Discrete Metalla‐Assemblies as Drug Delivery Vectors

Abstract

The last decade has seen the field of metalla-assemblies moving towards applications. Not only are we still seeing beautiful new two-and threedimensional constructions appearing in the literature at a regular pace, but nowadays we also observe metalla-assemblies with functions. Indeed, metalla-assemblies are being used as micro-reactors, sensors or as molecular flasks, just to name some examples. Nevertheless, another application for metalla-assemblies capable of encapsulating guest molecules is emerging: The ability of some metalla-assemblies to act as water-soluble containers to solubilize and protect guest molecules in biological media has been explored, thus offering new opportunities in the fascinating field of coordination-driven self-assembly.In this chapter, an overview of metalla-assemblies acting as drug carriers is presented. Advantages and limitations of these systems from a biological point of view, and potential perspectives for these systems, is also discussed.

Exploiting Natural Products to Build Metalla-Assemblies: The Anticancer Activity of Embelin-Derived Rh(III) and Ir(III) Metalla-Rectangles

“…Recently, coordination-driven self-assemblies have made an entry in biology [8]. Metalla-cycles and metalla-cages are now employed to stabilize DNA motifs, to interact with proteins, or to transport guest molecules to cells [9][10][11]. The construction of metalla-assemblies involves various types of ligands, which depend on the choice of the metal centers and on the anticipated architectures.…”

Metal‐Organic Cycle/Cage (MOC)‐Based Supramolecular Photosensitizers: A Promising Strategy to Construct Robust Phototherapeutic Agents

“…[8] Metalorganic cycles/cages (MOCs) refer to a branch of supramolecular architectures constructed through coordination-driven self-assembly of organic ligands and metal centers. [10][11][12][13][14] A series of metal-organic cages/cycles (MOCs) with controllable topologies can be formed by coordination between metal acceptors and organic donors, providing applications in separations, catalysis, sensors, and biomaterials. Recently, the emergence of MOC-based supramolecular photosensitizers has aroused great interest.…”

Chiral Self-Sorting in Truxene-Based Metallacages

“…Coordination-driven self-assembly methodology has been extensively used during the last few decades to construct bi-or tri-dimensional discrete architecture [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Beyond the challenge of producing more and more sophisticated compounds, special attention has been given to functional architectures that are responsive to an external stimulus such as light [18][19][20][21][22], redox [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31], or the addition of a chemical [32] in order to target original properties [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. Those systems are generally achiral and highly symmetric.…”