2,9-Dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine): a potent, copper-dependent cytotoxin with anti-tumor activity

Enhanced cellular uptake and photochemotherapeutic potential of a lipophilic strained Ru(ii) polypyridyl complex

“…This led to normal cell growth and thus conrmed that neocuproine is dependent on the presence of copper for inducing cytotoxicity. 50,51 Typically cuprous compounds, which result from the intracellular reduction of cupric precursors, are signicantly more potent and oen deemed the active species. 52,53 McMillin and coworkers have reported the interaction of Cu(BC) 2 + with DNA and described a nonclassical mode of binding involving bridging structures that lead to DNA aggregation and elongation without intercalation.…”

Copper chelation selectively kills colon cancer cells through redox cycling and generation of reactive oxygen species

“…Indeed if TPEN induces cell death through redox cycling after the formation of a TPEN-Cu complex, then reducing the enriched total cellular copper in cancerous HCT116 cells would be expected to reduce TPEN toxicity. To test whether this is the case we incubated HCT116 with the membrane permeant copper specific chelator neocuproine [31]. We chose neocuproine because of its specificity for copper and because the neocuproine-Cu complex in unlikely to be redox active [32].…”

Antiviral properties and cytotoxic activity of platinum(II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthrolines and acyclovir or penciclovir

“…Preliminary experiments performed with glutathione have shown a greater tendency of compounds with neocuproine to undergo displacement of the diimine ligand. Therefore, there is the possibility that the greater cytotoxicity of neocuproine complexes is due to the release, in the cellular medium, of some free neocuproine which is known to be highly cytotoxic [29].…”