Contents 1. Introduction 561 2. Biomimetic Analogues of Hemoglobin and Myoglobin 563 2.1. The Proteins 563 2.2. Synthetic Analogues of Mb 565 2.2.1. The Molecular Origin of CO vs O 2 Discrimination by Mb and Hb 565 2.2.2. Electrostatic and H-Bonding Effects on Heme's Affinity for Small Molecules 570 2.2.3. Reversible Oxygen Carriers in Protic Media 572 2.3. Reversible Cooperative O 2 Carriers: Biomimetic Analogues of Hb 573 3. Functional Analogues of the Heme/Cu B Site of Cytochrome c Oxidase 574 3.1. The Enzyme 574 3.2. Methodology of Electrocatalytic Studies of Heme/Cu Analogues 576 3.3. General Considerations for the Design of Biomimetic Heme/Cu Analogues for Electrocatalytic Studies 577 3.4. Electrocatalytic O 2 Reduction by Simple Fe Porphyrins 578 3.5. Biomimetic Electrocatalytic Studies Prior to 2000 582 3.6. Role(s) of Cu B Based on Biomimetic Electrocatalytic Studies 583 4. Conclusions 585 5. Acknowledgments 586 6. Supporting Information Available 586 7. References 586

Catalytic reduction of O(2) and H(2)O(2) by new synthetic analogues of the heme/Cu site in cytochrome c and ubiquinol oxidases has been studied in aqueous buffers. Among the synthetic porphyrins yet reported, those employed in this study most faithfully mimic the immediate coordination environment of the Fe/Cu core. Under physiologically relevant conditions, these biomimetic catalysts reproduce key aspects of the O(2) and H(2)O(2) chemistry of the enzyme. When deposited on an electrode surface, they catalyze the selective reduction of O(2) to H(2)O at potentials comparable to the midpoint potential of cytochrome c. The pH dependence of the half-wave potentials and other data are consistent with O-O bond activation at these centers proceeding via a slow generation of a formally ferric-hydroperoxo intermediate, followed by its rapid reduction to the level of water. This kinetics is analogous to that proposed for the O-O reduction step at the heme/Cu site. It minimizes the steady-state concentration of the catalytic intermediate whose decomposition would release free H(2)O(2). The maximum catalytic rate constants of O(2) reduction by the ferrous catalyst and of H(2)O(2) reduction by both ferric and ferrous catalysts are comparable to those reported for cytochrome oxidase. The oxidized catalyst also displays catalase activity. Comparison of the catalytic properties of the biomimetic complexes in the FeCu and Cu-free forms indicates that, in the regime of rapid electron flux, Cu does not significantly affect the turnover frequency or the stability of the catalysts, but it suppresses superoxide-releasing autoxidation of an O(2)-catalyst adduct. The distal Cu also accelerates O(2) binding and minimizes O-O bond homolysis in the reduction of H(2)O(2).

Enabled by their size and supramolecular structures, nanoparticles (that is, particles of approximately 10 to 100 nanometers) promise to be particularly capable agents in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. When loaded with chemotherapeutic agents, nanoparticle delivery to cancerous tissues relative to healthy tissues may be favorably biased by size and through the attachment of targeting ligands to the surface of the particle. Nanoparticles may be made from a variety of materials, and in addition to chemotherapeutic payloads, nanoparticles can incorporate non-bioactive elements useful as diagnostic and device agents. For example, the inclusion of iron oxide colloids enables nanoparticle use as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, and also, through the application of an alternating magnetic field (AMF), enables the particle to generate enough heat to be used for hyperthermic therapeutic applications. In this report, we also introduce novel Magnetic Nanoparticle Hydro-Gel (MagNaGel TM ) materials comprised of chemotherapeutic agents, iron oxide colloids, and targeting ligands. MagNaGel particles were fabricated in the 20-to 40-nm size range with very narrow size dispersion. These particles demonstrate high (410 wt %) chemotherapeutic loading, tumor-associated biomolecular binding, good magnetic susceptibility, and attractive toxicity and circulation profiles in mouse models. Looking forward, the convergence of drug and device on the nano-scale promises treatment modalities that cannot be practiced through traditionally distinct drug and device combinations. MagNaGel nanoparticles are drug-device hybrids that, when used in conjunction with diagnostic MRI and inductive heating, may play a key role in new and powerful cancer treatment regimens. Drug Dev. Res. 67:70-93, 2006.

For Abstract see ChemInform Abstract in Full Text.

Three biomimetic models for the binuclear Fe/Cu (heme/trisimidazole) active site of terminal oxidases, such as cytochrome c oxidase and related enzymes, have been prepared. Based upon a tetrakis(aminophenyl)porphyrin core, these models possess a single covalently linked imidazole-bearing tail on one side of the porphyrin and three imidazole "pickets" on the opposite side of the porphyrin ring. Three different imidazole picket motifs are characterized in free base, Fe, Zn, Fe/Cu, and Zn/Cu forms. A combination of NMR, EPR, and IR demonstrates that, for the N-methylimidazole systems studied, the distal Cu is bound within the trisimidazole environment in the reduced (Cu(I)) and oxidized (Cu(II)) forms. The imidazole picket substitution pattern and state of metalation have significant influence on the interaction of these compounds with CO. For imidazole picket systems containing NH groups, intramolecular H bonds compete with Cu(I) coordination of the N donors.