Antibacterial,SOD mimic and nuclease activities of copper(II) complexes containing ofloxacin and neutral bidentate ligands

Drug‐based mixed‐ligand copper(II) complexes of type Cu(OFL)(Aⁿ)Cl]·5H₂O (OFL = ofloxacin, A¹ = pyridine‐2‐carbaldehyde, A² = 2,2′‐bipyridylamine, A³ = thiophene‐2‐carbaldehyde, A⁴ = 2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, A⁵ = 2,9‐dimethyl‐4,7‐diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, A⁶ = 4,5‐diazafluoren‐9‐one, A⁷ = 1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione and A⁸ = 5‐nitro‐1,10‐phenanthroline) were synthesized and characterized. Spectral investigations of complexes revealed square pyramidal geometry. Viscosity measurement and absorption titration were employed to determine the mode of binding of complexes with DNA. DNA cleavage study showed better cleaving ability of the complexes compared with metal salt and standard drug by conversion of a supercoiled form of pUC19 DNA to linear via circular. From the SOD mimic study, concentration of complexes ranging from 0.415 to 1.305 µM is enough to inhibit the reduction rate of NBT by 50% (IC₅₀) in the NADH‐PMS system. Antibacterial activity was assayed against selective Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive microorganisms using the doubling dilution technique. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.