title: Tetranuclear ruthenium(II) complexes with oligo-oxyethylene linkers as one- and two-photon luminescent tracking non-viral gene vectors.
abstract: To prolong the observation time, increase the penetration depth and decrease self-absorption and phototoxicity, two-photon luminescent vectors have emerged as promising tools for tracking gene delivery in living cells. Herein, we report four new tetranuclear Ru(ii) complexes based on oligo-oxyethylene and polybenzimidazole as one- and two- photon luminescent tracking non-viral gene vectors. In such a molecular design, the oligo-oxyethylene, polybenzimidazole and Ru(ii) polypyridyl complexes were expected to render the vectors with increased cell permeability, biocompatibility, proton buffering capacity and one- and two-photon luminescence. Corresponding DNA interaction studies showed that the ability of the complexes to condense DNA decreased with increasing oligo-oxyethylene lengths. Additionally, all complexes protected DNA. The complexes were investigated as one- and two-photon tracking non-viral gene vectors in living cells and showed proper cellular uptake, good luciferase expression and low cytotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: MOE Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, P. R. China. ceschh@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Kangqiang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Bole
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Huaiyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Pingyu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liangnian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D049449:Luminescence; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D017785:Photons; D010957:Plasmids; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001562:Benzimidazoles; D056831:Coordination Complexes; D011108:Polymers; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; C549461:poly(benzimidazole); D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012428:Ruthenium; D004247:DNA