The anticancer activity of a ruthenium complex containing a modified genetic material

What is it about?

DNA contains nucleobases. We can chemically modify nucleobases to make them biologically active as anti cancer agents or anti malarials or anti-inflammatory compounds. We have changed an oxygen atom to a selenium atom and made a complex of this modified nucleobase with ruthenium. The ruthenium complex is now capable of going into the cancer cell because it is attracted to a receptor called transferrin present in cancer cells to a greater extent than it is present in normal cells.

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Why is it important?

Most chemically modified nucleobases are interesting to study as many of them are anti-cancer agents. We have made this complex more attractive to cancer cells and so we might see specific anticancer activity!