Biomedical applications of Pt(II) metallacycle/metallacage-based agents: From mono-chemotherapy to versatile imaging contrasts and theranostic platforms

Abstract Platinum-based coordination chemistry has laid the foundation for the development of numerous metal complexes and provoked their applications in cancer chemotherapy. It is noteworthy that Pt(II) metallacyles/metallacages formed through coordination-driven self-assembly exhibit improved optical properties and superior anticancer efficacies in comparison with their precursors. To this end, the employment of metallacycles/metallacages as chemotherapy agents, imaging contrasts and multifunctional theranostic platforms has attracted tremendous attention. In this context, we provide an insight into the progression of Pt(II) metallacycles/metallacages from mono-chemotherapeutic agents to versatile imaging contrasts and theranostic platforms.