Synthesis, characterization, DNA binding, light switch "on and off", docking studies and cytotoxicity, of ruthenium(II) and cobalt(III) polypyridyl complexes.

The novel ligand (dmbip) 2-(4-N, N-dimethylbenzenamine)1H-imidazo[4, 5-f][1, 10]phenanthroline and its complexes [Ru(phen)2dmbip](2+) (1), [Ru(bpy)2dmbip](2+) (2), [Co(phen)2dmbip](3+) (3) and [Co(bpy)2dmbip](3+) (4) [where phen = 1, 10-phenanthroline, bpy = 2, 2'-bipyridine], have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and Mass spectra. The DNA binding properties of the complexes were investigated by absorption, emission, quenching studies, light switch "on and off", salt dependent, sensor (cation and anion) studies, viscosity measurements, cyclic voltammetry, molecular modeling and docking studies. The four complexes were screened for Photo cleavage of pBR322 DNA, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity. The experimental results indicate that the four complexes can intercalate into DNA base pairs. The DNA-binding affinities of these complexes follow the order [Ru(phen)2dmbip](2+) > [Co(phen)2dmbip](3+) > [Ru(bpy)2dmbip](2+) > [Co(bpy)2dmbip](3+).

Synthesis, characterization, and DNA binding, photocleavage, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, apoptosis, and on-off light switching studies of Ru(II) mixed-ligand complexes containing 7-fluorodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine.

Four new ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes-[Ru(phen)2(7-F-dppz)](2+) (7-F-dppz is 7-fluorodipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine, phen is 1,10-phenanthroline), [Ru(bpy)2(7-F-dppz)](2+)(2) (bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine), [Ru(dmb)2(7-F-dppz)](2+) (dmb is 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine), and [Ru(hdpa)2(7-F-dppz)](2+) (hdpa is 2,2'-dipyridylamine)-have been synthesized and characterized. Their DNA binding behavior has been explored by various spectroscopic titrations and viscosity measurements, which indicated that all the complexes bind to calf thymus DNA by means of intercalation with different binding strengths. The light switching properties of these complexes have been evaluated, and their antimicrobial activities have been investigated. Photoinduced DNA cleavage studies have been performed. All the complexes exhibited efficient photocleavage of pBR322 DNA on irradiation. The cytotoxicity of these complexes has been evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay with various tumor cell lines. Cellular uptake was studied by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Flow cytometry experiments showed that these complexes induced apoptosis of HeLa cell lines.