Comparative Study of Sonodynamic and Photoactivated Cancer Therapies with Re(I)-Tricarbonyl Complexes Comprising Phenanthroline Ligands.

Herein, we have compared the effectivity of light-based photoactivated cancer therapy and ultrasound-based sonodynamic therapy with Re(I)-tricarbonyl complexes (-) against cancer cells. The observed photophysical and TD-DFT calculations indicated the potential of - to act as good anticancer agents under visible light/ultrasound exposure. did not display any dark- or light- or ultrasound-triggered anticancer activity. However, and displayed concentration-dependent anticancer activity upon light and ultrasound exposure. Interestingly, produced O and OH on light/ultrasound exposure. Moreover, induced NADH photo-oxidation in PBS and produced HO. To the best of our knowledge, NADH photo-oxidation has been achieved here with the Re(I) complex for the first time in PBS. Additionally, released CO upon light/ultrasound exposure. The cell death mechanism revealed that produced an apoptotic cell death response in HeLa cells via ROS generation. Interestingly, showed slightly better anticancer activity under light exposure compared to ultrasound exposure.