Ruthenium complexes with or -heterocyclic chelates: DNA/BSA binding, antioxidant and anticancer studies.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) binding interactions for a series of ruthenium heterocyclic complexes were monitored using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, fluorescence emission spectroscopy and agarose gel electrophoresis. Investigations of the DNA interactions for the metal complexes revealed that they are groove-binders with intrinsic binding constants in the order of 10 - 10 . Electronic spectrophotometric DNA titrations of the -heterocyclic metal complexes illustrated hypochromism of their intraligand electronic transitions and the presence of diffuse isosbestic points which are synonymous with homogeneous binding modes.