Long wavelength–emissive Ru(II) metallacycle–based photosensitizer assisting in vivo bacterial diagnosis and antibacterial treatment
Open accessAbstract
Ruthenium (Ru) complexes are developed as latent emissive photosensitizers for cancer and pathogen photodiagnosis and therapy. Nevertheless, most existing Ru complexes are limited as photosensitizers in terms of short excitation and emission wavelengths. Herein, we present an emissive Ru(II) metallacycle (herein referred to as 1) that is excited by 808-nm laser and emits at a wavelength of ∼1,000 nm via coordination-driven self-assembly. Metallacycle 1 exhibits good optical penetration (∼7 mm) and satisfactory reactive oxygen species production properties. Furthermore, 1 shows broad-spectrum antibacterial activity (including against drug-resistant Escherichia coli ) as well as low cytotoxicity to normal mammalian cells. In vivo studies reveal that 1 is employed in precise, second near-infrared biomedical window fluorescent imaging–guided, photo-triggered treatments in Staphylococcus aureus –infected mice models, with negligible side effects. This work thus broads the applications of supramolecular photosensitizers through the strategy of lengthening their wavelengths.
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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 [197]
The paper’s introductory passage (indexed under Abstract; page unavailable) says most current metal-based photosensitizers have short excitation and emission wavelengths, limiting imaging and treatment in deep tissue. It does not say that short-wavelength excitation causes phototoxicity, so that part of the claim is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.87)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMetal 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 [197]
The Abstract describes metal-based photosensitizers as promising for antibacterial phototherapy, and Results and Discussion (In Vitro Photophysical Properties; page not provided) reports good photostability for the studied Ru(II) complex. That section gives its absorption and emission wavelengths and a 0.46% quantum yield, but the paper does not establish that metal complexes generally have larger Stokes shifts, higher emission quantum yields, or better photostability than organic chromophores. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredRu-1 NPs encapsulated with DSPE-mPEG5000 prolonged retention time in the bloodstream while maintaining robust ROS production and photothermal performance.
“Ru-1 NPs encapsulated with DSPE-mPEG5000 prolonged the retention time in the bloodstream while maintaining robust ROS production and photothermal performance.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [197]
In Results and Discussion, under “In Vivo Bacteria Imaging and Antibacterial Assays” (page unavailable), the paper says DSPE-mPEG5000 *could* lengthen blood-circulation retention and that the resulting nanoparticles maintained good ROS-producing ability and photothermal properties. It does not establish the claimed prolongation of bloodstream retention as an observed result. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredRu-1 exhibited higher selectivity for Gram-positive bacteria, with a killing efficiency superior to that for Gram-negative bacteria.
“Notably, Ru-1 exhibited higher selectivity for Gram-positive bacteria, with a killing efficiency superior to that for Gram-negative bacteria.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [197]
Under 808 nm laser irradiation, Ru-1 demonstrated potent ROS generation capability and significant photothermal effect.
“Under 808 nm laser irradiation, it demonstrated potent ROS generation capability and significant photothermal effect.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [197]
Ru-1 exhibited a maximum emission wavelength of 1000 nm.
“Sun et al. developed a novel Ru(II) complex (Ru-1), which exhibited a maximum emission wavelength of 1000 nm (Fig. 26a)197.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [197]
In a mouse model infected with Staphylococcus aureus, Ru-1 NPs achieved maximum accumulation at the infection site 24 h after injection, with a fluorescence SBR as high as 7.5, successfully realizing NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided phototherapy.
“In the mouse model infected with Staphylococcus aureus, Ru-1 NPs achieved maximum accumulation at the infection site 24 h after injection, with a fluorescence SBR as high as 7.5, successfully realizing NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided phototherapy.”
From Organic small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for tumor phototheranostics (2026) · cites this paper as [197]
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“26a) 197 .”
- Authors
- Xu, Y., Li, C., Ma, X., Tuo, W., Tu, L., Li, X., Sun, Y., Stang, P. J., & Sun, Y.
- Affiliations
- Central China Normal University (CN)
- University of Utah (US)
- Hubei University (CN)
- Shenzhen University (CN)
- Henan University (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Sun, Yan
- Stang, Peter J.
- Sun, Yao
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2022-08
- Volume
- 119
- Issue
- 32
- Pages
- e2209904119-e2209904119
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC9371697
- OpenAlex
- W4289261656
- Cited by
- 156
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 51 · 2022: 7
- FWCI
- 9.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (22022404, 22074050)
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for the synthesis and application of organic functional molecules Hubei University (KLSAOFM2111)
- The Open Project Program of Guangxi Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Neuroscience, Guilin Medical University (GKLBCN-202106-01)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Luminescence and Fluorescent Materials
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Photodynamic Therapy Research Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Metal complexes synthesis and properties
- Keywords
- photosensitizers, long-wavelength emission, near-infrared fluorescence imaging, antibacterial activity, Staphylococcus aureus infection, photodynamic therapy, coordination-driven self-assembly, reactive oxygen species, optical penetration depth, cytotoxicity, photodynamic diagnosis
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacteria, Bacterial Infections, Escherichia coli, Light, Photochemotherapy, Ruthenium, Staphylococcus aureus, Photosensitizing Agents, Mice, Coordination Complexes
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