Visible-Light-Activated Molecular Nanomachines Kill Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Recently, synthetic molecular nanomachines (MNMs) that rotate unidirectionally in response to UV light excitation have been used to produce nanomechanical action on live cells to kill them through the drilling of holes in their cell membranes. In the work here, visible-light-absorbing MNMs are designed and synthesized to enable nanomechanical activation by 405 nm light, thereby using a wavelength of light that is less phototoxic than the previously employed UV wavelengths. Visible-light-absorbing MNMs that kill pancreatic cancer cells upon response to light activation are demonstrated. Evidence is presented to support the conclusion that MNMs do not kill cancer cells by the photothermal effect when used at low optical density. In addition, MNMs suppress the formation of reactive oxygen species, leaving nanomechanical action as the most plausible working mechanism for cell killing under the experimental conditions.