Four new dicyanoargentate(I)-based complexes 1-4 were synthesized from certain metal ions with a tetradentate ligand [N, N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylenediamine; N-bishydeten] and determined by diverse procedures (elemental, thermal, FT-IR, ESI-MS for 1-3 and, magnetic susceptibility and EPR for 1, and 2) including crystal analysis of 4. The crystal method revealed that complex 4 has a sandwich-type like polymeric chemical structure with layers formed by [Cd(N-bishydeten) 2 ] 2+ cations and [Ag(CN) 2 ] − anions. The complexes were further characterized by fluorescence and UV spectroscopy to determine their physicochemical features. The complexes displayed a DNA binding activity within the same range as found for cisplatin, in addition to their strong stability in the presence of the physiological buffer system. The complexes were also investigated for pharmacological properties like interaction with DNA/Bovine serum albumin, anticancer and antibacterial activities. Physicochemical studies of DNA with the complexes suggested that the interaction mode between them are possibly both intercalative and groove binding types. These spectroscopic measurements also show that there may be a binding tendency between BSA and the complexes via hydrogen or Van der Waals bonds. The viability tests demonstrated that all the complexes exhibited antibacterial (1-4) and anticancer effects (2-4) toward ten diverse bacterial strains and three tumor cells (HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma, HeLa cervical cancer, and C6 glioma), respectively. Despite the current advances in cancer therapy, the death rate from cancer and therapeutic agents are still increasing 1. A significant number of studies have focused on the synthesis and design of a new antiproliferative agent to reduce the risk of drug resistance and cell toxicity 2-4. Some of these studies are related to metallo compounds which constitute a significant part of agents with potent pharmacological activities, and their medicinal availability has been still explored 5,6. For example, some macrocyclic polyamines containing Ni, Cu, and Ru could recognize TAR RNA molecules and cleave them, and affect the interaction of Tat-RNA 7. Mn(II) complex of 2H-5-hydroxy-1,2,5-oxadiazo[3,4-f]1,10-phenanthroline has significant antitumor activity against HL-60, KB, Hela and BGC-823 cells.