Construction of homo and heteronuclear Ru(II), Ir(III) and Re(I) complexes for target specific cancer therapy

More than 10 million death tolls in 2020 were reported as a result of heinous impact of cancer, making it second most prime cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. In annihilation of cancer, many platinum-based drugs are currently being applied in anticancer therapy but the therapeutic value of these complexes comes with severe side effects. Hence, a profound research is needed to develop more selective and target specific chemotherapeutics so as to diminish the side effects. In this scenario, the anticancer activity of ruthenium, iridium and rhenium-based complexes have shown a light of hope for being explored as anticancer metallotherapeutics. This present review article, therefore, delineates the study of cellular uptake, localisation, mechanism of action and cytotoxicity profiles of several mononuclear and multinuclear ruthenium, iridium and rhenium complexes as target specific potential chemotherapeutic agents.