Light Irradiation Triggers Nitric Oxide Release from Ruthenium(II) Complexes

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) can modify proteins via tyrosine nitration, for example. Thus, this molecule has high cytotoxic potential, which has led to special interest in photochemical processes that release NO. Ruthenium nitrosyl complexes are excellent candidates for exogenous NO delivery. In this context, ruthenium nitrosyl complexes under light irradiation have been explored in different photochemical approaches that involve NO release by different pathways. Several aspects should be considered: reactive nitrogen species (RNS) formation, NO release rate constant, photochemical and photophysical properties of ruthenium nitrosyl complexes, photochemical pathway, and NO photodelivery, among others. This chapter summarizes the main characteristics and applications of light-driven nitrosyl ruthenium complexes.