To enhance the application of metalosurfactants in the field of drug delivery, it is essential to acquire the role of surfactants in terms of micellization, hydrophobicity, interaction with nucleic acids, reactive changes with abnormal cells and pathogenic organisms. A new class of two ruthenium(II) metallosurfactant complexes [Ru(DMP)2(CA)Cl](ClO4) (1) and [Ru(DMP)2(CA)2](ClO4)2 (2), where DMP = 2,9-dimethyl[1,10]phenanthroline) and CA = cetyl amine were synthesized and characterized. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the thermodynamic parameters of micellization were determined and the variations suggest the expression of hydrophobic interaction in these complexes. The binding affinity of ruthenium(II) metallosurfactant complexes with CT-DNA has been investigated by spectroscopic and viscosity magnitudes. The outcomes expose that the complexes associate with CT-DNA through intercalation mode. Subsequently the complexes were taken for in vitro anticancer and antimicrobial inhibition study against human cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa) and pathogenic microorganisms and found that the complexes exhibited remarkable inhibitory action. The cytotoxic nature of the complexes towards, HeLa cells, was adopted by MTT assay and apoptosis were examined by AO/EB (acridine orange/ethidium bromide) and tryphanblue staining methods showing that complexes affected the viability of the cells significantly.

The interaction of ligand bound ruthenium(II) complexes with DNA have grown fame because of their relevance in the development of new reagents for medicinal applications and the impact of dominating cisplatin. Surfactant-ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(DMP)2(DA)Cl](ClO4) (1) and [Ru(DMP)2(DA)2](ClO4)2 (2) with primary ligand as DMP (2,9-dimethyl[1,10]-phenanthroline) and secondary ligand as dodecyl amine (DA) were synthesized and characterized. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of complexes in aqueous solution were obtained from conductivity measurements. The interaction of surfactant-ruthenium(II) complexes with CT-DNA has been explored by spectroscopic technique and viscosity dimensions. These complexes were tested for cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities with human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) and pathogenic microorganisms. The results indicate that the complex 2 binds more strongly to DNA than complex 1 further affecting the viability of the cells significantly and also showed moderate antimicrobial activity.