Identification of a luminescent platinum(II) complex with BODIPY derivative as novel photodynamic therapy agent for triple negative breast cancer cells

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most malignant breast tumors for its poor prognosis and high tumor recurrence. It is urgent to develop new strategy or effective agents to overcome resistance and improve therapeutic effectiveness. Boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) based photosensitizers possess exciting photophysical features suitable for theranostic applications, namely, photodynamic therapy (PDT). We have designed a luminescent monofunctional platinum(II) complex with BODIPY derivative, namely I2BC-Pt, as novel high PDT agent against triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The di-iodinated BODIPY complex I2BC-Pt showed excellent PDT effect against TNBC cells in green light (520 nm) giving IC50 values of 0.11–0.13 μM in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells. I2BC-Pt predominately aggregated in the mitochondria of MDA-MB-231 cells and emitted green fluorescence. Besides, the anticancer mechanism studies demonstrated that I2BC-Pt could help DNA repair through attenuating RAD51, FoxM1 and BRCA1/2, and induce p53-mediated apoptosis of TNBC cells. Taken together, I2BC-Pt could be potentially developed as a BODIPY-based photosensitizers for TNBC therapy.