Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (Feb 2024)

Copper nitroprusside: An innovative approach for targeted cancer therapy via ROS modulation

  • Kanwal Asif,
  • Muhammad Adeel,
  • Md. Mahbubur Rahman,
  • Michele Bartoletti,
  • Simona Kranjc Brezar,
  • Maja Cemazar,
  • Vincenzo Canzonieri,
  • Flavio Rizzolio,
  • Isabella Caligiuri

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 171
p. 116017

Abstract

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The clinical application of nanomaterials for chemodynamic therapy (CDT), which generate multiple reactive oxygen species (ROS), presents significant challenges. These challenges arise due to insufficient levels of endogenous hydrogen peroxide and catalytic ions necessary to initiate Fenton reactions. As a result, sophisticated additional delivery systems are required. In this study, a novel bimetallic copper (II) pentacyanonitrosylferrate (Cu(II)NP, Cu[Fe(CN) 5 NO]) material was developed to address these limitations. This material functions as a multiple ROS generator at tumoral sites by self-inducing hydrogen peroxide and producing peroxynitrite (ONOO-) species. The research findings demonstrate that this material exhibits low toxicity towards normal liver organoids, yet shows potent antitumoral effects on High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) organoid patients, regardless of platinum resistance. Significantly, this research introduces a promising therapeutic opportunity by proposing a single system capable of replacing the need for H2O2, additional catalysts, and NO-based delivery systems. This innovative system exhibits remarkable multiple therapeutic mechanisms, paving the way for potential advancements in clinical treatments.

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