Cu-Phen

Prelims – General Science

Mains – General Studies-III (Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. | Achievements of Indians in science & technology | Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights)

Why in news?

Indian scientists at CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai have recently developed specialized Nano-sized particles called Cu-Phen that mimic the function of natural enzymes in our bodies.

• Enzymes – Are nature's catalysts, essential biological molecules that speed up chemical reactions vital for life.
• Artificial enzymes – Also known as nanozymes, which mimic the natural functions of enzymes using nanomaterials.
• These nanozymes hold immense potential in fields ranging from medicine to energy.

Challenge with First-Generation Nanozymes

• Earlier nanozymes often faced significant hurdles, limiting their practical application, especially within biological systems.
• A key challenge was their lack of specificity, often stemming from poorly defined "active sites" which are the parts responsible for the catalytic activity.
• This lack of precision could lead to:
  • Uncontrolled Electron Transfer
  • Generation of Harmful Byproducts – Leakage of electrons often resulted in the production of toxic Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).
  • ROS can cause oxidative stress, damaging cells and contributing to various diseases and aging.
• These limitations posed risks, particularly for therapeutic applications, necessitating the development of next-generation nanozymes with better control and safety profiles.

Working Mechanism

• Cu-Phen is meticulously self-assembled from copper ions (Cu²⁺) coordinated with ligands (a molecule that binds to another) derived from the amino acid phenylalanine.
• It interacts precisely with cytochrome c, a vital protein in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (the cell's primary energy-generating pathway).
• It binds to cytochrome c in a specific manner, similar to natural enzyme-substrate interactions.
• It facilitates the efficient transfer of electrons from cytochrome c.
• These electrons are then used to reduce oxygen directly to water (H₂O), the safe end-product seen in natural cellular respiration.

Significance & Potential Applications

• Well-Defined Active Site – Unlike its predecessors, Cu-Phen features a precisely engineered and defined active site. This structural precision is key to its enhanced function.
• Overcoming Limitations – Its specific design enables controlled electron transfer, mimicking the efficiency of natural enzymes involved in cellular energy pathways.
• Crucially, this controlled process avoids the generation of harmful ROS.
• Health & Therapeutics – Its ability to function efficiently without producing harmful ROS makes it a prime candidate for safer biomedical applications.
• Bioenergy – Precise control over electron flow is fundamental to energy conversion.
• Cu-Phen could contribute to developing more efficient biocatalysts for sustainable energy production or understanding and manipulating cellular energy pathways.
• Biotechnology & Environment – Cu-Phen can guide the development of advanced artificial enzymes for various biotechnological processes and potentially environmental remediation tasks requiring specific catalytic activity.

Reference

PIB | Cu-Phen