LE3 .A278 2011

2011

McFarland, Sherri

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

Eighteen polypyridyl ruthenium complexes were synthesized and characterized to test their ability to be new photodynamic compounds (PDCs). Each compound bears oxazo- or imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline ligands with a varying R-group and 2,2-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline ancillary ligands. Biological tests were employed for the complexes to test the potential to be new PDCs, and included DNA photocleavage, DNA binding, and photocytotoxicity. Compounds containing thiophenes as the R-group showed significant DNA damage in the photocleavage assays as well as light toxicity and low dark toxicity in photocytotoxic assays. Compounds with 1,10-phenanthroline ancillary ligands generally showed more DNA photocleavage, unwinding, and binding compared to their 2,2’-bipyridine counterparts. Dinuclear compounds containing the bis(imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline) bridging ligand exhibited the best results for high light toxicity and low dark toxicity, the strongest binding to DNA, and the most potency for DNA photocleavage. As such these compounds are promising candidates for new PDCs and warrant further investigations.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:360