Photoluminescence quenching/recovery kinetics of [Ru(bpy)2(tatp)]2+ and [Ru(bpy)2(dmtatp)]2+ intercalated within DNA by copper(II) ions and EDTA

► Cu2+ addition quenches dynamically luminescence of DNA-bound Ru(II) complexes. ► Luminescence quenching involves a spontaneous exothermic process. ► EDTA addition recovers partially the quenched luminescence. ► Luminescence tuning depends on structure-based intercalative ligands.