Issue 23, 2023

Cellular membrane-targeting ruthenium complexes as efficient photosensitizers for broad-spectrum antibacterial activity

Abstract

A ruthenium complex [Ru(phen)2(phen-5-amine)-C14] (Ru-C14) with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity was designed and synthesized; positively charged Ru-C14 could target bacteria via electrostatic interactions and showed high binding effectiveness to cell membranes. In addition, Ru-C14 could act as a photosensitizer. Under 465 nm light irradiation, Ru-C14 could generate 1O2, thus disrupting the bacterial intracellular redox balance and leading to bacterial death. Ru-C14 also exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration values of 6.25 μM against Escherichia coli and 3.125 μM against Staphylococcus aureus; these values are lower than those of streptomycin and methicillin. This work combined the merits of cell membrane targeting and photodynamic therapy for antibacterial activity. The findings might open up a new avenue for effective anti-infection treatment and other medical applications.

Graphical abstract: Cellular membrane-targeting ruthenium complexes as efficient photosensitizers for broad-spectrum antibacterial activity

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 Apr 2023
Accepted
10 May 2023
First published
15 May 2023

Dalton Trans., 2023,52, 8051-8057

Cellular membrane-targeting ruthenium complexes as efficient photosensitizers for broad-spectrum antibacterial activity

Y. Wang, Y. Hu, H. Zhang, Y. Chen, H. Shi, J. Liu and Q. Zhang, Dalton Trans., 2023, 52, 8051 DOI: 10.1039/D3DT01001E

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