Bimodal, dimetallic lanthanide complexes that bind to DNA: the nature of binding and its influence on water relaxivity.

UV-visible titrations, (1)H NMRD experiments and molecular docking studies show that emissive anthraquinone appended dimetallic lanthanide complexes bind to DNA. The strength of binding and the observed relaxivity behaviour depend on the nature of the substituted anthraquinone core.