The design of cyclometalated iridium(iii)-metformin complexes for hypoxic cancer treatment.

Modulating the hypoxic microenvironment is the priority for tumor treatment. Cytometalated iridium(iii)-metformin conjugates were synthesized for treating hypoxic cancer cells for the first time, which alleviate hypoxia via mitochondria respiration inhibition, thus displaying 10-fold higher cytotoxicity, emerging anti-metastasis and anti-inflammatory activities than a metformin-free Ir(iii) complex and cisplatin against hypoxic cancer cells.