Novel half-sandwich iridium OˆC (carbene)-Complexes: In vitro and in vivo tumor growth suppression and pro-apoptosis via ROS-mediated cross-talk between mitochondria and lysosomes.

Herein we present half-sandwich IrIII complexes [(η5-Cpxbiph)Ir(OˆC)Cl] containing OˆC(NHC)-chelating ligand as anticancer and antimetastasis agents. All the complexes displayed high potency in vitro against a wide range of cancer cells. In addition, Ir2 significantly curb tumor growth in a colon cancer mouse xenograft model in vivo. Further mechanism of action studies indicate that Ir2-initiated apoptosis occurs through ROS-mediated cross-talk between mitochondria and lysosomes.