X-ray-induced photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) has recently evolved into a suitable modality to fight cancer. This technique, which exploits radiosensitizers producing reactive oxygen species, allows for a reduction of the radiation dose needed to eradicate cancer in the frame of the radiotherapy treatment of deep tumors. Our team has designed a water-soluble octahedral molybdenum cluster complex displaying relevant properties as an agent for X-ray induced photodynamic therapy. The uptake of this complex by Hep-2 and MRC-5 cells is negligible during the first hours of incubation, but considerably increases with the hydrolysis of its apical ligands. The complex exhibits low toxicity in vitro and induces a radiotoxic effect, noticeable against cancerous Hep-2 cells. This paper, published in the RSC Journal of BioMaterial Science is co-authored by scientists from five institutions brought together by AV21 strategy.
Kaplan Kirakci,*Tatiana N. Pozmogova, Andrey Y. Protasevich, Georgy D. Vavilov, Dmitri V. Stass, Michael A. Shestopalovd and Kamil Lang* Biomater. Sci., 2021, 9, 2893; DOI 10.1039/d0bm02005b