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Updated: Jul 29, 2025
Synthesis and Evaluation of a Ruthenium-based Mitochondrial Calcium Uptake Inhibitor
Published on: October 26, 2017
Cellular membrane-targeting ruthenium complexes as efficient photosensitizers for broad-spectrum antibacterial
Yi Wang1, Ya-Tao Hu2, Hai-Lin Zhang1
1Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials, School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R. China. liujingang@ecust.edu.cn.
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.
