Luminescent Water-Dispersible Nanoparticles Engineered from Copper(I) Halide Cluster Core and P,N-Ligand with an Optimal Balance between Stability and ROS Generation

The present work introduces the solvent exchange procedure as a route for conversion of Cu4I4L2 complex, where Cu4I4 cluster core is coordinated with two P,N-ligands (L), into an aqueous colloid. analysis both colloidal and supernatant phases revealed some losses in CuI going from initial complex to Cu2I2L3-based nanoparticles. comparative IR, 31P NMR spectroscopy, ESI mass-spectrometry luminescence data argued contribution “butterfly”-like structures Cu2I2 nanoparticles, although amorphous nature latter restricted structure evaluation PXRD data. green colloids their chemical stability under pH variations solutions amino acids peptides, specify temperature concentration conditions triggering oxidative degradation spin trap-facilitated ESR study indicated that transformations were followed by generation reactive oxygen species (ROS). physiological level (310 K) enhanced ROS but was suppressed solution GSH at = 7.0. cytotoxicity nanoparticles evaluated M-HeLa cell line discussed correlation internalization intracellular transformations.