A Matrix Metalloproteinase-responsive Iridium(III)-based Hydrogel for Cancer Cell-specific Imaging and Lysosome-targeted Photodynamic Therapy

Alex Man-Hei Yip; Lawrence Cho-Cheung Lee; Justin Shum; Kenneth Kam-Wing Lo

A Matrix Metalloproteinase-responsive Iridium(III)-based Hydrogel for Cancer Cell-specific Imaging and Lysosome-targeted Photodynamic Therapy

Alex Man-Hei Yip
, Lawrence Cho-Cheung Lee
, Justin Shum
, Kenneth Kam-Wing Lo^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Chemistry

Research output: Conference Papers › RGC 33 - Other conference paper

1 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Many cancer cells have elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are closely implicated in tumor growth. The most common MMP-related anticancer approach is the development of MMP-sensitive materials for stimuli-responsive drug release. In this work, we designed and synthesized MMP-sensitive iridium(III)-based PEG-peptide hydrogels. These strongly luminescent hydrogels were prepared through the inverse electron-demand Diels–Alder
reaction of: 1) a 4-arm PEG polymer bearing four terminal tetrazine units, 2) an MMP-sensitive peptide containing two bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne units in both ends, and 3) a non-emissive iridium(III) bis-tetrazine complex [Ir(dptz)₂(Ph₂-phen)](Cl) (Hdptz = 3,6-diphenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine; Ph₂-phen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) (1). The hydrogels were prone to degradation by MMPs secreted by cancer cells, leading to the release of luminescent iridium(III) complex fragments that exhibit interesting (photo)cytotoxicity and inhibit cell migration and invasion.

Original language	English
Number of pages	1
Publication status	Presented - 9 May 2026
Event	32nd Symposium on Chemistry Postgraduate Research in Hong Kong - The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China Duration: 9 May 2026 → 9 May 2026 https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/chem/32ndPostGradSymp/index.html

Conference

Conference	32nd Symposium on Chemistry Postgraduate Research in Hong Kong
Place	Hong Kong, China
Period	9/05/26 → 9/05/26
Internet address	https://www.cuhk.edu.hk/chem/32ndPostGradSymp/index.html

Funding

We thank the Hong Kong RGC (CityU 11317022, CityU 11309423, CityU 11304524, and C7075-21GF) and “Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology” under the Health@InnoHK Programme launched by Innovation and Technology Commission, The Government of HKSAR, P. R. China for financial support.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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title = "A Matrix Metalloproteinase-responsive Iridium(III)-based Hydrogel for Cancer Cell-specific Imaging and Lysosome-targeted Photodynamic Therapy",

abstract = "Many cancer cells have elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are closely implicated in tumor growth. The most common MMP-related anticancer approach is the development of MMP-sensitive materials for stimuli-responsive drug release. In this work, we designed and synthesized MMP-sensitive iridium(III)-based PEG-peptide hydrogels. These strongly luminescent hydrogels were prepared through the inverse electron-demand Diels–Alder reaction of: 1) a 4-arm PEG polymer bearing four terminal tetrazine units, 2) an MMP-sensitive peptide containing two bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne units in both ends, and 3) a non-emissive iridium(III) bis-tetrazine complex [Ir(dptz)2(Ph2-phen)](Cl) (Hdptz = 3,6-diphenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine; Ph2-phen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) (1). The hydrogels were prone to degradation by MMPs secreted by cancer cells, leading to the release of luminescent iridium(III) complex fragments that exhibit interesting (photo)cytotoxicity and inhibit cell migration and invasion.",

author = "Yip, \{Alex Man-Hei\} and Lee, \{Lawrence Cho-Cheung\} and Justin Shum and Lo, \{Kenneth Kam-Wing\}",

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language = "English",

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T1 - A Matrix Metalloproteinase-responsive Iridium(III)-based Hydrogel for Cancer Cell-specific Imaging and Lysosome-targeted Photodynamic Therapy

AU - Yip, Alex Man-Hei

AU - Lee, Lawrence Cho-Cheung

AU - Shum, Justin

AU - Lo, Kenneth Kam-Wing

PY - 2026/5/9

Y1 - 2026/5/9

N2 - Many cancer cells have elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are closely implicated in tumor growth. The most common MMP-related anticancer approach is the development of MMP-sensitive materials for stimuli-responsive drug release. In this work, we designed and synthesized MMP-sensitive iridium(III)-based PEG-peptide hydrogels. These strongly luminescent hydrogels were prepared through the inverse electron-demand Diels–Alder reaction of: 1) a 4-arm PEG polymer bearing four terminal tetrazine units, 2) an MMP-sensitive peptide containing two bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne units in both ends, and 3) a non-emissive iridium(III) bis-tetrazine complex [Ir(dptz)2(Ph2-phen)](Cl) (Hdptz = 3,6-diphenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine; Ph2-phen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) (1). The hydrogels were prone to degradation by MMPs secreted by cancer cells, leading to the release of luminescent iridium(III) complex fragments that exhibit interesting (photo)cytotoxicity and inhibit cell migration and invasion.

AB - Many cancer cells have elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are closely implicated in tumor growth. The most common MMP-related anticancer approach is the development of MMP-sensitive materials for stimuli-responsive drug release. In this work, we designed and synthesized MMP-sensitive iridium(III)-based PEG-peptide hydrogels. These strongly luminescent hydrogels were prepared through the inverse electron-demand Diels–Alder reaction of: 1) a 4-arm PEG polymer bearing four terminal tetrazine units, 2) an MMP-sensitive peptide containing two bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne units in both ends, and 3) a non-emissive iridium(III) bis-tetrazine complex [Ir(dptz)2(Ph2-phen)](Cl) (Hdptz = 3,6-diphenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine; Ph2-phen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) (1). The hydrogels were prone to degradation by MMPs secreted by cancer cells, leading to the release of luminescent iridium(III) complex fragments that exhibit interesting (photo)cytotoxicity and inhibit cell migration and invasion.

M3 - RGC 33 - Other conference paper

T2 - 32nd Symposium on Chemistry Postgraduate Research in Hong Kong

Y2 - 9 May 2026 through 9 May 2026

ER -

A Matrix Metalloproteinase-responsive Iridium(III)-based Hydrogel for Cancer Cell-specific Imaging and Lysosome-targeted Photodynamic Therapy

Abstract

Conference

Funding

UN SDGs

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