Iron metallodrugs: stability, redox activity and toxicity against Artemia salina

Vitorino, HA; Mantovanelli, L; Zanotto, FP; Espósito, BP

HERO ID

4850137

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2015

Language

English

PMID

25849743

HERO ID 4850137
In Press No
Year 2015
Title Iron metallodrugs: stability, redox activity and toxicity against Artemia salina
Authors Vitorino, HA; Mantovanelli, L; Zanotto, FP; Espósito, BP
Journal PLoS ONE
Volume 10
Issue 4
Page Numbers e0121997
Abstract Iron metallodrugs comprise mineral supplements, anti-hypertensive agents and, more recently, magnetic nanomaterials, with both therapeutic and diagnostic roles. As biologically-active metal compounds, concern has been raised regarding the impact of these compounds when emitted to the environment and associated ecotoxicological effects for the fauna. In this work we assessed the relative stability of several iron compounds (supplements based on glucoheptonate, dextran or glycinate, as well as 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl (TMH) derivatives of ferrocene) against high affinity models of biological binding, calcein and aprotransferrin, via a fluorimetric method. Also, the redox-activity of each compound was determined in a physiologically relevant medium. Toxicity toward Artemia salina at different developmental stages was measured, as well as the amount of lipid peroxidation. Our results show that polymer-coated iron metallodrugs are stable, non-redox-active and non-toxic at the concentrations studied (up to 300 µM). However, TMH derivatives of ferrocene were less stable and more redox-active than the parent compound, and TMH-ferrocene displayed toxicity and lipid peroxidation to A. salina, unlike the other compounds. Our results indicate that iron metallodrugs based on polymer coating do not present direct toxicity at low levels of emission; however other iron species (eg. metallocenes), may be deleterious for aquatic organisms. We suggest that ecotoxicity depends more on metal speciation than on the total amount of metal present in the metallodrugs. Future studies with discarded metallodrugs should consider the chemical speciation of the metal present in the composition of the drug.
Doi 10.1371/journal.pone.0121997
Pmid 25849743
Wosid WOS:000352477800091
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English