From cisplatin to photoreactive Ru complexes: targeting DNA for biomedical applications

Since the discovery of cisplatin, the search for therapeutic agents based on other metallic compounds developed rapidly thanks to the versatility of coordination chemistry. This short review focuses on advances in research for new complexes based on Pt(IV), Ru(II) and Ru(III) either as anticancer drugs or as molecular (photo) reagents for biomedical applications. The DNA binding mechanisms of these compounds are highlighted alongside with the novel strategies developed to improve their reactivity and/or specificity towards DNA.