Many important intracellular biochemical reactions are modulated by transition metals, typically in the form of metalloproteins. The ability to carry out selective transformations inside a cell would allow researchers to manipulate or interrogate innumerable biological processes. Here, we show that palladium nanoparticles trapped within polystyrene microspheres can enter cells and mediate a variety of Pd(0)-catalysed reactions, such as allylcarbamate cleavage and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. The work provides the basis for the customization of heterogeneous unnatural catalysts as tools to carry out artificial chemistries within cells. Such in cellulo synthesis has potential for a plethora of applications ranging from cellular labelling to synthesis of modulators or inhibitors of cell function.

A bioorthogonal organometallic reaction is a biocompatible transformation undergone by a synthetic material exclusively through the mediation of a non-biotic metal source; a selective process used to label biomolecules and activate probes in biological environs. Here we report the in vitro bioorthogonal generation of 5-fluorouracil from a biologically inert precursor by heterogeneous Pd0 catalysis. Although independently harmless, combined treatment of 5-fluoro-1-propargyl-uracil and Pd0-functionalized resins exhibits comparable antiproliferative properties to the unmodified drug in colorectal and pancreatic cancer cells. Live-cell imaging and immunoassay studies demonstrate that the cytotoxic activity of the prodrug/Pd0-resin combination is due to the in situ generation of 5-fluorouracil. Pd0-resins can be carefully implanted in the yolk sac of zebrafish embryos and display excellent biocompatibility and local catalytic activity. The in vitro efficacy shown by this masking/activation strategy underlines its potential to develop a bioorthogonally activated prodrug approach and supports further in vivo investigations.

The transformational impact of bioorthogonal chemistries has inspired new strategies for the in vivo synthesis of bioactive agents through non-natural means. Among these, palladium (Pd) catalysts have played a prominent role in the growing subfield of bioorthogonal catalysis by producing xenobiotics and uncaging biomolecules in living systems. However, delivering catalysts selectively to specific cell types still lags behind catalyst development. Here we have developed a bio-artificial device consisting of cancer-derived exosomes loaded with Pd catalysts by a method that enables the controlled assembly of Pd nanosheets directly inside the vesicles. This hybrid system mediates Pd-triggered dealkylation reactions in vitro and inside cells and displays preferential tropism for their progenitor cells. The use of Trojan exosomes to deliver abiotic Users may view, print, copy, and download text and data-mine the content in such documents, for the purposes of academic research, subject always to the full Conditions of use: