Penicillamine

Despite a significant surge in the number of investigations into both optically active Au and Ag nanostructures, there is currently only limited knowledge about optically active Cu nanoclusters (CuNCs) and their potential applications. Here, we have succeeded in preparing a pair of optically active red-emitting CuNCs on the basis of complexation and redox reaction between copper(ii) and penicillamine (Pen) enantiomers, in which Pen serves as both a reducing agent and a stabilizing ligand. Significantly, the CuNCs feature unique aggregation induced emission (AIE) characteristics and therefore can serve as pH stimuli-responsive functional materials. Impressively, the ligand chirality plays a dramatic role for the creation of brightly emissive CuNCs, attributed to the conformation of racemic Pen being unfavorable for the electrostatic interaction, and thus suppressing the formation of cluster aggregates. In addition, the clusters display potential toward cytoplasmic staining and labelling due to the high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields (QYs) and remarkable cellular uptake, in spite that no chirality-dependent effects in autophagy and subcellular localization are observed in the application of chiral cluster enantiomer-based cell imaging.

AIM: To study the effect of anti-copper treatment for survival of hepatic cells expressing different ATP7B mutations in cell culture.

Nitric oxide (NO), identified over the last several decades in many physiological processes and pathways as both a beneficial and detrimental signaling molecule, has been the subject of extensive research. Physiologically, NO is transported by a class of donors known as S-nitrosothiols. Both endogenous and synthetic S-nitrosothiols have been reported to release NO during interactions with certain transition metals, primarily Cu(2+) and Fe(2+). Ag(+) and Hg(2+) have also been identified, although these metals are not abundantly present in physiological systems. Here, we evaluate Pt(2+), Fe(2+), Fe(3+), Mg(2+), Zn(2+), Mn(2+), Co(2+), Ni(2+), and Cu(2+) for their ability to generate NO from S-nitroso-N-acetyl-d-penicillamine (SNAP) under physiological pH conditions. Specifically, we report NO generation from RSNOs initiated by three transition metal ions; Co(2+), Ni(2+), and Zn(2+), which have not been previously reported to generate NO. Additionally, preliminary in vivo evidence of zinc wires implanted in the rat arterial wall and circulating blood is presented which demonstrated inhibited thrombus formation after 6 months.