Ct-DNA binding and antimicrobial studies of MnII and FeII macrocyclic complexes

The designing of efficient macrocyclic complexes for the alteration in nucleic acids and understanding is still in debate. Herein, to study the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) interaction with MN₅-complexes, two macrocyclic complexes, A (Mn^II) and B (Fe^II), have been synthesized and characterized using multiple analytical techniques. The electronic absorption, fluorescence, and electrochemical methods were utilized to examine the binding ability of both complexes with calf thymus-DNA (ct-DNA). The spectral results were found to be in good agreement with the interaction of both complexes with ct-DNA, as also supported by the remarkable decrease in both anodic peak current (i_pa) and cathodic peak current (i_pc) during cyclic voltammetric analysis in the presence of ct-DNA. The spectral investigations clearly indicated the higher binding affinity of complex A as compared to complex B towards ct-DNA. Additionally, both complexes were also found to be potential antibacterial agents.