Search

We report herein the design, synthesis and characterisation of a series of luminescent iridium(III) porphyrin complexes [Ir(ttp)(CH 2 CH 2 OH)] (H 2 ttp = 5,10,15,20-tetra-4-tolylporphyrin) (1), [Ir(tpp-Ph-NO 2 )(CO)Cl] (H 2 tpp-Ph-NO 2 = 5-(4-((4-nitrophenoxy)carbonyloxymethyl)phenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin) (2), [Ir(tpp-COOMe)(Py) 2 ](Cl) (H 2 tpp-COOMe = 5-(4-methoxycarbonylphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin; Py = pyridine) (3) and [Ir(tpp-COOH)(Py) 2 ](Cl) (H 2 tpp-COOH = 5-(4-carboxylphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin) (4). All the complexes displayed long-lived near-infrared (NIR) emission attributed to an excited state of mixed triplet intraligand ( 3 IL) (π → π*) (porphyrin) and triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer ( 3 MLCT) (dπ(Ir) → π*(porphyrin)) character. The cytotoxicity of the complexes toward HeLa cells was examined by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The cationic complexes 3 and 4 exhibited higher cytotoxic activity toward HeLa cells than their neutral counterparts 1 and 2. Cellular uptake studies by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and laser-scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) indicated that complexes 3 and 4 showed higher cellular uptake efficiencies than complexes 1 and 2 due to their cationic charge, and they were enriched in the perinuclear region of the cells with negligible nuclear uptake. Additionally, the carboxyl complex 4 was used to label a model protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) via an amidation reaction. The resultant luminescent protein conjugate 4 -BSA displayed similar photophysical properties and intracellular localisation behaviour to its parent complex. The results of this work will contribute to the development of luminescent iridium(III) porphyrin complexes and related bioconjugates as NIR-emissive probes for bioimaging applications.

We report the synthesis and characterization of three cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridine complexes containing a 2,4-dinitrophenyl ether moiety [Ir(pq) 2 (N^N)](PF 6 ) (Hpq=2-phenylquinoline; N^N=4-(N-(4-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)benzyloxy)carbonyl)aminomethyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine (bpy-dinitro-1) (1a), 4-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)methyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine (bpy-dinitro-2) (2a), 4-(4-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy)phenyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (bpy-dinitro-3) (3a)) as intracellular sensors for biothiols. Due to the quenching effect of the dinitroaromatic moiety, these complexes were extremely weakly emissive. Upon the reaction with biothiols, however, the emission was turned on as a consequence of the departure of the quenching unit. The results from a range of experiments demonstrated that complex 1a was noncytotoxic under the conditions used for confocal imaging, showed facile cellular uptake, and can serve as a phosphorogenic intracellular sensor for biothiols including glutathione (GSH) and hydrogen sulfide., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

We report the synthesis, characterization, photophysical and electrochemical behaviour and biological labelling applications of new phosphorogenic bioorthogonal probes derived from iridium(III) polypyridine complexes containing a 1,2,4,5-tetrazine moiety. In contrast to common luminescent cyclometallated iridium(III) polypyridine complexes, these tetrazine complexes are almost non-emissive due to effective Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and/or photoinduced electron transfer (PET) from the excited iridium(III) polypyridine unit to the appended tetrazine moiety. However, they exhibited significant emission enhancement upon reacting with (1R,8S,9s)-bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-ylmethanol (BCN-OH) (ca. 19.5-121.9 fold) and BCN-modified bovine serum albumin (BCN-BSA) (ca. 140.8-1133.7 fold) as a result of the conversion of the tetrazine unit to a non-quenching pyridazine derivative. The complexes were applied to image azide-modified glycans in live cells using a homobifunctional crosslinker, 1,13-bis((1R,8S,9s)-bicyclo[6.1.0]non-4-yn-9-ylmethyloxycarbonylamino)-4,7,10-trioxatridecane (bis-BCN)., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Two novel photoactivatable mitochondria-targeting luminescent iridium(III) poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) complexes incorporated with a nitrobenzyl group were designed. They showed minimal cytotoxic activity in the dark, but became significantly cytotoxic upon irradiation due to the release of the PEG pendants.

The use of bioorthogonal probes that display fluorogenic or phosphorogenic properties is advantageous to the labeling and imaging of biomolecules in live cells and organisms. Herein we present the design of three iridium(III) complexes containing a nitrone moiety as novel phosphorogenic bioorthogonal probes. These probes were non-emissive owing to isomerization of the C=N group but showed significant emission enhancement upon cycloaddition reaction with strained cyclooctynes. Interestingly, the connection of the nitrone ligand to the cationic iridium(III) center led to accelerated reaction kinetics. These nitrone complexes were also identified as phosphorogenic bioorthogonal labels and imaging reagents for cyclooctyne-modified proteins. These findings contribute to the development of phosphorogenic bioorthogonal probes and imaging reagents., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

We report the synthesis, characterisation and photophysical properties of new phosphorescent biscyclometallated iridium(III) ethylenediamine (en) complexes functionalised with polar ester or carboxylate groups [Ir(N^C)2(en)](n)(X) (n = +1, X = Cl(-), HN^C = methyl 4-(2-pyridyl)benzoate Hppy-COOMe (1a), methyl 2-phenyl-4-quinolinecarboxylate Hpq-COOMe (2a); n = -1, X = Li(+), HN^C = 4-(2-pyridyl)benzoate Hppy-COO(-) (1b), 2-phenyl-4-quinolinecarboxylate Hpq-COO(-) (2b)). In aqueous solutions, the carboxylate complexes 1b and 2b displayed emission quenching (ca. 7 and 74 fold, respectively) and lifetime shortening upon protonation, and their pKa values were determined to be 5.13 and 3.46, respectively. The pq complexes 2a and 2b exhibited hypsochromic shifts in their emission maxima and a significant increase in emission intensity (ca. 84 and 15 fold, respectively) upon nonspecific binding to the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA). Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and laser-scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) results revealed that the ester complexes 1a and 2a were efficiently internalised by the human cervix epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa) cells through energy-requiring pathways and subsequently localised in endosomes and mitochondria, respectively. They showed good biocompatibility in the dark, but became significantly cytotoxic upon photoirradiation due to the generation of singlet oxygen. In contrast, in aqueous solutions of physiological pH, the carboxylate complexes 1b and 2b existed as the anionic form and hardly entered cells due to limited membrane permeability, as evidenced by the intense emission surrounding the plasma membrane of the cells. They showed negligible cytotoxicity and the cell viability remained over 95% for an incubation period of 24 hours. In view of the low cytotoxicity and strongly emissive nature of the hydrophilic ppy-COO(-) complex 1b in an aqueous medium, the potential application of the complex as a visualisation reagent has been demonstrated using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an animal model.

We present a new class of phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) bipyridyl-phenylenediamine complexes [Ir(N^C)2 (bpy-DA)](PF6 ) (bpy-DA=4-(N-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)aminomethyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine; HN^C=2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (Hdfppy) (1 a), 2-phenylpyridine (Hppy) (2 a), 2-phenylquinoline (Hpq) (3 a), 2-phenylcinchoninic acid methyl ester (Hpqe) (4 a)) and their triazole counterparts [Ir(N^C)2 (bpy-T)](PF6 ) (bpy-T=4-((6-methoxybenzotriazol-1-yl)methyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine; HN^C=Hdfppy (1 b), Hppy (2 b), Hpq (3 b), Hpqe (4 b)). Upon photoexcitation, the diamine complexes exhibited fairly weak green to red phosphorescence under ambient conditions whereas the triazole derivatives emitted strongly. The photophysical properties of complexes 2 a and 2 b have been studied in more detail. Upon protonation, the diamine complex 2 a displayed increased emission intensity, but the emission properties of its triazole counterpart complex 2 b were independent on the pH value of the solution. Also, complex 2 a was found to be readily converted into complex 2 b upon reaction with NO under aerated conditions, resulting in substantial emission enhancement of the solution. The reaction was highly specific toward NO over other reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) as revealed by spectroscopic analyses. The lipophilicity and cellular uptake efficiency of the diamine complexes have been examined and correlated to their molecular structures. Also, cell-based assays showed that these complexes were noncytotoxic toward human cervix epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa) cells (at 10 μM, 4 h, percentage survival ≈80-95%). Additionally, the diamine complexes have been used to visualize intracellular NO generated both exogenously in HeLa cells and endogenously in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages by laser-scanning confocal microscopy., (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

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).

We report here the synthesis, characterization and photophysical properties of two novel phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridine D-fructose complexes and their fructose-free counterparts. The cellular uptake of the complexes and their cytotoxicity have also been examined.

We report the synthesis, photophysical behavior, and biological properties of new cyclometalated iridium(iii) polypyridine complexes appended with a dibenzocyclooctyne (DIBO) moiety; these complexes have been utilized as the first phosphorescent bioorthogonal probes for azide-modified biomolecules.

A new class of luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridine fluorous complexes has been designed; the fluorous pendant not only plays an important role in the photophysical and biological properties of the complexes, but also allows the facile isolation of biomolecules labeled with these complexes with fluorous solid-phase extraction (FSPE)., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011)

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.

Four new luminescent cyclometallated iridium(III) bis(quinolylbenzaldehyde) diimine complexes [Ir(qba)(2)(N⁁N)](PF(6)) (Hqba = 4-(2-quinolyl)benzaldehyde, N⁁N = 2,2'-bipyridine, bpy (1); 1,10-phenanthroline, phen (2); 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, Me(4)-phen (3); 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, Ph(2)-phen (4)) have been synthesised and characterised, and their electronic absorption, emission and electrochemical properties investigated. The X-ray crystal structures of complexes 1 and 2 have been determined. Upon irradiation, complexes 1-4 exhibited intense and long-lived orange-yellow emission in fluid solutions at 298 K and in alcohol glass at 77 K. The emission has been assigned to a triplet intra-ligand ((3)IL) excited state associated with the qba ligand, probably with mixing of some triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) (dπ(Ir) →π*(qba)) character. Reductive amination reactions of complexes 1-4 with the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) afforded the bioconjugates 1-BSA-4-BSA, respectively. Upon photoexcitation, these bioconjugates displayed intense and long-lived (3)MLCT (dπ(Ir) →π*(N⁁C)) emission in aqueous buffer at 298 K. The cross-linked nature of the Ir-BSA bioconjugates has been verified by SDS-PAGE. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of the complexes towards human cervix epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa) cells has been examined by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, and the cellular uptake of complex 4 has been investigated by laser-scanning confocal microscopy and flow cytometry.

We report the synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of a new class of luminescent cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridine poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) complexes [Ir(N--C)(2)(N--N)](PF(6)) (HN--C=Hppy (2-phenylpyridine), N--N=bpy-CONH-PEG1 (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine; 1a), bpy-CONH-PEG3 (1b); HN--C=Hpq (2-phenylquinoline), N--N=bpy-CONH-PEG1 (2a), bpy-CONH-PEG3 (2b); HN--C=Hpba (4-(2-pyridyl)benzaldehyde), N--N=bpy-CONH-PEG1 (3)) and their PEG-free counterparts (N--N=bpy-CONH-Et, HN--C=Hppy (1c); HN--C=Hpq (2c)). The cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of these complexes have been investigated by the MTT assay, ICPMS, laser-scanning confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. The results showed that the complexes supported by the water-soluble PEG can act as biological probes and labels with considerably reduced cytotoxicity. Because the aldehyde groups of complex 3 are reactive toward primary amines, the complex has been utilized as the first luminescent PEGylation reagent. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) have been PEGylated with this complex, and the resulting conjugates have been isolated, purified, and their photophysical properties studied. The DNA-binding and gene-delivery properties of the luminescent PEI conjugate 3-PEI have also been investigated.

Luminescent dendritic cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridine complexes [{Ir(N--C)(2)}(n)(bpy-n)](PF(6))(n) (HN--C = 2-phenylpyridine, Hppy, n = 8 (ppy-8), 4 (ppy-4), 3 (ppy-3); HN--C = 2-phenylquinoline, Hpq, n = 8 (pq-8), 4 (pq-4), 3 (pq-3)) have been designed and synthesized. The properties of these dendrimers have been compared to those of their monomeric counterparts [Ir(N--C)(2)(bpy-1)](PF(6)) (HN--C = Hppy (ppy-1), Hpq (pq-1)). Cyclic voltammetric studies revealed that the iridium(IV/III) oxidation and bpy-based reduction occurred at about +1.24 to +1.29 V and -1.21 to -1.27 V versus SCE, respectively, for all the complexes. The molar absorptivity of the dendritic iridium(III) complexes is approximately proportional to the number of [Ir(N--C)(2)(N--N)] moieties in one complex molecule. However, the emission lifetimes and quantum yields are relatively independent of the number of [Ir(N--C)(2)(N--N)] units, suggesting negligible electronic communications between these units. Upon photoexcitation, the complexes displayed triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) (dpi(Ir) --> pi*(bpy-n)) emission. The interaction of these complexes with plasmid DNA has been investigated by agarose gel retardation assays. The results showed that the dendritic iridium(III) complexes, unlike their monomeric counterparts, bound to the plasmid, and the interaction was electrostatic in nature. The lipophilicity of all the complexes has been determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Additionally, the cellular uptake of the complexes by the human cervix epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa) cell line has been examined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), laser-scanning confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. Upon internalization, all the complexes were localized in the perinuclear region, forming very sharp luminescent rings surrounding the nuclei. Interestingly, in addition to these rings, HeLa cells treated with the dendritic iridium(III) complexes showed specific labeled compartments, which have been identified to be the Golgi apparatus. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of these iridium(III) complexes has been evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

We report herein the design, synthesis and characterisation of a series of luminescent iridium(III) porphyrin complexes [Ir(ttp)(CH2CH2OH)] (H2ttp = 5,10,15,20-tetra-4-tolylporphyrin) (1), [Ir(tpp-Ph-NO2)(CO)Cl] (H2tpp-Ph-NO2 = 5-(4-((4-nitrophenoxy)carbonyloxymethyl)phenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin) (2), [Ir(tpp-COOMe)(Py)2](Cl) (H2tpp-COOMe = 5-(4-methoxycarbonylphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin; Py = pyridine) (3) and [Ir(tpp-COOH)(Py)2](Cl) (H2tpp-COOH = 5-(4-carboxylphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin) (4). All the complexes displayed long-lived near-infrared (NIR) emission attributed to an excited state of mixed triplet intraligand (3IL) (π → π*) (porphyrin) and triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer (3MLCT) (dπ(Ir) → π*(porphyrin)) character. The cytotoxicity of the complexes toward HeLa cells was examined by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The cationic complexes 3 and 4 exhibited higher cytotoxic activity toward HeLa cells than their neutral counterparts 1 and 2. Cellular uptake studies by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and laser-scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) indicated that complexes 3 and 4 showed higher cellular uptake efficiencies than complexes 1 and 2 due to their cationic charge, and they were enriched in the perinuclear region of the cells with negligible nuclear uptake. Additionally, the carboxyl complex 4 was used to label a model protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) via an amidation reaction. The resultant luminescent protein conjugate 4-BSA displayed similar photophysical properties and intracellular localisation behaviour to its parent complex. The results of this work will contribute to the development of luminescent iridium(III) porphyrin complexes and related bioconjugates as NIR-emissive probes for bioimaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although the strain‐promoted sydnone–alkyne cycloaddition reaction has been utilized for bioconjugation, its potential applications in bioorthogonal labeling and imaging in live cells have not been explored. This communication reports novel bioorthogonal imaging reagents with environment‐sensitive emission properties through the modification of sydnone with cyclometalated iridium(III) polypyridine complexes. These complexes displayed significant emission enhancement and lifetime elongation upon reaction with strained alkyne derivatives, and were utilized to label cyclooctyne‐modified proteins and ceramide molecules in live cells. Additionally, the manipulation of the photocytotoxicity of the complexes through the use of a bioorthogonal reagent was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

The use of bioorthogonal probes that display fluorogenic or phosphorogenic properties is advantageous to the labeling and imaging of biomolecules in live cells and organisms. Herein we present the design of three iridium(III) complexes containing a nitrone moiety as novel phosphorogenic bioorthogonal probes. These probes were non-emissive owing to isomerization of the C=N group but showed significant emission enhancement upon cycloaddition reaction with strained cyclooctynes. Interestingly, the connection of the nitrone ligand to the cationic iridium(III) center led to accelerated reaction kinetics. These nitrone complexes were also identified as phosphorogenic bioorthogonal labels and imaging reagents for cyclooctyne-modified proteins. These findings contribute to the development of phosphorogenic bioorthogonal probes and imaging reagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]