A luminescent ruthenium(ii) complex for light-triggered drug release and live cell imaging†
Abstract
We report a novel ruthenium(II) complex for selective release of the imidazole-based drug econazole. While the complex is highly stable and luminescent in the dark, irradiation with green light induces release of one of the econazole ligands, which is accompanied by a turn-off luminescence response and up to a 34-fold increase in cytotoxicity towards tumour cells.