Synthesis, visible light photocleavage, antiproliferative and cellular uptake properties of ruthenium complex [Ru(phen)2(mitatp)]2+

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.07.014
• Publication Date: 2012-07-15T10:02:31Z
• Authors: Hui-juan Yu; Yu Chen; Lin Yu; Zhi-feng Hao; Li-hua Zhou
• Keywords: Light; Viscosity; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Biological Transport; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; DNA; Nucleic Acid Denaturation; 01 natural sciences; Ruthenium; 0104 chemical sciences; Cell Line, Tumor; Organometallic Compounds; Humans; DNA Cleavage; Cell Proliferation; Phenanthrolines

A new ruthenium complex [Ru(phen)(2)(mitatp)](2+) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, mitatp = 5-methoxy-isatino[1,2-b]-1,4,8,9-tetraazatriphenylene) has been synthesized and characterized. The interaction of the complex with DNA has been studied and the results indicate that [Ru(phen)(2)(mitatp)](2+) could efficiently photocleave pBR322 DNA under irradiation at visible light and the singlet oxygen (1)O(2) was proved to be reactive species in the photocleavage process. The cytotoxicity has also been evaluated by MTT method, and [Ru(phen)(2)(mitatp)](2+) shows prominent anticancer activity against various cancer cells. Live cell imaging study and flow cytometric analysis demonstrate that the complex could cross cell membrane accumulating in the nucleus and inducing cell death by induction of G0/G1 cells cycle arrest and apoptosis.