Light-responsive Ru molecule and photomedicine

This is a molecular ball-and-stick model of a light-responsive Ru complex, created using its crystal structure, Blender, and the molecular nodes plugin (by Brady Johnston). 

Some years ago I worked together with my friend and colleague Lucien Lameijer and Prof. Sylvestre Bonnet (Leiden University) on a light-reactive medicine, based on the photochemistry of a ruthenium-based molecule. In a nutshell, Lucien developed a light-activated anticancer drug by attaching a sugar-based molecule to a ruthenium complex, making it water-soluble and effective. When tested on lung and breast cancer cells, the drug showed mild toxicity in the dark but became highly potent under blue light. Once activated, it targeted mitochondria, released a DNA-binding compound, and produced reactive oxygen molecules, causing efficient cancer cell death. In this printable, I now share an interactive version of the Ru molecule, which can exchange the sugar-based molecule for water. The three components (Ru complex, thioether-sugar, and water) need to be printed separately. You can read more of the details of the published work on this molecule at https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201603066 .

For printing this model in PLA with 0.4 mm nozzle, I recommend the following Cura slicer settings to make support removal easier: I used a 4 mm brim and tree supports (everywhere), support overhang 50 deg, 90% support interface density, 10 deg tree angle, and 40 mm base. Together this created a continuous support structure, minimizing the risk of detachment of parts. This also creates pretty well printed atoms/spheres. Of course, using a smaller nozzle improves the smoothness of the spheres. Also make sure that you place the print seam at one location, to prevent blobs all around the spheres.