2.2.9. DNA intercalation assay

DNA intercalation was assessed by examining the ability of the complex to displace ethidium bromide from calf thymus DNA (ctDNA, Sigma-Aldrich Co.) [44]. The DNA intercalation assay was conducted in 96-well plate (100 µL) and contained 15 µg/mL ctDNA, 1.5 µM ethidium bromide and 5, 10 and 20 µM of the complex in saline solution. The vehicle (0.1% DMSO) used for diluting the compounds tested was used as the negative control. Doxorubicin (10 µM) was used as the positive control. Fluorescence was measured using excitation and emission wavelengths of 320 and 600 nm, respectively using the spectraMax Microplate Reader (Molecular Devices, Sunnyvale, CA, EUA).