A Highly-Active Chemodynamic Agent Based on In Situ Generated Copper Complexes from Copper Hexacyanoferrate Nanoparticles

Bonet-Aleta, Javier ; Hueso, José L. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Valls-Chiva, Ángeles (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Ruiz-Aranda, Iris ; Manzanilla, Brenda ; García-Peiro, José I. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Aina, Sergio (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Urriolabeitia, Esteban ; Alegre-Requena, Juan V. ; Santamaría, Jesús (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Copper hexacyanoferrate (Cu2Fe(CN)6) nanocubes with a homogeneous size under 100 nm are synthesized by self‐assembly from Cu2+ and Fe(CN)63− precursors. Similar to previous reports with catalysts containing Cu and Fe, the objective is to produce a nanoparticle catalyst that can promote glutathione (GSH) oxidation thanks to the Cu contribution, plus some ROS production through Fenton‐like processes fostered by Fe. Unexpectedly, the catalytic activity for GSH oxidation are much higher (≈50%) than those obtained with equal Cu amounts provided as CuCl2. Furthermore, in the presence of GSH concentrations characteristic of the tumor microenvironment, the nanocubes disassembled homogeneously, without a noticeably change of composition. These results suggest that this strong increase of catalytic activity arises from synergistic coordination of the released Cu2+ and Fe(CN)63− ions that facilitate GSH deprotonation, accelerating its oxidation. Given the role of GSH in the nanoparticle disassembly process, a selective action of the catalyst can be obtained: lethal doses as low as 18 ppm of Cu are obtained for U251‐MG cancer cells while healthy fibroblasts are largely spared.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1002/smll.202412355

Año: 2025

Publicado en: Small 21, 13 (2025), 2412355 [14 pp.]
ISSN: 1613-6810

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/AEI/CEX2023-001286-S
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E07-23R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/UZ-DGA/T57-23R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/742684/EU/Catalytic Dual-Function Devices Against Cancer/CADENCE
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2022-140159NA-I00

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Ingeniería Química (Dpto. Ing.Quím.Tecnol.Med.Amb.)
Área (Departamento): Área Tecnologi. Medio Ambiente (Dpto. Ing.Quím.Tecnol.Med.Amb.)