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Sialic acids play important roles in mammalian development, cell-cell attachment, and signaling. As cancer cells utilize their overexpressed sialylated antigens to propagate metastases, the development of probes for sialic acids is of high importance. Herein, we report three luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) bipyridine complexes bearing a phenylboronic acid (PBA) moiety. Spectrophotometric titrations revealed that the PBA complexes displayed higher binding affinity for the most common sialic acid N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) compared with simple sugars that are commonly found on glycoproteins. Notably, cellular imaging and uptake experiments showed that the PBA complexes were able to recognize cellular sialic acid residues, resulting in more efficient uptake than the boronic acid-free analogs. Additionally, one of the PBA complexes was shown to discriminate between cancerous and noncancerous cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridine complexes appended with a β-D-glucose moiety [Ir(N^C)2(bpy-TEG-ONCH3-β-D-glc)](PF6) [bpy-TEG-ONCH3-β-D-glc = 4-(10-N-methyl-N-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-amino-oxy-2,5,8-trioxa-dec-1-yl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine; HN^C = 2-((1,1'-biphenyl)-4-yl)benzothiazole) (Hbt) (1a), 2-phenylpyridine (Hppy) (2a), 2-phenylquinoline (Hpq) (3a), 7,8-benzoquinoline (Hbzq) (4a)] has been synthesized and characterized. The D-galactose counterparts [Ir(N^C)2(bpy-TEG-ONCH3-β-D-gal)](PF6) [bpy-TEG-ONCH3-β-D-gal = 4-(10-N-methyl-N-(β-D-galactopyranosyl)-amino-oxy-2,5,8-trioxa-dec-1-yl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine; HN^C = Hbt (1b), Hppy (2b), Hpq (3b), Hbzq (4b)] and a sugar-free bt complex [Ir(bt)2(bpy-TEG-OMe)](PF6) [bpy-TEG-OMe = 4-(2,5,8,11-tetraoxa-dodec-1-yl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine] (1c) have also been prepared. Upon photoexcitation, all the complexes displayed intense and long-lived triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) [dπ(Ir) → π*(N^N)] or triplet intraligand ((3)IL) (π → π*) (N^C and N^N) emission. The lipophilicity, the cellular uptake efficiency, and cytotoxicity of the complexes toward human cervix epithelioid carcinoma cells (HeLa) have been examined. Temperature dependence and chemical inhibition experiments indicated that the transport of bt-glucose complex 1a across the cell membrane occurred through an energy-requiring process such as endocytosis, in additional to a pathway that was mediated by glucose transporters (GLUTs). Importantly, the cellular uptake efficiency of this complex was found to be strongly dependent on hormonal stimulation and inhibition, rendering it a new phosphorescent metabolic indicator. Additionally, laser-scanning confocal microscopy revealed that the complex was localized in the mitochondria and highly resistant to photobleaching compared to a fluorescent organic glucose derivative 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-NBDG).

The rich photophysical properties of luminescent inorganic and organometallic transition metal complexes, such as their intense, long-lived, and environment-sensitive emission, render them excellent candidates for biological and cellular studies. In this Perspective, we review examples of biological probes derived from luminescent transition metal complexes with a d(6), d(8), or d(10) metal center. The design of luminescent covalent labels and noncovalent probes for protein molecules is discussed. Additionally, the recent applications of these complexes as cellular probes and bioimaging reagents are described. Emphasis is put on the structural features, photophysical behavior, biomolecular interactions, cellular uptake, and intracellular localization properties of luminescent transition metal complexes.

A series of luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridine complexes containing a di-2-picolylamine (DPA) moiety [Ir(N^C)(2)(phen-DPA)](PF(6)) (phen-DPA = 5-(di-2-picolylamino)-1,10-phenanthroline) (HN^C = 2-phenylpyridine, Hppy (1a), 2-(4-methylphenyl)pyridine, Hmppy (2a), 2-phenylquinoline, Hpq (3a), 4-(2-pyridyl)benzaldehyde, Hpba (4a)) and their DPA-free counterparts [Ir(N^C)(2)(phen-DMA)](PF(6)) (phen-DMA = 5-(dimethylamino)-1,10-phenanthroline) (HN^C = Hppy (1b), Hmppy (2b), Hpq (3b), Hpba (4b)) have been synthesized and characterized, and their photophysical and electrochemical properties investigated. Photoexcitation of the complexes in fluid solutions at 298 K and in alcohol glass at 77 K resulted in intense and long-lived luminescence. The emission of the complexes has been assigned to a triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) (dπ(Ir) → π*(N^N)) or triplet intraligand ((3)IL) (π → π*) (N^C) excited state and with substantial mixing of triplet amine-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)NLCT) (n → π*) (N^N) character, depending on the identity of the cyclometalating and diimine ligands. Electrochemical measurements revealed an irreversible amine oxidation wave at ca. +1.1 to +1.2 V vs saturated calomel electrode, a quasi-reversible iridium(IV/III) couple at ca. +1.2 to +1.6 V, and a reversible diimine reduction couple at ca. -1.4 to -1.5 V. The cation-binding properties of these complexes have been studied by emission spectroscopy. Upon binding of zinc ion, the iridium(III) DPA complexes displayed 1.2- to 5.4-fold emission enhancement, and the K(d) values determined were on the order of 10(-5) M. Job's plot analysis confirmed that the binding stoichiometry was 1:1. Additionally, selectivity studies showed that the iridium(III) DPA complexes were more sensitive toward zinc ion among various transition metal ions examined. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of these complexes toward human cervix epithelioid carcinoma cells have been studied by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and their cellular-uptake properties by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and laser-scanning confocal microscopy.