Abstract
Two new ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(bpy)2(DClPIP)](ClO4)2 (1) and [Ru(phen)2(DClPIP)](ClO4)2 (2) (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, and DClPIP = 2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1, 10]phenanthroline), have been prepared in high yield by using microwave-assisted synthesis technology. The anticancer activity of the two ruthenium(II) complexes against A549, C6, CNE-1 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines has been evaluated by MTT assay and results showed that 2 exhibited higher antitumor activity than 1 toward all the selected tumor cell lines. Besides, A549 cell line was sensitive to both ruthenium(II) complexes, especially to 2 (IC50 = 8.01 ± 0.36 μM). Meanwhile, 2 showed low toxicity against MCF-10A human normal cells. Furthermore, the DNA-binding properties of the two new ruthenium(II) complexes with CT-DNA have been investigated by electronic absorption titration, luminescence spectra, circular dichroism spectra and viscosity measurements. The results suggested that 1 and 2 were able to interact with CT-DNA via intercalative mode with a strong binding affinity in the order 2 > 1. All of these results suggested that anticancer activity of both ruthenium(II) complexes could be closely related to their interaction with DNA.
Graphical Abstract
Disclosure statement
Shouhai Guan and Tao Pan contributed equally to the work. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.