Photo-uncaging of a ferrocene-bridged dinuclear iridium(iii) complex for three-photon photoimmunotherapy against hypoxic melanoma.

ABSTRACT: The complexity of solid tumors in terms of light scattering, oxygen insufficiency, and redox imbalance complicates the strategic design of photoactivated therapy. In this work, an unprecedented photoactivated homolysis process of ferrocene is driven by the photochemistry of a conjugated cyclometalated iridium(iii) complex upon 970 nm three-photon excitation, exhibiting photo-uncaging, biocatalysis, and an ROS storm all in one moiety. Trapping assays, ultrafast spectroscopy, and DFT calculations reveal the release of Fe²⁺ ions, the location of carbon-centered radicals, and the essential single electron transfer (SET) process for their generation. Such a photo-uncaging pattern harnesses peripheral substrates (O₂, H₂O_2, and H₂O) for ROS g

SUBMITTER: Xie L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12278504 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature