Arginine-Tryptophan Peptides Enhancing Antibacterial and Anticancer Effects of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complex Photosensitizers.

ABSTRACT: In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a potential antibacterial and anticancer alternative. The free radicals are generated in the presence of photosensitizers (PS) and oxygen under light irradiation of a specific wavelength, causing cytotoxic damage to the cells. Ruthenium-(II) photosensitizers (Ru-(PS)) are of interest due to their rich photochemical properties and potential antibacterial and anticancer activities reported in previous studies. However, the low uptake by bacterial and cancer cells has limited the clinical uses of Ru-(PS). In this study, the potential of membrane-targeting peptides involving arginine-tryptophan (Arg-Trp or RW) in enhancing the uptake of the Ru-(PS), namely, RuCOOH, into bacterial and cancer cells, as well as their antibacterial and ant

SUBMITTER: Ng XY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12311667 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature