Therapeutic Potential of Photochemically Active Metal Complexes based on Interaction with Enzymes

Transition metal complexes with oligopyridine ligands and ruthenium or rhenium centers have attracted a widespread interest with respect to biomedical applications as they are luminescent and form triplet excited states which may form 1O2. These complexes have been shown to enter living cells and even cellular nuclei. In addition detailed investigations of their interaction with proteins/enzymes have shown that they are capable of binding to these biomolecules, alter the redox state of the enzyme metal centre and induce different reactivity. The application of these complexes as photoactive metallodrugs will depend on their photophysical and photochemical properties. The potential of these complexes together with relevant aspects of their chemistry will be discussed in this review.