Two new Cu(II) dipeptide complexes based on 5-methyl-2-(2′-pyridyl)benzimidazole as potential antimicrobial and anticancer drugs: Special exploration of their possible anticancer mechanism

Two new Cu(II) dipeptide complexes based on HPBM were synthesized and characterized. The complexes were found to bind to CT DNA by an intercalative mode. The complexes exhibited good antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Moreover, the possible anticancer mechanism of the complexes was explored by determining the cells morphological changes, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, location in mitochondria, mitochondrial membrane potentials and the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins.233