Synthesis, characterization, DNA interaction, and cytotoxicity of novel Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes

Abstract

Four complexes [Pd(L)(bipy)Cl]·4H2O (1), [Pd(L)(phen)Cl]·4H2O (2), [Pt(L)(bipy)Cl]·4H2O (3), and [Pt(L)(phen)Cl]·4H2O (4), where L = quinolinic acid, bipy = 2,2’-bipyridyl, and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, have been synthesized and characterized using IR, 1H NMR, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. The binding of the complexes to FS-DNA was investigated by electronic absorption titration and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicate that the complexes bind to FS-DNA in an intercalative mode and the intrinsic binding constants K of the title complexes with FS-DNA are about 3.5 × 104 M−1, 3.9 × 104 M−1, 6.1 × 104 M−1, and 1.4 × 105 M−1, respectively. Also, the four complexes bind to DNA with different binding affinities, in descending order: complex 4, complex 3, complex 2, complex 1. Gel electrophoresis assay demonstrated the ability of the Pt(II) complexes to cleave pBR322 plasmid DNA.