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The Cellular Uptake of Luminescent Ruthenium Complexes

Citation

Puckett, Cindy Ann (2010) The Cellular Uptake of Luminescent Ruthenium Complexes. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/2484-1405. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:01062010-122905478

Abstract

Transition metal complexes have enormous potential as diagnostic and therapeutic agents, but their internalization and distribution in living cells are only poorly understood. Here, we perform one of the few systematic explorations of the uptake efficiency and mechanism of a class of metal complexes: luminescent dipyridophenazine (dppz) complexes of ruthenium(II). Substitution of the ancillary ligands permits variation in the overall complex charge, size, and hydrophobicity. We find that internalization of these complexes occurs mostly through passive diffusion, driven by the membrane potential, and that hydrophobicity, rather than size, is the most important determinant of compound accumulation. Across different cell types with all compounds, mostly uneven cytoplasmic staining is observed with near exclusion from the nucleus. Conjugation to cell-penetrating peptides, such as D-octaarginine, increases uptake efficiency, but leads to trapping in endosomes below a threshold concentration. Above this threshold concentration, substantial staining of the nucleus as well as the cytosol is observed. An appended fluorescein tag lowers the threshold concentration, indicating the importance of payload to the internalization and distribution of cell-penetrating peptides. Shorter peptides, including the nuclear targeting signal RrRK (where r = D-arginine), are also studied, though none have as high a degree of uptake nor as low a threshold concentration as the octaarginine conjugate. These studies provide a basis for the future design and optimization of metal complexes for biological application.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:ruthenium; dipyridophenazine; metal complex; nuclear targeting; cell penetrating peptides; cellular accumulation
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Major Option:Chemistry
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Barton, Jacqueline K.
Thesis Committee:
  • Dougherty, Dennis A. (chair)
  • Lewis, Nathan Saul
  • Rees, Douglas C.
  • Barton, Jacqueline K.
Defense Date:28 October 2009
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
NIHGM33309
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:01062010-122905478
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:01062010-122905478
DOI:10.7907/2484-1405
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:5499
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Cindy Puckett
Deposited On:19 Mar 2010 16:12
Last Modified:08 Nov 2023 00:14

Thesis Files

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PDF (Complete thesis) - Final Version
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PDF (Title page--Abstract--TOC) - Final Version
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PDF (Chapter 1: Methods to explore the cellular uptake of luminescent ruthenium complexes) - Final Version
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PDF (Chapter 2: Mechanistic studies of ruthenium complex cellular uptake) - Final Version
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PDF (Chapter 3: Directing the subcellular localization of a ruthenium complex with octaarginine) - Final Version
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PDF (Chapter 4: Targeting a ruthenium complex to the nucleus with short peptides) - Final Version
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PDF (Chapter 5: Conclusions) - Final Version
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PDF (Appendix: Synthesis of a long-lifetime molecular beacon) - Final Version
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