Recent advances in ruthenium(II) and iridium(III) complexes containing nanosystems for cancer treatment and bioimaging

Abstract Ruthenium(II) and iridium(III) coordination compounds display excellent structural, photophysical, and biological properties which make them highly promising as anticancer and bioimaging agents. When nanoparticles are functionalized with Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes, enhanced performance and synergistic effects can be produced in the resultant nanosystems. This review begins by describing the three main strategies for the fabrication of Ru(II) and Ir(III) complex containing nanosystems. This is followed by a discussion of the ways in which Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes and nanoparticles combine and interact to produce novel materials with efficacies exceeding the sum of their parts. The main body of the review then outlines the recent developments in Ru(II) and Ir(III) complex containing nanosystems for cancer treatment and bioimaging. To conclude, some of the future challenges and opportunities in this field are highlighted.