Due to a number of unpleasant considerations, marketed
drugs have
steadily lost their importance in the treatment of cancer. In order
to find a viable cancer cell diagnostic agent, we therefore focused
on metal complexes that displayed target adequacy, permeability to
cancer cells, high standard water solubility, cytoselectivity, and
luminescent behavior. In this aspect, luminescent 11-{naphthalen-1-yl}
dipyrido [3,2-a:2′,3′-c] phenazine based Ru(II)/Ir(III)/Re(I)
complexes have been prepared for HCT-116 colorectal cancer stem cell
therapy. Our study successfully established the possible cytotoxicity
of IrL complex at different doses on HCT-116 colorectal
cancer stem cells (CRCSCs). Additionally, an immunochemistry analysis
of the complex IrL showed that the molecule was subcellularly
localized in the nucleus and other regions of the cytoplasm, where
it caused nuclear DNA damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. The level
of BAX and Bcl-2 was further quantified by qRT-PCR. The expression
of proapoptotic BAX showed increased expression in the complex IrL-treated cell compared to the control, indicating the potential
of complex IrL for apoptotic induction. Upon further
validation, complex IrL was developed as an inhibitor
of autophagy for the eradication of cancer stem cells.