Anti-cancer property and DNA binding interaction of first row transition metal complexes: A decade update

Metal ions carry out a wide variety of functions, including acid-base/redox catalysis, structural functions, signaling, and electron transport. Understanding the interactions of transition metal complexes with biomacromolecules is essential for biology, medicinal chemistry, and the production of synthetic metalloenzymes. After the coincidental discovery of cisplatin, importance of the metal complexes in biochemistry became a top priority for inquiry. In this review, a decade update on various synthetic strategies to first row transition metal complex and their interaction with DNA through non-covalent binding are explored. Moreover, this effort provides an excellent analysis on the efficacy of theoretical and practical approaches to the systematic generation of new non-platinum based metallodrugs for anti-cancer therapeutics.