Iridium complexes inhibit tumor necrosis factor-α by utilizing light and mixed ligands

•51 racemic iridium(III) complexes, both cationic and neutral, were synthesized.•All of them were efficient inhibitors of TNF-α/TNF Receptor-1 interaction.•Potent synergic effects were observed when mixing racemic iridium complexes.•The inhibition was increased when using white light.

We report herein a large study of the inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α with 51 iridium(III) complexes, thus highlighting the influence of the nature of the ligands around the metal, their synergic effect and the role of the light.

Graphical abstractIridium(III) complexes inhibit TNF-α/TNF-Receptor 1 interaction.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide