Synthesis,Characterization, and Reactivity of Cobalt(III)–Oxygen Complexes Bearing a Macrocyclic N‐Tetramethylated Cyclam Ligand

Mononuclear metal–dioxygen species are key intermediates that are frequently observed in the catalytic cycles of dioxygen activation by metalloenzymes and their biomimetic compounds. In this work, a side‐on cobalt(III)–peroxo complex bearing a macrocyclic N‐tetramethylated cyclam (TMC) ligand, [Co^III(15‐TMC)(O₂)]⁺, was synthesized and characterized with various spectroscopic methods. Upon protonation, this cobalt(III)–peroxo complex was cleanly converted into an end‐on cobalt(III)–hydroperoxo complex, [Co^III(15‐TMC)(OOH)]²⁺. The cobalt(III)–hydroperoxo complex was further converted to [Co^III(15‐TMC‐CH₂‐O)]²⁺ by hydroxylation of a methyl group of the 15‐TMC ligand. Kinetic studies and ¹⁸O‐labeling experiments proposed that the aliphatic hydroxylation occurred via a Co^IV–oxo (or Co^III–oxyl) species, which was formed by O? O bond homolysis of the cobalt(III)–hydroperoxo complex. In conclusion, we have shown the synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization, and reactivities of mononuclear cobalt complexes with peroxo, hydroperoxo, and oxo ligands.     

Metal Complexes or Chelators with ROS Regulation Capacity: Promising Candidates for Cancer Treatment

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are rapidly eliminated and reproduced in organisms, and they always play important roles in various biological functions and abnormal pathological processes. Evaluated ROS have frequently been observed in various cancers to activate multiple pro-tumorigenic signaling pathways and induce the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide anion (O₂^•−) are the most important redox signaling agents in cancer cells, the homeostasis of which is maintained by dozens of growth factors, cytokines, and antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, antioxidant enzymes tend to have higher activity levels to maintain the homeostasis of ROS in cancer cells. Effective intervention in the ROS homeostasis of cancer cells by chelating agents or metal complexes has already developed into an important anti-cancer strategy. We can inhibit the activity of antioxidant enzymes using chelators or metal complexes; on the other hand, we can also use metal complexes to directly regulate the level of ROS in cancer cells via mitochondria. In this review, metal complexes or chelators with ROS regulation capacity and with anti-cancer applications are collectively and comprehensively analyzed, which is beneficial for the development of the next generation of inorganic anti-cancer drugs based on ROS regulation. We expect that this review will provide a new perspective to develop novel inorganic reagents for killing cancer cells and, further, as candidates or clinical drugs.     

Antioxidant Activity of Ruthenium Cyclopentadienyl Complexes Bearing Succinimidato and Phthalimidato Ligands

In these studies, we investigated the antioxidant activity of three ruthenium cyclopentadienyl complexes bearing different imidato ligands: (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)Ru(CO)₂-N-methoxysuccinimidato (1), (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)Ru(CO)₂-N-ethoxysuccinimidato (2), and (η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)Ru(CO)₂-N-phthalimidato (3). We studied the effects of ruthenium complexes 1–3 at a low concentration of 50 µM on the viability and the cell cycle of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and HL-60 leukemic cells exposed to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Moreover, we examined the influence of these complexes on DNA oxidative damage, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. We have observed that ruthenium complexes 1–3 increase the viability of both normal and cancer cells decreased by H₂O₂ and also alter the HL-60 cell cycle arrested by H₂O₂ in the sub-G1 phase. In addition, we have shown that ruthenium complexes reduce the levels of ROS and oxidative DNA damage in both cell types. They also restore SOD activity reduced by H₂O₂. Our results indicate that ruthenium complexes 1–3 bearing succinimidato and phthalimidato ligands have antioxidant activity without cytotoxic effect at low concentrations. For this reason, the ruthenium complexes studied by us should be considered interesting molecules with clinical potential that require further detailed research.     

Enhancement of C−H Oxidizing Ability in Co–O2 Complexes through an Isolated Heterobimetallic Oxo Intermediate

The characterization of intermediates formed through the reaction of transition‐metal complexes with dioxygen (O₂) is important for understanding oxidation in biological and synthetic processes. Here, the reaction of the diketiminate‐supported cobalt(I) complex L^tBuCo with O₂ gives a rare example of a side‐on dioxygen complex of cobalt. Structural, spectroscopic, and computational data are most consistent with its assignment as a cobalt(III)–peroxo complex. Treatment of L^tBuCo(O₂) with low‐valent Fe and Co diketiminate complexes affords isolable oxo species with M₂O₂ “diamond” cores, including the first example of a crystallographically characterized heterobimetallic bis(μ‐oxo) complex of two transition metals. The bimetallic species are capable of cleaving C−H bonds in the supporting ligands, and kinetic studies show that the Fe/Co heterobimetallic species activates C−H bonds much more rapidly than the Co/Co homobimetallic analogue. Thus heterobimetallic oxo intermediates provide a promising route for enhancing the rates of oxidation reactions.     

Tuning the Redox Properties of a Nonheme Iron(III)–Peroxo Complex Binding Redox‐Inactive Zinc Ions by Water Molecules

Redox‐inactive metal ions play important roles in tuning chemical properties of metal–oxygen intermediates. Herein we report the effect of water molecules on the redox properties of a nonheme iron(III)–peroxo complex binding redox‐inactive metal ions. The coordination of two water molecules to a Zn²⁺ ion in (TMC)Fe^III‐(O₂)‐Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂ ( 1 ‐Zn²⁺) decreases the Lewis acidity of the Zn²⁺ ion, resulting in the decrease of the one‐electron oxidation and reduction potentials of 1 ‐Zn²⁺. This further changes the reactivities of 1 ‐Zn²⁺ in oxidation and reduction reactions; no reaction occurred upon addition of an oxidant (e.g., cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN)) to 1 ‐Zn²⁺, whereas 1 ‐Zn²⁺ coordinating two water molecules, (TMC)Fe^III‐(O₂)‐Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂‐(OH₂)₂ [ 1 ‐Zn²⁺‐(OH₂)₂], releases the O₂ unit in the oxidation reaction. In the reduction reactions, 1 ‐Zn²⁺ was converted to its corresponding iron(IV)–oxo species upon addition of a reductant (e.g., a ferrocene derivative), whereas such a reaction occurred at a much slower rate in the case of 1 ‐Zn²⁺‐(OH₂)₂. The present results provide the first biomimetic example showing that water molecules at the active sites of metalloenzymes may participate in tuning the redox properties of metal–oxygen intermediates.     

A mini review of nanomaterials on photodynamic therapy

In this account, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) were deliberately reviewed. First, the specific definition of ROS and PDT were readily clarified. Afterward, this review focuses on the fundamental principles and applications of PDT. Due to strong oxidation ability of radicals (e.g., •OH and O₂^•-) and non-radical (e.g., ¹O₂ and H₂O₂), these ROS would attack the in vitro and in vivo tumor cells, thus achieving the goal of cancer treatment. Then, ROS in PDT for cancer treatment was thoroughly reviewed, including the mechanism and photosensitizer (PS) selection (i.e., nanomaterials). Ultimately, emphasis was made on the challenges, research gap, and prospects of ROS in cancer treatment and critically discussed. Hopefully, this review can offer detailed theoretical guidance for the researchers who participate in the study regarding ROS in PDT.     

Fine Control of the Redox Reactivity of a Nonheme Iron(III)–Peroxo Complex by Binding Redox-Inactive Metal Ions

Redox-inactive metal ions are one of the most important co-factors involved in dioxygen activation and formation reactions by metalloenzymes. In this study, we have shown that the logarithm of the rate constants of electron-transfer and C−H bond activation reactions by nonheme iron(III)–peroxo complexes binding redox-inactive metal ions, [(TMC)Fe^III(O₂)]⁺-Mⁿ⁺ (Mⁿ⁺=Sc³⁺, Y³⁺, Lu³⁺, and La³⁺), increases linearly with the increase of the Lewis acidity of the redox-inactive metal ions (ΔE), which is determined from the g_zz values of EPR spectra of O₂^.−-Mⁿ⁺ complexes. In contrast, the logarithm of the rate constants of the [(TMC)Fe^III(O₂)]⁺-Mⁿ⁺ complexes in nucleophilic reactions with aldehydes decreases linearly as the ΔE value increases. Thus, the Lewis acidity of the redox-inactive metal ions bound to the mononuclear nonheme iron(III)–peroxo complex modulates the reactivity of the [(TMC)Fe^III(O₂)]⁺-Mⁿ⁺ complexes in electron-transfer, electrophilic, and nucleophilic reactions.     

