Photostable iridium(III) cyclometallated complex is an efficient photosensitizer for killing multiple cancer cell lines and 3D models under low doses of visible light

Photodynamic therapy delivers more targeted cell killing than classical chemotherapy. It uses light-absorbing compounds, photosensitizers (PSs), to generate lethal reactive oxygen species (ROS) at sites of localized irradiation. Transition metal complexes are attractive PSs due to their photostability, visible-light absorption, and high ROS yields. Here, we introduce a low-molecular weight, photostable iridium complex, [Ir(thpy)2(benz)]Cl, 1, that localizes to the Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum, absorbs visible light, phosphoresces strongly, generates 1O2 with 43% yield, and undergoes cellular elimination after 24 h. 1 shows low dark toxicity and under remarkably low doses (3 min, 20-30 mJ s-1 cm-2) of 405 or 455 nm light, it causes killing of bladder (EJ), malignant melanoma (A375), and oropharyngeal (OPSCC72) cancer cells, with high phototoxic indices > 100-378. 1 is also an efficient PS in 3D melanoma spheroids, with repeated short-time irradiation causing cumulative killing.