Highly photoactive Ir(iii)–Pt(iv) heterometallic conjugates for anticancer therapy

Abstract

For the first time, this study reported the photoactivatable activity of Ir(III)–Pt(IV) heterometallic conjugates, which were stable in the dark and activated to release oxaliplatin and Ir within 3 min of irradiation. The conjugates induced apoptosis and immunologic cell death through Pt–DNA binding and reactive oxygen species generation upon irradiation. This work developed photoactivatable heterometallic agents for anticancer therapy.