Mass Spectrometry Reveals High Levels of Hydrogen Peroxide in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critical for many cellular functions, and dysregulation of ROS involves the development of multiple types of tumors, including pancreatic cancer. However, ROS have been grouped into a single biochemical entity for a long time, and the specific roles of certain types of ROS in tumor cells (e.g., pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)) have not been systematically investigated. In this work, a highly sensitive and accurate mass spectrometry-based method was applied to study PDAC cells of humans and of genetically modified animals. The results show that the oncogenic KRAS mutation promotes the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) rather than superoxide or hydroxyl radicals in pancreatic cancer cells. We further identified that the enriched H₂O₂ modifies cellular metabolites and promotes the survival of pancreatic cancer cells. These findings highlight the specific roles of H₂O₂ in pancreatic cancer development, which may provide new directions for pancreatic cancer therapy.     

Fine Control of the Redox Reactivity of a Nonheme Iron(III)–Peroxo Complex by Binding Redox‐Inactive Metal Ions

Redox‐inactive metal ions are one of the most important co‐factors involved in dioxygen activation and formation reactions by metalloenzymes. In this study, we have shown that the logarithm of the rate constants of electron‐transfer and C−H bond activation reactions by nonheme iron(III)–peroxo complexes binding redox‐inactive metal ions, [(TMC)Fe^III(O₂)]⁺‐M^{n +} (M^{n +}=Sc³⁺, Y³⁺, Lu³⁺, and La³⁺), increases linearly with the increase of the Lewis acidity of the redox‐inactive metal ions (ΔE ), which is determined from the g_zz values of EPR spectra of O₂^.−‐M^{n +} complexes. In contrast, the logarithm of the rate constants of the [(TMC)Fe^III(O₂)]⁺‐M^{n +} complexes in nucleophilic reactions with aldehydes decreases linearly as the ΔE value increases. Thus, the Lewis acidity of the redox‐inactive metal ions bound to the mononuclear nonheme iron(III)–peroxo complex modulates the reactivity of the [(TMC)Fe^III(O₂)]⁺‐M^{n +} complexes in electron‐transfer, electrophilic, and nucleophilic reactions.     

Copper(II)–Graphitic Carbon Nitride Triggered Synergy: Improved ROS Generation and Reduced Glutathione Levels for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy

Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) has been used as photosensitizer to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, its therapeutic efficiency was far from satisfactory. One of the major obstacles was the overexpression of glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells, which could diminish the amount of generated ROS before their arrival at the target site. Herein, we report that the integration of Cu²⁺ and g‐C₃N₄ nanosheets (Cu²⁺–g‐C₃N₄) led to enhanced light‐triggered ROS generation as well as the depletion of intracellular GSH levels. Consequently, the ROS generated under light irradiation could be consumed less by reduced GSH, and efficiency was improved. Importantly, redox‐active species Cu⁺–g‐C₃N₄ could catalyze the reduction of molecular oxygen to the superoxide anion or hydrogen peroxide to the hydroxyl radical, both of which facilitated the generation of ROS. This synergy of improved ROS generation and GSH depletion could enhance the efficiency of PDT for cancer therapy.     

Halide substitutions in the [Rh2(O f2 p− )(OH)2(H2O) n ]3+ complex

Summary Transition metal complexes containing activated dioxygen continue to attract considerable attention and are widely used as models, either as oxygen carriers or as catalysts in biological and industrial oxidations ^(1,2).Cobalt complexes containing the coordinated O₂ molecule are well known^(3,4), but the rhodium analogues are rare^(5–8). The known complexes with coordinated O₂ are rhodium(III) compounds containing strong nitrogen donor ligands.Our recent studies have focused on a synthesis of dioxygen rhodium derivatives in which a superoxide anion (O _f2 ^p– ) is bound to the [Rh^III—Rh^III] core surrounded by other donor molecules, e.g. H₂O, RCO _f2 ^p– (7,8), to investigate the effect of a coordination sphere of the metal centre on the redox properties of the O _f2 ^p– radical combined to it⁽⁹⁾.The [Rh₂(O _f2 ^p– )(OH)₂(H₂O) _n ]³⁺ cation, the product of oxidative addition of dioxygen to the [Rh₂(H₂O)₁₀]⁴⁺ dimer, was isolated by us and examined in aqueous HC1O₄ ^(7,9). So far we have been unable to isolate its solid but the water molecules coordinated to the [Rh₂(O _f2 ^p– )-(OH)₂] ³⁺ moiety were found to undergo substitution relatively easily⁽⁸⁾.     

Nitric oxide reduction forming hyponitrite triggered by metal-containing complexes

Nitric oxide reduction yielding N₂O is known as a route to detoxify nitric oxide (NO) to relieve nitrosative stress in pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Nitric oxide enzymes are classified into Cu/Fe-heme NO reductases (NORs) and non-heme flavindiiron NO reductases (FNORs). In biological system, the mechanism of NO reduction generating N₂O was proposed to involve NO coordination to metal centers prior to producing cis/trans-hyponitrite-bound intermediate, and the subsequent protonation of hyponitrite-bound-Fe/Cu intermediates releases N₂O. In this review article, we compile the recently published biomimetic model studies of NO-to-[N₂O₂]²⁻ transformation triggered by the designed transition-metal complexes. In biomimetic model study, the ON-NO bond coupling of metal-nitrosyl complexes yielding [N₂O₂]²⁻-bound species may occur via either the inter/intramolecular radical-[NO]⁻-radical-[NO]⁻ coupling or metal-[NO]²⁻ radical coupling with exogenous NO˙. The H-bonding interaction between hyponitrite and protic solvents promoting/stabilizing the formation of hyponitrite complexes was also demonstrated. In addition, the electronic structure of the designed transition-metal-nitrosyl complexes triggering the formation of [N₂O₂]²⁻-bound species and the detailed NO-to-[N₂O₂]²⁻ formation pathways were delineated.     

Enzyme-Triggered Chemodynamic Therapy via a Peptide-H2S Donor Conjugate with Complexed Fe2+

Inducing high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside tumor cells is a cancer therapy method termed chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Relying on delivery of Fenton reaction promoters such as Fe²⁺, CDT takes advantage of overproduced ROS in the tumor microenvironment. We developed a peptide-H₂S donor conjugate, complexed with Fe²⁺, termed AAN - PTC – Fe²⁺ . The AAN tripeptide was specifically cleaved by legumain, an enzyme overexpressed in glioma cells, to release carbonyl sulfide (COS). Hydrolysis of COS by carbonic anhydrase formed H₂S, an inhibitor of catalase, an enzyme that detoxifies H₂O₂. Fe²⁺ and H₂S together increased intracellular ROS levels and decreased viability in C6 glioma cells compared with controls lacking either Fe²⁺, the AAN sequence, or the ability to generate H₂S. AAN - PTC – Fe²⁺ performed better than temezolimide while exhibiting no cytotoxicity toward H9C2 cardiomyocytes. This study provides an H₂S-amplified, enzyme-responsive platform for synergistic cancer treatment.     

Peroxo and alkylperoxidic molybdenum(VI) complexes as intermediates in the epoxidation of olefins by alkyl hydroperoxides

Novel oxoperoxomolybdenum(VI) complexes with the general formula MoO(O₂)L₂X₂ (III, L = DMF, HMPT) and MoO(O₂)Cl(ON)L(IV, ON) = pyridin-2-carboxylate (Pic), 8-hydroxyquinolinate (Quin) were prepared from the reaction of Ph₃COOH or H₂O₂ with the corresponding cis-dioxo complexes. In the reaction with Ph₃COOH both oxygen atoms of the peroxo moiety were found, by ¹⁸O labeling experiments, to come from the hydroperoxide. The X-ray crystal structure of MoO(O₂)Cl(Pic)(HMPT) revealed a bipyramidal pentagonal surounding with a rather short OO distance (1.41 Å). Complexes III were found to be more reactive than MoO(O₂)₂,HMPT for the epoxidation of olefins (oxidative cleavage products are consecutively formed) but react by the same cyclic peroxymetalation mechanism. The absence of reaction in the case of complexes IV illustrates the necessity for the metal to possess an equatorial releasable coordination site adjacent to the peroxo group for the oxygen transfer to occur. Catalytic oxidation of olefins using Ph₃COOH gave a selectivity in oxygenated products very different from that using t-BuOOH, and ¹⁸O labeling studies showed that alkyl-peroxidic rather than peroxo species are intermediates in this latter reaction. The mechanism of epoxidation of olefins by alkyl hydroperoxides catalyzed by d⁰ metal complexes is discussed.     

A New Thiolate-Bound Dimanganese Cluster as a Structural and Functional Model for Class Ib Ribonucleotide Reductases

In class Ib ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) a dimanganese(II) cluster activates superoxide (O₂⋅⁻) rather than dioxygen (O₂), to access a high valent Mn^III−O₂−Mn^IV species, responsible for the oxidation of tyrosine to tyrosyl radical. In a biomimetic approach, we report the synthesis of a thiolate-bound dimanganese complex [Mn^II₂(BPMT)(OAc)₂](ClO)₄ (BPMT=(2,6-bis{[bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino]methyl}-4-methylthiophenolate) ( 1 ) and its reaction with O₂⋅⁻ to form a [(BPMT)MnO₂Mn]²⁺ complex 2 . Resonance Raman investigation revealed the presence of an O−O bond in 2 , while EPR analysis displayed a 16-line S_t=1/2 signal at g=2 typically associated with a Mn^IIIMn^IV core, as detected in class Ib RNRs. Unlike all other previously reported Mn−O₂−Mn complexes, generated by O₂⋅⁻ activation at Mn₂ centers, 2 proved to be a capable electrophilic oxidant in aldehyde deformylation and phenol oxidation reactions, rendering it one of the best structural and functional models for class Ib RNRs.     

DNA-bleomycin interaction: Nucleotide sequence-specific binding and cleavage of DNA by bleomycin

Biosynthetic intermediates and synthetic analogues of bleomycin (BLM) have been investigated for their metal binding, dioxygen activation, and DNA cleavage. Molecular O₂ was activated by the Fe(II) complex of a synthetic model ligand. Nucleotide sequence specificities in DNA cleavage by the BLM-Fe(II) and deglyco-BLM-Fe(II) complexes were almost identical. It has been shown that (1) the β-aminoalanine-pyrimidine-β-hydroxyhistidine portion of BLM is essential for the metal binding and dioxygen activation and (2) the bithiazole moiety contributes to the specific binding to guanine base of DNA.     

The effect of ligand donor atoms on ternary complex stability

Formation constants of mixed ligand complexes of Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Mn²⁺,with cyadine-5′-monophosphoric acid (CMP) and various primary ligands such as 1,10-phenanthroline(phen), glycylglycine(glygly) and salicylic acid (sal) have been determined in aqueous solution at 35°C and 0.1 M (KNO₃) by potentiomeric measurements. The acid dissociation constants of all the above mentioned ligands together with their 1 : 1 binary metal complex formation constants were also measured at 35°C. In general all the 1 : 1 binary complexes follow the Irving-Williams order of stability. Further the binary metal complexes of primary ligands are more stable than their ternary complexes with CMP. For ternary complexes, Δ(log K) values seem to change from positive to highly negative as the coordinating atoms of the primary ligands were varied from N,N to N,O^? to O^?O^?. The higher stability of ternary complexes involving phen is due to its Π-bonding interaction with the above metal ions and the relative decrease in the stability of other ternary systems is due to the coulombic repulsion of donor oxygen atoms of primary and secondary ligands. Thus for ternary complexes the stabilities follow a decreasing order of M-phen-CMP > M-glygly-CMP > M-sal-CMP.     

