Biotin?Appended Iron(III) Complexes of Curcumin for Targeted Photo?Chemotherapy

Iron(III) complexes of curcumin (Hcur) having a tridentate NNN-donor dipicolylamine-based ligand L1 and its biotinylated analogue L2, namely, [Fe(L1)(cur)Cl] (1) [Fe(L2)(cur)Cl] (2), were prepared, characterized their photo-induced cytotoxicity studied. The exhibited curcumin-based absorption band near 430 nm emission maxima at 520 nm. Complex 2 with biotin moiety showed enhanced cellular uptake higher compared to non-biotin 1. visible light induced was studied in HeLa, MCF-7 HepG2 cell lines. displayed photodynamic effect (400–700 nm, 10 J cm?2) giving an IC50 value ?4 ?M HeLa cells, while being significantly non-toxic the dark (IC50>100 ?M). A 5-fold increase observed cells (IC50?0.7 ?M) for biotin-appended complex 2. In vitro generation reactive oxygen species (ROS) from dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) assay. mode death apoptotic. Formation hydroxyl radicals as ROS evidenced plasmid pUC19 DNA photo-cleavage studies. demonstrated ability act targeted PDT (photodynamic therapy) drugs.