Patent ID: 8246967

Claim:
A method for modifying a biologic target comprising the steps of: providing a complex to the biologic target, the complex having two ruthenium atoms attached to a redox active ligand, wherein the redox active ligand has a reduction potential that is accessible in a cellular milieu and wherein the complex is a dinuclear ruthenium complex selected from [Ru 2 (X) 4 tatpp] 4+ , [Ru 2 (X) 4 tatpq] 4+ , and their salts and stereoisomers thereof, and X is selected from pyridine, pyrimidine, ethylenediamine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-bipyridine, and 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione; and modifying the biologic target with the complex, wherein no additional compounds need be provided and wherein the biologic target is a cell undergoing uncontrolled cell growth; wherein modification of the biologic target comprises breaking one strand of DNA, breaking two strands of DNA in close proximity, inhibiting topoisomerase I, inhibiting topoisomerase II, inhibiting impulse transmission, inhibiting cell proliferation, inhibiting cell growth, inhibiting DNA replication, inhibiting DNA duplication, inhibiting tumor progression, inhibiting tumor growth, or combinations thereof; and wherein the complex modifies the biologic target in the presence of a reducing agent.