DNA condensation induced by metal complexes

• An overview of DNA condensation induced by metal complexes is provided.
• DNA condensing mechanisms of metal complexes are summarised.
• Some applications for these metal complexes in gene vectors are presented.
• Some applications for these metal complexes in antitumor agents are presented.

DNA is stored in a highly compact, condensed phase in viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes. Co(NH3)63+ is a well-known inorganic cation that can induce DNA condensation, and numerous Co(III), Co(II), Fe(II), Ca(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Ru(II), Pt(II) and La(III) complexes have been evaluated as DNA condensing agents. In this review, we divided these metal complexes into four distinct classes based on the mechanism of DNA condensation: (i) complexes with high positive charges that condense DNA via electrostatic interaction, (ii) complexes with planar intercalative ligands that condense DNA via π–π interaction, (iii) complexes that bind with DNA through hydrogen bonds, and (iv) complexes that covalently bind to DNA. Some applications of these metal complex-based DNA condensing agents in gene vectors and antitumor agents are also presented.

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