Novel 2-(2′-Benzothiazolyl)-benzimidazole-Based Iridium(III) Photocatalysts Exhibit Antiproliferative Effects in 2D and 3D Cancer Cells to Bypass Hypoxia-Induced Resistance This study explores the therapeutic potential of seven bis-cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes (1–7), derived from the 2,2′-(benzothiazolyl)benzimidazole scaffold, as highly promising next-generation pho...

Great to see our recent work published! Many thanks to Brabec’s group for this fruitful collaboration, and congratulations to my former PhD student
@antoniolinero.bsky.social for the excellent contributions. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Encapsulation of a Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Photosensitizer into Nanosized Micelles for Oncosis-Inducing Photodynamic Therapy The reliance of many anticancer agents on apoptosis often limits their therapeutic efficacy and contributes to the development of drug resistance. To overcome these challenges, alternative mechanisms ...

Thrilled to share our latest collaboration with
@kargesgroup.bsky.social! Huge congrats to @antoniolinero.bsky.social & all co-authors, including
@nmontesdeocas.bsky.social. Exciting advances in photoactivated iridium nanomaterials & oncosis‑driven cancer cell death. doi.org/10.1021/acsa...

A Christmas gift: our new paper with V. Brabec,
@martaealberto.bsky.social and @A_Frances_chem
now published in Inorg Chem Front! Photocatalytic arylterpyridine iridium(III) complexes trigger oncosis in 2D and 3D cancer cell models via NADH oxidation. pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

Novel Heteroleptic Iridium(III) Complexes Containing COUBPY Ligands for Effective Photoinduction of Ferroptosis for Cancer Therapy Ferroptosis, a recently described form of regulated, nonapoptotic cell death mechanism, presents significant potential for cancer treatment, particularly when combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT)....

🎉A great way to close 2025. Fantastic collaboration with
@MarchanLab_UB and all co‑authors. ”Novel Heteroleptic Iridium(III) Complexes Containing COUBPY Ligands for Effective Photoinduction of Ferroptosis for Cancer Therapy | JACS Au

🎓✨ Excellent PhD defense by Carla Hernando on functional naphthalimide luminogens at the University of Burgos, supervised by Prof. Tomás Torroba.
Honored to serve on the committee with Silvia Albillos and Joaquín Campos. Congratulations, Carla, on a brilliant presentation! 👏

Happy to see this collaborative with Hui Chao and @kargesgroup.bsky.social out in @angewandtechemie.bsky.social. We designed Ir(III) complexes to trigger oncosis and activate the cyclic GMP–AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes pathway.
@chimieparistechpsl.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1002/anie...

Congrats Laura! Nice!

Thank you very much, Johannes, for your kind words and for the excellent collaboration. Antonio’s stay in your lab was truly formative, and I greatly appreciate the support and dedication you gave him throughout this journey.

Proud to share our new @ChemRxiv preprint. We report on a novel Metal-to-Metal Electron Transfer Mechanism enabling Hydroxyl Radical Photoredox Catalysis in Hypoxic and Drug-Resistant Cancer Cells, addressing bottlenecks in photodynamic therapy. Please RT! chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

A big thank you to Vanesa, Johannes, and Giampaolo for coming to Murcia — it’s been a real pleasure to share these days together! 🌟

✨ Yesterday at the Sala de Grados, Dr. Johannes Karges (Ruhr‑University Bochum, Germany) delivered an inspiring lecture at UMU. Thanks to all who joined! #UMU #Chemistry #Lecture

📢 Lecture at the Faculty of Chemistry (UMU) 👤 Dr. Johannes Karges (Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany) 📅 November 27
Organized by: Grupo Metalofármacos | PhD Program in Basic & Applied Chemistry Co-financed by: Master in Fine & Molecular Chemistry
👉 Don’t miss it! #UMU #Chemistry #Lecture

Selection of Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complex-Modified Aptamers for Photodynamic Therapy against Streptococcus Pneumonia Photodynamic therapy (PDT) harnesses the combination of light, oxygen, and photosensitizers to induce cell death via reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Given its intrinsic properties, PDT repres...

