Mixed ligand ruthenium arene complexes containing N-ferrocenyl amino acids: Biomolecular interactions and cytotoxicity against MCF7 cell line

Abstract

Synthesis, characterization, DNA and protein binding as well as anticancer activity of the organometallic complexes [Ru(η6-p-cym)(L)Cl] (where, p-cym = p-cymene MeC6H4Pri, L = N-ferrocenyl amino acid conjugates) RAFcA 1–4 have been described. The complexes 1–4 exhibited strong DNA/BSA binding and anticancer activity against breast cancer MCF7 cell line. Their binding with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been examined by absorption and emission spectral studies. Strong interactions between complexes and CT-DNA have been affirmed by absorption spectral and EB displacement studies, while interaction with BSA via static quenching was explored by fluorescence titration. Cytotoxicity, apoptosis and in vitro anticancer activity of 1–4 toward MCF7 cell line have been investigated by MTT assay. The IC50 values (37.1 μM - 86.6 μM) were found to be distinctly lower than those of NAMI-A and RAPTA complexes for MCF7 cell line which was followed by gene expression studies to confirm apoptosis as the mode of cell death.