The cytotoxicity of some phenanthroline-based antimicrobial copper(II) and ruthenium(II) complexes

Antimicrobial phenanthroline-based copper(II) complexes induce necrotic cell death by oxidative stress. Ruthenium(II) complexes demonstrate lower cytotoxicity and lower antimicrobial activity. Despite established DNA binding activity, these complexes do not induce significant G2/M cell cycle arrest or genotoxicity, in comparison to covalent DNA binding drugs cisplatin and etoposide.135