Imaging of the nuclei of living tumor cells by novel ruthenium(II) complexes coordinated with 6-chloro-5-hydroxylpyrido3,2-aphenazine

摘要

Two novel ruthenium(II) complexes coordinated with 6-chloro-5-hydroxylpyrido3,2-aphenazine (CQM), Ru(L)(2)(CQM)ClO4 L = 1,10-phenanthroline, (1) and 2,2'-bipyridine, (2), were investigated as potential fluorescent probes to track dynamic changes in the nuclei of living cells. Confocal laser technology was used to observe their co-location inside the cells. The results showed that both complexes were taken up by HepG2 cells, especially 1, which was localized in the cell nuclei, whereas 2 was distributed in the cell nuclei and mitochondria. Further studies by real-time fluorescence observations revealed that 1 rapidly entered the living cells, namely, HepG2, HeLa and MCF-7 cells, imaged the dynamic changes of the nuclei of living tumor cells, and exhibited low toxicity toward cells. The results demonstrated that 1 may be developed into a novel fluorescent probe for living cell nuclei. This study facilitates the development of fluorescent chemosensors with metal complexes.