Thrilled to share our article just published in @J_A_C_S on the selection of Ru-modified aptamers! Fantastic collaboration with @hollensteinlab.bsky.social, congratulations to all authors! doi.org/10.1021/jacs...

Thank you Kausar!

Congratulations Gloria! A fantastic Feature Article on Type I photorreactivity in Ir/Ru complexes - great to see in @chemcomm.rsc.org. Kudos to @MarchanLab_UB, & teams led by Brabec, Sastre, @gassergroup.bsky.social, @kargesgroup.bsky.social, Nonell, Frances, @eortegaforte.bsky.social

🚨 PhD Opportunity @UMU! Join a 4-year funded FPI project on light-activated metallodrugs for cancer therapy. Start: Jan 2026 | Deadline: Oct 15, 2025 📧 Contact: jruiz@um.es 📎 PDF attached – official link coming soon! #PhDOffer #CancerResearch #FPIContract #UMU #ChemistryJobs

Congrats Susana y Eduardo!

Honored to give an invited talk at @isbomc25.bsky.social in Paris on iridium-based photodynamic therapy for cancer. Huge thanks to the organizers for the opportunity! @gassergroup.bsky.social

Thank you!

Happy to see the new paper from our great collaboration with @kargesgroup.bsky.social on #PDT, #Iridium and #HSA conjugation! Thanks to all-coauthors & also to @ruhr-uni-bochum.de, @UMU & @AEI

Nice cover in Inorg Chem Front. Thank you to the great designers. Great collaboration with @MarchanLab_UM.

Thank you!

Photoactivatable Cyclometalated Ir(III) Compound Penetrates the Blood-Brain Barrier in 3D Spheroidal and Advanced 3D Organoid Models of Inherently Resistant and Aggressive Brain Tumors The blood-brain barrier represents a significant challenge in delivering anticancer drugs for glioblastoma treatment. The study investigates the potential of a series of octahedral photoactivatable cyclometalated iridium complexes (Ir1–Ir10) with the general formula [Ir(ttpy)(C∧N)Cl]PF6 as photoactivated therapy candidates for the treatment of this aggressive tumor. These complexes, which include the terdentate ligand 4′-(p-tolyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (ttpy), and a C∧N ligand based on the deprotonated 2-arylbenzimidazole backbone, were tested on human glioblastoma using 2D cell cultures and 3D spheroidal models, including a fusion system comprising cerebral organoids from nonmalignant human-induced pluripotent stem cells and spheroids derived from malignant brain cells. The iridium complexes catalyze NADH photooxidation and photogenerate 1O2 and/or •OH under blue light irradiation. Blood-brain barrier penetration was assessed using various in vitro models. The complex Ir4, containing deprotonated methyl 1-butyl-2-phenylbenzimidazolecarboxylate, shows promise for targeted therapy of resistant brain tumors when photoactivated with blue light. Ir4 induces rapid and sustained ROS-mediated cytotoxicity and selectively accumulates in tumor tissue. This suggests its potential for fluorescently guided-PDT cooperative resection of glioblastoma. Notably, Ir4 significantly reduces glioblastoma growth even under dark conditions compared to conventional Temozolomide treatment without affecting healthy brain tissue.

Glad to share our last studies in collaboration with Viktor Brabec.
Photoactivatable Ir(III) Compound Penetrates the Blood-Brain Barrier in 3D Spheroidal and Advanced 3D Organoid Models of Inherently Resistant and Aggressive Brain Tumors | ACS Pharmacol & Transl Science pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

Thank you Nishant!

Thank you Anaïs!

A truly special moment at the @aeec_murcia Gala 2025. Deeply honored to receive this recognition for our research on #metals in medicine and #photodynamictherapy in the fight against #Cancer. Grateful to @AECC, @UMU, @ageinves.bsky.social , @IMIB_RMurcia, @FundacionSeneca, & all our collaborators.

Glad to participate in this interesting review in @inorgchemfront.rsc.org . Thank you to all the co-authors. Great collaboration with @MarchanLab_UB.

Congrats Albert and the team!

Nice to see our recent article on the Front cover- now published in Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers. doi.org/10.1039/D4QI.... Great collaboration with @MarchanLab_UB.

Thank you so much Johannes for all your attentions!