Influence of Co(III) Polypyridyl Complexes on Luminescence Behavior, DNA Binding, Photocleavage, Antimicrobial Activity and Molecular Docking Studies

A new ligand FIPB = 5-(1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)furan-2-yl-2-boronic acid, having three cobalt(III) polypyridyl complexes [Co(phen)₂(FIPB)]³⁺(1) {FIPB = 5-(1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)furan-2-yl-2-boronic acid}, (phen = 1,10-Phenanthroline), [Co(bpy)₂(FIPB)]³⁺(2) (bpy = 2,2'bipyridyl), [Co(dmb)₂(FIPB)]³⁺(3) (dmb = 4, 4'-dimethyl 2, 2'-bipyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ES-MS,¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, UV-Vis and FTIR. Their DNA binding behavior has been explored by various spectroscopic titrations and viscosity measurements, which indicated that all the complexes bind to calf thymus DNA by means of intercalation with different binding strengths. The binding properties of these all three complexes towards calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) have been investigated by UV-visible, emission spectroscopy and viscosity measurements.The experimental results suggested that three Co(III) complexes can intercalate into DNA base pairs,but with different binding affinities. Photo induced DNA cleavage studies have been performed and results indicate that three complexes efficiently cleave the pBR322-DNA in different forms. The three synthesized compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity by using Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis organisms, these results indicated that complex 1 was more activity compared to other two complexes against both tested microbial strains. The in vitro cytotoxicity of these complexes was evaluatedby MTT assay, and complex 1 shows higher cytotoxicity than complex 2 and 3 on HeLa cells.

Study of the interaction of Co(III) polypyridyl complexes with DNA: an experimental and computational approach

Three new cobalt(III) polypyridyl complexes, [Co(L - L)₂IIP]³⁺ where IIP = 2-(2H-isoindol-1-yl)-2H-imidazo[4,5-f][1, 10]phenanthroline, L = 1) phen (1,10-phenanthroline), 2) bpy (2,2'bipyridyl), 3) dmb (4, 4-dimethyl 2, 2'-bipyridine) have been synthesized, characterized (UV -VIS, IR, ¹HNMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy) and screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. The binding of these complexes with calf-thymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been investigated by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, viscosity measurements. The experimental studies indicate that complexes bind to CT-DNA by means of intercalation, but with different binding affinities due to differences in the planarity of the ancillary ligand. The complexes promote photocleavage of plasmid DNA from super coiled form I to the open circular form II. The antibacterial activities suggest that the metal complexes are more active as compared to the prepared un-complexed IIP ligand. In addition, a conformational search was carried out by Molecular Dynamics Simulations, and docking revealed that complexes intercalate between base pairs of DNA. The experimental and computational approaches reveal that the length of the intercalator and the nature of ancillary ligand are highly important factors for DNA binding.