X-ray absorption spectroscopy: a tool to investigate the local structure of metal-based anticancer compounds in vivo.

This review gives a brief description of the theory and application of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) comprising both X-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure, especially focusing onto the use in inorganic medicinal chemistry. The advantages and limitations of the methods are described and showcased through examples from studies on anticancer metal compounds. The strength of XAS and its relevance for the structural chemical characterization of metal-based compounds in vivo in native tissue samples is exemplified. The common data reduction and analysis strategies are presented and recent advances in the field and perspectives for the near future are given.