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Inorganics
Special Issues
Application of Transition Metal Complexes in Biomedical and Chemical Fields
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Application of Transition Metal Complexes in Biomedical and Chemical Fields

A special issue of Inorganics (ISSN 2304-6740). This special issue belongs to the section "Organometallic Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 3646

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Wanhe Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Life Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 1 Dongxiang Road, Xi'an 710072, China
Interests: luminescence probe; metallodrug; bioinorganic; bioimaging; disease diagnosis; drug screening
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jing Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Life Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 1 Dongxiang Road, Xi'an 710072, China
Interests: iridium(III) complex; luminescence probe; nanomaterial-assisted biosensor; gold nanoparticles; disease diagnosis; CRISPR-based biosensing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xiao Yao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Ecological Environment and Urban Construction, Fujian University of Technology, Fuzhou 350118, China
Interests: fluorescent probe; photocatalytic materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Transition metal complexes exhibit unique electronic, optical, and catalytic properties that drive innovation across multiple fields. This Special Issue showcases important studies and transformative applications in biomedical and chemical fields, highlighting recent advancements and interdisciplinary synergies. In biomedical fields, these complexes are revolutionizing therapeutics and diagnostics. Platinum-based agents (e.g., cisplatin) remain cornerstone anticancer drugs, while iridium(III) and ruthenium(II) complexes show promise in targeted therapies and bioimaging. Their anticancer and antimicrobial potential and role in photodynamic therapy further underscore their versatility. Concurrently, in chemical sciences, transition metal complexes serve as efficient catalysts for sustainable industrial processes, organic synthesis, and energy conversion. This Special Issue invites original research and reviews addressing synthesis, mechanistic insights, structure–activity relationships, and translational challenges (e.g., toxicity, bioavailability) regarding transition metal complexes in biomedical and chemical fields.

We welcome submissions that explore the evolving role of transition metal complexes in addressing global health and environmental challenges, paving the way for innovative scientific and technological advancements.

Dr. Wanhe Wang
Dr. Jing Wang
Dr. Xiao Yao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Inorganics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • transition metal complexes
  • synthesis
  • mechanistic insights
  • structure-activity
  • electronic
  • optical
  • catalysis
  • biomedical application

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 2406 KB  
Article
Gold(III) Complexes with 18-Crown-6, 1-Aza-18-Crown-6, and Cryptands 22 and 222: Stability and Structure
by Daniil N. Yarullin, Olga I. Logacheva, Viktor V. Aleksandriiskii, Maksim N. Zavalishin and George A. Gamov
Inorganics 2026, 14(4), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics14040097 - 29 Mar 2026
Viewed by 516
Abstract
The growing demand for gold in various high-technology applications necessitates the development of efficient and selective methods for its recovery and analysis, which can be achieved using such macrocyclic ligands as crown esters and their aza-substituted derivatives. The present paper reports on the [...] Read more.
The growing demand for gold in various high-technology applications necessitates the development of efficient and selective methods for its recovery and analysis, which can be achieved using such macrocyclic ligands as crown esters and their aza-substituted derivatives. The present paper reports on the equilibrium constants for the formation of gold(III) complexes with 18-crown-6, 1-aza-18-crown-6, 1,10-diaza-18-crown-6, and the cryptand 4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane (Kryptofix 222) in aqueous solution at T = 298.2 K, p = 0.1 MPa, I → 0. The equilibrium constants (log β) for the substitution of chloride ions by macrocycles were determined to be 4.52 ± 0.04, 9.15 ± 0.03, 9.08 ± 0.07, and 11.51 ± 0.08, respectively. Equilibrium constants for protonated and polyligand species are also provided. The complexation mechanism was elucidated using a combination of spectroscopic techniques. UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy confirm the substitution of chloride ligands by the nitrogen donor atoms of the aza-macrocycles within the tetrachloroaurate(III) ion. Furthermore, 1H NMR analysis reveals that the diaza-substituted ligands can form both inclusion complexes, where the gold cation is encapsulated within the macrocyclic cavity, and exclusion complexes. These findings provide a quantitative foundation for the design of novel macrocycle-based extractants and sensors for gold(III). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Transition Metal Complexes in Biomedical and Chemical Fields)
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10 pages, 2085 KB  
Article
Blue and Green Phosphorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Based on Bis(cyclometalated) Tetrahydrocurcuminate Iridium(III) Complexes
by Francesco Fagnani, Alessia Colombo, Claudia Dragonetti, Mattia Fontani, Dominique Roberto, Massimo Cocchi, Simona Fantacci and J. A. Gareth Williams
Inorganics 2025, 13(12), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics13120390 - 27 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1123
Abstract
The non-linear optical and antitumoral properties of cis-Ir(N,C-ppy)2(O,O-THC) have previously been established (where ppy and THC are the deprotonated forms of 2-phenylpyridine and tetrahydrocurcumin, respectively). In the present study, this complex is investigated as a green [...] Read more.
The non-linear optical and antitumoral properties of cis-Ir(N,C-ppy)2(O,O-THC) have previously been established (where ppy and THC are the deprotonated forms of 2-phenylpyridine and tetrahydrocurcumin, respectively). In the present study, this complex is investigated as a green phosphorescent emitter for an OLED fabricated by solution processing. The device efficiency is similar to that of an analogue employing the archetypal complex cis-Ir(N,C-ppy)2(O,O-acac), but shows a higher luminance at low applied voltages (<6 V). In order to explore whether this effect might be observed in the blue region too, a new derivative has been prepared and characterized, namely cis-Ir(N,C-F2ppy)2(O,O-THC) (F2ppyH = 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine). It, too, gives an OLED with a particularly high luminance at low voltage, suggesting a beneficial effect of substituting acetylacetonate by tetrahydrocurcuminate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Transition Metal Complexes in Biomedical and Chemical Fields)
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21 pages, 2996 KB  
Article
Two Mechanism Pathways from a Versatile Arene Ruthenium Assembly: Reaching Aqueous Sensing Reversibility and Selectivity for CN−
by Alaa Maatouk, Thibaud Rossel, Gioele Colombo, Stefano Brenna and Bruno Therrien
Inorganics 2025, 13(11), 357; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics13110357 - 28 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1327
Abstract
The development of highly selective, sensitive and recyclable chemosensors for CN− is critical due to the widespread use of cyanide derivatives in industrial processes and its extreme toxicity to environmental and biological systems. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a [...] Read more.
The development of highly selective, sensitive and recyclable chemosensors for CN− is critical due to the widespread use of cyanide derivatives in industrial processes and its extreme toxicity to environmental and biological systems. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a water-soluble arene ruthenium metalla-assembly specifically designed to operate in aqueous solutions and under environmentally relevant conditions. The arene ruthenium assembly incorporates functionalized building blocks that enable a selective multi-site recognition of cyanide according to pH by either nucleophilic addition or hydrogen bond interactions. The system exhibits a distinct colorimetric response upon cyanide binding, resulting in a rapid “turn-on” color change. An excellent selectivity and reversibility for cyanide recognition is observed over multiple cycles, with a detection limit in the low micromolar range, thus laying the ground for the future development of sensing technology with supramolecular metal-based assemblies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Transition Metal Complexes in Biomedical and Chemical Fields)
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