Prieto Castañeda, AlejandroLérida Viso, AraceliAvellanal Zaballa, EdurneSola Llano, RebecaBañuelos, JorgeRodríguez Agarrabeitia, AntoniaMartínez Mañez, RamonOrtiz García, María Josefa2024-01-292024-01-292021Prieto-Castañeda, A.; Lérida-Viso, A.; Avellanal-Zaballa, E.; Sola-Llano, R.; Bañuelos, J.; Agarrabeitia, A.R.; Martínez-Mañez, R.; Ortiz, M.J., Dyes Pigment. 2022, 197, 109886020143-720810.1016/j.dyepig.2021.109886https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/95843We have designed and synthesized a family of Ir(III) metal complexes coordinated with two cyclometalated bisfluorophenylpyridine ligands and an ancillary dipyrromethene which is functionalized with a mesityl group (Ir(dipy)-1), an α-chloroacetyl ester (Ir(dipy)-2) or a chain containing an ammonium cation (Ir(dipy)-3). The Ir (III) complexes feature a high triplet state population enabling red phosphorescence and efficient singlet oxygen generation. Ir(dipy)-2 and Ir(dipy)-3 are demonstrated to stain cells in both one-photon and two-photon confocal imaging. Moreover, Ir(dipy)-2 and Ir(dipy)-3 produce ROS in cells upon irradiation, inducing cell death by apoptosis. Colocalization studies in SK-Mel-103 cells show that Ir(dipy)-3 is partially accumulated in mitochondria and induces upon irradiation a disruption in their morphology. Overall our studies demonstrate that the prepared Ir(III) act as photosensitizers able to kill cells under irradiation, being suitable candidates for photodynamic therapy applications.engjournal article1873-3743https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2021.109886restricted access576547DipyrromethenesIridium(III) complexesPhotosensitizersSinglet oxygenPhotodynamic therapyQuímica orgánica (Química)Biología celular (Biología)Química física (Química)2306 Química Orgánica2407 Biología Celular2307 Química Física