title: What does the future hold for photo-oxidizing Ru(II) complexes with polyazaaromatic ligands in medicinal chemistry?
abstract: Since the discovery of cisplatin, the search for diagnostic or therapeutic agents based on other metals, has expanded intensively owing to the numerous possibilities offered by coordination chemistry. This mini-review focuses on recent advances in the search for Ru(II) polyazaaromatic complexes of potential interest as molecular tools applied to cellular diagnostics or as specific cellular photo-reagents for future biomedical applications. The interaction of Ru(II) polyazaaromatic complexes with living cells is reported, as well as the photo-reaction mechanisms of photo-oxidizing Ru(II) complexes with nucleic acids. The novel strategies currently developed to improve their reactivity and specificity towards DNA, more particularly in the gene-silencing framework, are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles, Chimie Organique et Photochimie, CP 160/08, av. F.D. Roosevelt, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ghesquière
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le Gac
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marcélis
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moucheron
authors.forename: Andrée
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirsch-De Mesmaeker
mesh_terms: D001372:Aza Compounds; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D055808:Drug Discovery; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D008024:Ligands; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001372:Aza Compounds; D056831:Coordination Complexes; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D008024:Ligands; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D012428:Ruthenium; D004247:DNA