1000 enabled efficient synergistic chemo-phototherapy guided by NIR-II fluorescence imaging, demonstrating outstanding therapeutic efficacy against A549 tumors.
“In vivo, Ru1000 enabled efficient synergistic chemo-phototherapy guided by NIR-II fluorescence imaging, demonstrating outstanding therapeutic efficacy against A549 tumors.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [195]
Ru1000 demonstrated superior cellular uptake efficiency and potent inhibitory activity against various tumor cells, including cisplatin-resistant cells.
“Notably, Ru1000 demonstrated superior cellular uptake efficiency and potent inhibitory activity against various tumor cells, including cisplatin-resistant cells.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [195]
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“26b) 195 .”
- Authors
- Fan, Y., Li, C., Bai, S., Ma, X., Yang, J., Guan, X., & Sun, Y.
- Affiliations
- Central China Normal University (CN)
- Anhui Normal University (CN)
- Zhengzhou Cardiovascular Hospital and 7th People's Hospital of Zhengzhou Zhengzhou 450016 China
- Corresponding author
- Sun, Yao
- Venue
- Small
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2022-05-12
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 23
- Pages
- e2201625-e2201625
- ISSN
- 1613-6810 (ISSN-L)
- 1613-6829
- OpenAlex
- W4280513271
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 7
- FWCI
- 3.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Small (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (22022404, 22074050)
- Anhui Normal University (FMS201901)
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Automatic Detection Technology and Instrument Foundation (YQ21206)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Metal complexes synthesis and properties
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Keywords
- NIR-II fluorescence, coordination-driven self-assembly, deep tissue imaging, chemo-phototherapy, cancer therapy, cisplatin resistance, A549 cells, lysosomal membrane damage, mitochondrial apoptosis, anti-metastasis
- MeSH terms
- Theranostic Nanomedicine, Cisplatin, Neoplasms, Phototherapy, Ruthenium, Optical Imaging
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