Some Pt(II)-complexes with dpb, Fdpb and F2dpb ligands as potent anticancer agents and their mode of interaction with AT/GC base pairs: A DFT study

Abstract

In recent years, various Pt(II) metal complexes with N-based intercalating tridentate ligands, such as dpb, Fdpb, and F2dpb, have been developed which exhibit strong anticancer properties because they effectively bind with DNA nucleobase pairs. Past literature has also revealed that the anticancer activity of such square planer Pt(II)-complexes is fully controlled by the presence of halide groups (viz., –F, -Cl and –I) which are directly attached to the Pt(II) ion or tridentate ligands. The proper active sites within Pt(II)-complexes and the role of Pt-X bond may also theoretically be determined by using a molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) map diagram. Moreover, the quantum mechanical TD-DFT (Time-dependent density-functional theory) method is quite useful for predicting the theoretical UV–Vis spectra for such Pt(II)-complexes, during interaction with AT/GC base pairs. The density-functional theory (DFT) is one of the low-cost theoretical methods which is also a useful tool for investigating the various binding modes for anticancer agents with DNA nucleobases. In this current study, we aim to analyze the proper interaction between some dpb-based Pt(II)-complexes as potent anticancer agents with AT/GC base pairs.