Imaging and treating cancer with an iridum-based prodrug
In our Chemical Science Pick of the Week, a novel cancer-targeting iridium complex was demonstrated to act as an effective radiosensitiser for image-guided cancer radiochemotherapy.
This allowed visualisation of tumor sites in mice for precise irradiation with X-rays. Alongside imaging, the complex displayed chemotherapeutic and radiosensitisation potency by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction. Combined, the DNA damage caused by x-rays and iridium complex-induced mitochondrial dysfunction were found to promote cancer cell death.
To the best of the author’s knowledge, the sensitivity enhancement ratio of the prodrug was the highest among those reported for radiotherapy metal complex drugs.
This article is free to read in our open access, flagship journal Chemical Science: Zhao et al., Chem. Sci., 2020, Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/D0SC00862A. You can access our 2019 ChemSci Picks in this article collection.
Greener, cheaper MOF synthesis
Our ChemSci Pick of the Week demonstrates the scalable synthesis of metal-organic-frameworks (MOFs) using ultrasonic or acoustic frequencies – rather than solvent-based approaches.
Real-time tracking of entangled pathways in the photodissocation of acetaldehyde
ChemSci Pick of the Week (INFOGRAPHIC) –Photodissocation of acetaldehyde occurs via different pathways, including the "roaming" mechanism. Can we study the different reaction pathways by tracking the time evolution of product distributions?
Making synthesis more efficient
A new rhodium catalyst provides an alternative to tedious and wasteful multistep synthesis procedures.