Abstract:
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.
