Ruthenium (II) nitrofurylsemicarbazone complexes: new DNA binding agents.

Abstract Complexes of the type [Ru(II)Cl 2 (DMSO) 2 L], where L are 5-nitrofurylsemicarbazone derivatives, were prepared in an effort to combine the potential anti-tumor activity of the metal and the free ligands. The new complexes are excellent DNA binding agents for calf thymus DNA. So, their in vitro anti-tumor activity was tested in cellular models and the complexes were found to be non-cytotoxic on the tumor cell lines assayed, neither in aerobic conditions nor in the bio-reductive assay performed. Redox behavior, lipophilicity and stability were studied in order to explain the lack of cellular cytotoxic effects. The complexes resulted 10–100 times more hydrophilic than the parent ligands thus the bio-activity of these compounds would be compromised by their inadequate lipophilic properties.