In‐vitro and In‐vivo Photocatalytic Cancer Therapy with Biocompatible Iridium(III) Photocatalysts

Abstract Photocatalytic anticancer profile of a Ir III photocatalyst ( Ir3 ) with strong light absorption, high turnover frequency, and excellent biocompatibility is reported. Ir3 showed selective photo‐cytotoxicity against cisplatin‐ and sorafenib‐resistant cell lines while remaining dormant to normal cell lines in the dark. Ir3 exhibited excellent photo‐catalytic oxidation of cellular co‐enzyme, the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), and amino acids via a single electron transfer mechanism. The photo‐induced intracellular redox imbalance and change in mitochondrial membrane potential resulted in necrosis and apoptosis of cancer cells. Importantly, Ir3 exhibited high biocompatibility and photo‐catalytic anticancer efficiency as evident from in vivo zebrafish and mouse cancer models. To the best of our knowledge, Ir3 is the first Ir III based photocatalyst with such a high biocompatibility and photocatalytic anticancer therapeutic effect.