A novel ruthenium polypyridyl complex for the selective imaging and photodynamic targeting of the Golgi apparatus.

A well-designed heteroleptic ruthenium(ii) polypyridyl complex demonstrated stable target-specific in vitro Golgi apparatus imaging abilities in HeLa cell lines. After utilizing photodynamic therapy via UV excitation, the Ru-SL complex could be triggered to generate singlet oxygen (1O2) and red fluorescence signals. 1O2 was highly cytotoxic and could induce DNA damage and the disappearance of the Golgi apparatus. The red fluorescence signals disappeared gradually, suggesting that the live or dead state of the cells can be estimated from the fluorescence signal intensity.