Copper peroxide incorporated BSA-NPs: a pH-responsive, self-supplying source of reactive oxygen species for cancer cell destruction via polarization of macrophages to the M1 phenotype

Abstract

Herein, we produced self-assembled CuPer-BSA nanoparticles (NPs) formed as a result of incorporation of copper peroxide into bovine serum albumin (BSA) and serving as a self-supplying source of Cu²⁺ and H₂O₂ at biologically relevant acidic pH, and in these conditions activating a Fenton-type reaction to generate hydroxyl radicals (˙OH). ROS-induced polarization of RAW 264.7 macrophages to the M1 phenotype resulted in cellular secretions that showed significant anti-cancer efficacy against HeLa cells.