TY - JOUR

T1 - Hemoglobin-stabilized gold nanoclusters displaying oxygen transport ability, self-antioxidation, auto-fluorescence properties and long-term storage potential

AU - Cun, Xingli

AU - Jansman, Michelle M. T.

AU - Liu, Xiaoli

AU - Boureau, Victor

AU - Thulstrup, Peter W. W.

AU - Hosta-Rigau, Leticia

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - The development of hemoglobin (Hb)-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) holds a lot of potential to overcome important drawbacks of donor blood such as a short shelf life or the potential risk of infection. However, a crucial limitation of current HBOCs is the autoxidation of Hb into methemoglobin (metHb), which lacks oxygen-carrying capacity. Herein, we address this challenge by fabricating a Hb and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) composite (Hb@AuNCs) which preserves the exceptional features of both systems. Specifically, the Hb@AuNCs retain the oxygen-transporting properties of Hb, while the AuNCs provide antioxidant functionality as shown by their ability to catalytically deplete harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, these ROS-scavenging properties translate into antioxidant protection by minimizing the autoxidation of Hb into non-functional metHb. Furthermore, the AuNCs render Hb@AuNCs with auto-fluorescence properties which could potentially allow them to be monitored once administered into the body. Last but not least, these three features (i.e., oxygen transport, antioxidant and fluorescence properties) are well maintained following storage as a freeze-dried product. Thus, overall, the as-prepared Hb@AuNCs hold the potential to be used as a multifunctional blood surrogate in the near future.

AB - The development of hemoglobin (Hb)-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) holds a lot of potential to overcome important drawbacks of donor blood such as a short shelf life or the potential risk of infection. However, a crucial limitation of current HBOCs is the autoxidation of Hb into methemoglobin (metHb), which lacks oxygen-carrying capacity. Herein, we address this challenge by fabricating a Hb and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) composite (Hb@AuNCs) which preserves the exceptional features of both systems. Specifically, the Hb@AuNCs retain the oxygen-transporting properties of Hb, while the AuNCs provide antioxidant functionality as shown by their ability to catalytically deplete harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, these ROS-scavenging properties translate into antioxidant protection by minimizing the autoxidation of Hb into non-functional metHb. Furthermore, the AuNCs render Hb@AuNCs with auto-fluorescence properties which could potentially allow them to be monitored once administered into the body. Last but not least, these three features (i.e., oxygen transport, antioxidant and fluorescence properties) are well maintained following storage as a freeze-dried product. Thus, overall, the as-prepared Hb@AuNCs hold the potential to be used as a multifunctional blood surrogate in the near future.

KW - SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE-CATALASE

KW - CIRCULAR-DICHROISM SPECTRA

KW - SECONDARY STRUCTURE

KW - METAL NANOCLUSTERS

KW - BLOOD SUBSTITUTE

KW - NANOPARTICLES

KW - PARTICLES

KW - PH

U2 - 10.1039/d3ra00689a

DO - 10.1039/d3ra00689a

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37228685

VL - 13

SP - 15540

EP - 15553

JO - RSC Advances

JF - RSC Advances

SN - 2046-2069

IS - 23

ER -