A Mn(II) complex of boradiazaindacene (BODIPY) loaded graphene oxide as both LED light and H2O2 enhanced anticancer agent

• A manganese complex (Mn1)/water system as a dioxygen generator
• Electrochemical properties of Mn1 and its loaded graphene oxide (Mn1@GO) were reported.
• Mn1@GO can react with H2O2 resulting active anticancer species.
• Mn1@GO was used as materials for hypoxic cancer phototherapy.
• The mechanism of LED light enhanced anticancer activity was discussed.

Cancer cells are more susceptible to H2O2 induced cell death than normal cells. H2O2-activatable and O2-evolving nanoparticles could be used as photodynamic therapy agents in hypoxic environments. In this report, a photo-active Mn(II) complex of boradiazaindacene derivatives (Mn1) was used as a dioxygen generator under irradiation with LED light in water. Moreover, the in vitro biological evaluation for Mn1 and its loaded graphene oxide (herein called Mn1@GO) on HepG-2 cells in normal and hypoxic conditions has been performed. In particular, Mn1@GO can react with H2O2 resulting active anticancer species, which show high inhibition on both HepG-2 cells and CoCl2-treated HepG-2 cells (hypoxic cancer cells). The mechanism of LED light enhanced anticancer activity for Mn1@GO on HepG-2 cells was discussed. Our results show that Mn(II) complexes of boradiazaindacene (BODIPY) derivatives loaded GO can be both LED light and H2O2-activated anticancer agents in hypoxic environments.

Photoactive Mn(II) complex loaded GO (Mn1@GO) shows both LED light and H2O2-activated enhanced inhibition on the proliferation of HepG-2 cells in hypoxic conditions.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide