Ruthenium( ii ) polypyridyl complexes and the DNA damage response: mechanisms and therapeutic implications | Synapse
May 8, 2026Open Access
Ruthenium( ii ) polypyridyl complexes and the DNA damage response: mechanisms and therapeutic implications
Key Points
This review aims to explore the mechanisms by which ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes activate DNA damage response pathways and influence cancer cell outcomes.
Summarizes the design and properties of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes as DNA-targeting agents.
Links binding modes of complexes to the activation of DNA damage response pathways.
Discusses implications for cancer therapy based on these mechanisms.
Identifies specific pathways involved in the DNA damage response activated by ruthenium(II) complexes.
Describes potential therapeutic implications for targeting cancer cells using these agents.
Abstract
This review summarises the design of ruthenium( ii ) polypyridyl complexes (RPCs) as pharmacological DNA-targeting agents, linking binding mode, DDR pathway activation, and cancer cell fate.