Mitochondrial Dynamics Tracking with Two-Photon Phosphorescent Terpyridyl Iridium(III) Complexes

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Mitochondrial dynamics (fission/fusion) are vital for cellular function; their disruption is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer.
• Current commercial mitochondrial probes suffer from high excitation energy and poor photo-stability, limiting their use in live-cell imaging.
• There is a critical need for mitochondrial targeting agents with enhanced photo-stability, deep tissue penetration, and high 3D resolution for accurate tracking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel phosphorescent probes for real-time imaging of mitochondrial dynamics.
• To evaluate the suitability of these probes for tracking mitochondrial morphology changes in living cells.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of terpyridyl cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes (Ir1-Ir3).
• Evaluation of one- and two-photon excitation properties of the synthesized complexes.
• Application of the probes for live-cell imaging and tracking of mitochondrial morphology.

Main Results:

• Terpyridyl cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes demonstrated effective one- and two-photon phosphorescent properties.
• The probes enabled real-time imaging and tracking of mitochondrial morphology changes in living cells.
• These complexes show potential as advanced tools for studying mitochondrial dynamics.

Conclusions:

• Terpyridyl cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes serve as efficient phosphorescent probes for live-cell mitochondrial imaging.
• These novel probes overcome limitations of existing mitochondrial probes, offering improved performance for tracking dynamic changes.
• The developed probes hold significant promise for advancing research in mitochondrial dynamics and related diseases.