A Ruthenium-BODIPY Photosensitizer for Light-Triggered Apoptosis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

The selective activation of therapeutic agents within the tumor microenvironment remains a cornerstone in enhancing the efficacy and safety of cancer treatments. This study introduces RuB3, an agent for photodynamic therapy (PDT), and explores its potential to selectively induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells through controlled light exposure. Employing advanced live cell imaging techniques, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry, we demonstrated that RuB3 facilitates targeted ROS generation and consequent apoptotic pathways upon light activation. Notably, RuB3 exhibited a substantial increase in apoptotic effects in a light-dependent manner, confirming its functionality as a PDT agent. Given its potent efficacy and minimal off-target effects, RuB3 represents a promising advancement in PDT approaches.