New tripodal N-heterocyclic carbene chelators for small molecule activation

In an effort to develop new tripodal N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands for small molecule activation, two new classes of tripodal NHC ligands TIME^R and TIMEN^R have been synthesized. The carbon-anchored tris(carbene) ligand system TIME^R (R = Me, t-Bu) forms bi- or polynuclear metal complexes. While the methyl derivative exclusively forms trinuclear 3:2 complexes [(TIME^Me)₂M₃]³⁺ with group 11 metal ions, the tert-butyl derivative yields a dinuclear 2:2 complex [(TIME^t-Bu)₂Cu₂]²⁺ with copper(I). The latter complex shows both “normal” and “abnormal” carbene binding modes and accordingly, is best formulated as a bis(carbene)alkenyl complex. The nitrogen-anchored tris(carbene) ligands TIMEN^R (R = alkyl, aryl) bind to a variety of first-row transition metal ions in 1:1 stoichiometry, affording monomeric complexes with a protected reactivity cavity at the coordinated metal center. Complexes of TIMEN^R with Cu(I)/(II), Ni(0)/(I), and Co(I)/(II)/(III) have been synthesized. The cobalt(I) complexes with the aryl-substituted TIMEN^R (R = mesityl, xylyl) ligands show great potential for small molecule activation. These complexes activate for instance dioxygen to form cobalt(III) peroxo complexes that, upon reaction with electrophilic organic substrates, transfer an oxygen atom. The cobalt(I) complexes are also precursors for terminal cobalt(III) imido complexes. These imido complexes were found to undergo unprecedented intra-molecular imido insertion reactions to form cobalt(II) imine species. The molecular and electronic structures of some representative metal NHC complexes as well as the nature of the metal–carbene bond of these metal NHC complexes was elucidated by X-ray and DFT computational methods and are discussed briefly. In contrast to the common assumption that NHCs are pure σ-donors, our studies revealed non-negligible and even significant π-backbonding in electron-rich metal NHC complexes.     

The Influence of Alkali Metal Ions on the Stability and Reactivity of Chromium(III) Superoxide Moieties Spanned by Siloxide Ligands

In recent years, it has become clear that the presence of redox-inactive Lewis acidic metal ions can decisively influence the reactivity of metal–dioxygen moieties that are formed in the course of O₂ activation, in molecular complexes, and metalloenzymes. Superoxide species are often formed as the primary intermediates but they are mostly too unstable for a thorough investigation. We report here a series of chromium(III) superoxide complexes [L₂Cr]M₂O₂(THF)_y (L=⁻OSiPh₂OSiPh₂O⁻, M⁺=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and y=4, 5), which could be accessed, studied spectroscopically and partly crystallized at low temperatures. They only differ in the two incorporated Lewis acidic alkali metal counterions (M⁺) and it could thus be shown that the nature of M⁺ determines considerably its interaction with the superoxide ligand. This interaction, in turn, has a significant influence on the stability and reactivity of these complexes towards substrates with OH groups. Furthermore, we show that stability and reactivity are also highly solvent dependent (THF versus nitriles), as donor solvents coordinate to the alkali metal ions and thus also influence their interaction with the superoxide moiety. Altogether, these results provide a comprehensive and detailed picture concerning the correlation between spectroscopic properties, structure, and behavior of such superoxides, that may be exemplary for other systems.     

Protein nanoparticles containing Cu(II) and DOX for efficient chemodynamic therapy via self-generation of H2O2

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) refers to generating hydroxyl radical (OH) in tumor sites via hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) catalyzed by transition metal ions in cancer cells under acidic environment. However, H₂O₂ content is not enough for effective CDT, although H₂O₂ content in cancer cells is higher than that of normal cells. Herein, we synthesized DOX@BSA-Cu NPs (nanoparticles) for effective CDT by providing enhanced content of H₂O₂ in cancer cells. The results proved Cu²⁺ in NPs could be reduced to Cu⁺ by glutathione (GSH) and effectively converted H₂O₂ to OH. Moreover, the loaded low-dose doxorubicin (DOX) in the NPs could improve the content of H₂O₂ and resulted in more efficient generation of OH in cancer cells. Thus DOX@BSA-Cu NPs exhibited higher cytotoxicity to cancer cells. This research may provide new ideas for the further studies on more effective Cu(II)-based CDT nanoagents.