Cell-Penetrating Delivery of Nitric Oxide by Biocompatible Dinitrosyl Iron Complex and Its Dermato-Physiological Implications

After the discovery of endogenous dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) as a potential biological equivalent of nitric oxide (NO), bioinorganic engineering of [Fe(NO)<sub>2</sub>] unit has emerged to develop biomimetic DNICs [(NO)<sub>2</sub>Fe(L)<sub>2</sub>] as a ch...

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Main Authors: Yu-Chieh Chen, Yi-Hong Chen, Han Chiu, Yi-Hsuan Ko, Ruei-Ting Wang, Wei-Ping Wang, Yung-Jen Chuang, Chieh-Cheng Huang, Tsai-Te Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
Series:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/18/10101
Description
Summary:After the discovery of endogenous dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) as a potential biological equivalent of nitric oxide (NO), bioinorganic engineering of [Fe(NO)<sub>2</sub>] unit has emerged to develop biomimetic DNICs [(NO)<sub>2</sub>Fe(L)<sub>2</sub>] as a chemical biology tool for controlled delivery of NO. For example, water-soluble DNIC [Fe<sub>2</sub>(μ-SCH<sub>2</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>OH)<sub>2</sub>(NO)<sub>4</sub>] (<b>DNIC-1</b>) was explored for oral delivery of NO to the brain and for the activation of hippocampal neurogenesis. However, the kinetics and mechanism for cellular uptake and intracellular release of NO, as well as the biocompatibility of synthetic DNICs, remain elusive. Prompted by the potential application of NO to dermato-physiological regulations, in this study, cellular uptake and intracellular delivery of DNIC [Fe<sub>2</sub>(μ-SCH<sub>2</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>COOH)<sub>2</sub>(NO)<sub>4</sub>] (<b>DNIC-2</b>) and its regulatory effect/biocompatibility toward epidermal cells were investigated. Upon the treatment of <b>DNIC-2</b> to human fibroblast cells, cellular uptake of <b>DNIC-2</b> followed by transformation into protein-bound DNICs occur to trigger the intracellular release of NO with a half-life of 1.8 ± 0.2 h. As opposed to the burst release of extracellular NO from diethylamine NONOate (DEANO), the cell-penetrating nature of <b>DNIC-2</b> rationalizes its overwhelming efficacy for intracellular delivery of NO. Moreover, NO-delivery <b>DNIC-2</b> can regulate cell proliferation, accelerate wound healing, and enhance the deposition of collagen in human fibroblast cells. Based on the in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility evaluation, biocompatible <b>DNIC-2</b> holds the potential to be a novel active ingredient for skincare products.
ISSN:1661-6596
1422-0067