Three new iridium(iii) polypyridyl complexes were synthesized. The cytotoxic activity in vitro and in vivo, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS and the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins were investigated.
Two new water-soluble amphiphilic Ru(ii) polypyridyl complexes were synthesised and their photophysical and photobiological properties evaluated; both complexes showed a rapid cellular uptake and phototoxicity against HeLa cervical cancer cells.