Protein-binding, cytotoxicity in vitro and cell cycle arrest of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes

• The cytotoxicity of complexes 1 and 2 against six cell lines was studied.
• The apoptosis and cellular uptake in BEL-7402 cells were investigated.
• The levels of ROS and the mitochondrial membrane potential were assayed.
• The cell cycle arrest was investigated by flow cytometry.
• The BSA-binding behaviors of the complexes were studied.

The cytotoxic activity of two Ru(II) complexes against A549, BEL-7402, HeLa, PC-12, SGC-7901 and SiHa cell lines was investigated by MTT method. Complexes 1 and 2 show moderate cytotoxicity toward BEL-7402 cells with an IC50 value of 53.9 ± 3.4 and 39.3 ± 2.1 μM. The effects of the complexes inducing apoptosis, cellular uptake, reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential in BEL-7402 cells have been studied by fluorescence microscopy. The percentages of apoptotic and necrotic cells and cell cycle arrest were studied by flow cytometry. The BSA-binding behaviors were investigated by UV/visible and fluorescent spectra.

The cytotoxicity in vitro, apoptosis, ROS, mitochondrial membrane potential, cell cycle arrest induced by the two Ru(II) complex were investigated.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide