DNA interaction and cytotoxicity studies of ruthenium(III) complexes containing 3-(benzothiazol-2-yliminomethyl)-naphthalen-2-ol ligand

Abstract

A new Schiff base, 3-(benzothiazol-2-yliminomethyl)-naphthalen-2-ol, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–vis, nuclear magnetic resonance, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ruthenium(III) complexes of the Schiff base were synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic (FT-IR, UV–vis, and electron paramagnetic resonance) data as well as magnetic susceptibility measurements. DNA-binding properties of the ligand and its ruthenium(III) complexes have been investigated by electronic absorption spectroscopy. The three ruthenium(III) complexes were tested for DNA cleavage. Further in vitro study of the cytotoxity of the ligand and the complexes on human cervical cancer cell line and human laryngeal epithelial carcinoma cell line were carried out.

Keywords:

• Ruthenium(III) complexes
• Crystal structure
• DNA-interaction
• Cytotoxicity

Acknowledgements

We sincerely thank University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi for financial support [Scheme No. 38-222/2009 (SR)]. One of the authors, RJB, wishes to acknowledge the NSF-MRI program (Grant No. CHE-0619278) for providing funds to purchase the diffractometer.