In situ analysis of metallodrugs at the single-cell level based on synchrotron radiation technology

Many metal-based complex drugs or nanomedicines are currently being utilized for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes in diseases. To better understand the metabolism, distribution, and transformation mechanism of drugs, studying the in situ distribution of the metallodrugs in organelles and the dynamic metabolism process in vivo is crucial. Due to the high spatial resolution, in situ, non-destructive, high penetration depth and element-specific imaging characteristics, synchrotron radiation technology has become a powerful tool for the distribution and form transformation of metallodrugs at the single-cell level. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in utilizing synchrotron radiation technology to analyze metallodrugs at the single-cell level. The development of synchrotron radiation technology in single-cell analysis areas undoubtedly provides a promising and good prospect for understanding the fate of metallodrugs and will help the future design of metal-based drugs for disease therapy.