(A and B) Structures of selected examples of Ru-based targeted theranostics Ru-BSe and Ru-RGD. (C) Fluorescent microscopy revealed cancer cell selective uptake and induction of apoptosis by the treatment of Ru-BSe (20 μm) for 24 h in HeLa (cancer cells) and L02 (noncancerous cells) co-culture model was examined by TUNEL-Cell tracker blue co-staining. (D) Precise tumor diagnosis using Ru-BSe conjugate in vivo. Targeted Ru-BSe (4 μmol kg⁻¹) was administered in HeLa xenografts bearing nude mice and fluorescence imaging at different time points were performed to monitor the accumulation and distribution of the theranostic. Nonbiotinylated Ru(II) complex Ru-Se was included as negative control. Fluorescent filter sets (excitation/emission, 500/650 nm) are used for in vivo fluorescent imaging. (E) Fluorescent images of ex vivo-dissected organs (brain, heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and tumor tissue) of the Ru-Se and Ru-BSe-injected xenograft mice after 72 h tail-vein injection. (F) Biodistribution of Ru in main organs after 30-day treatment of Ru(II) complexes in HeLa xenografts nude mice by using ICP-AES. (G) In vivo anticancer efficacy of Ru-BSe and Ru-Se in in HeLa xenograft mice model (dose: 4 μmol kg⁻¹ every 2 days). Reprinted with permission from the reference [89]. Copyright 2018, Wiley.