Biophysical characterisation, antitumor activity and MOF encapsulation of a half-sandwich ruthenium(II) mitoxantronato system

The novel non-conventional metallodrug [(eta(6)-p-cymene)(2)Ru(2)mitoxantronato]Cl-2 (1) exhibits redox activity, DNA intercalation ability, cathepsin B and D inhibition and in vitro antitumor activity able to circumvent cisplatin resistance. Moreover, 1 can be successfully incorporated into MIL100(Fe) as a proof of concept of the feasibility of metal-organic frameworks as carriers of non-conventional drugs.