Photoinduced anticancer effect evaluation of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes toward human lung cancer A549 cells

Abstract

In recent years, ruthenium complexes have attracted extensive attention as new anticancer drugs. In this paper, three new ruthenium complexes [Ru(dmb)2(HMNPIP)](PF6)2 (1), [Ru(bpy)2(HMNPIP)](PF6)2 (2) and [Ru(phen)2(HMNPIP)](PF6)2 (3) (HMNPIP = 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-nitrophenylimidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ESI-MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. The MTT assays showed that the complexes have no cytotoxic activity in vitro. However, upon irradiation with white light, the complexes display high anticancer activity toward A549 cells. The cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of A549 cells induced by the complexes were investigated by flow cytometry. The intracellular ROS and calcium ion levels were studied. The change of mitochondrial membrane potential, cell invasion were also investigated. The expression of caspase 3, p53 and Bcl-2 family proteins was explored by western blot. The complexes induce apoptosis in A549 cells through intrinsic pathway.