RuRe2

RuRe2 is a heteronuclear ruthenium(II)-rhenium(I) complex, specifically [Ru(phen)2(tpphz)Re(CO)3Cl](PF6)2, where 'phen' is 1,10-phenanthroline and 'tpphz' is the bridging ligand tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3″,2″-h:2″',3″'-j]phenazine. It is being developed as a potential photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent for cancer treatment. Upon irradiation with 450 nm light, RuRe2 exhibits significant phototoxicity against various cancer cell lines, particularly human prostate cancer (PC3) cells, where it has demonstrated a phototoxicity index (PI) of over 112-fold. The compound's mechanism of action involves the induction of tumor cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. Furthermore, RuRe2-mediated PDT has been shown to inhibit cell migration and angiogenesis by downregulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, as well as the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor VEGFR2.