![]() Though copper deficiency is known to impair immunity, the exact mechanism is unclear (Huang and Failla 2000). 1999), interleukin IL-2 expression (Hopkins and Failla 1999), neutralization of reactive oxygen radicals by Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase and other. Anti-inflammatory effect of Cu can be linked with modulation of prostaglandin synthesis (Sakuma et al. ( 2006) found that metallic copper can indeed penetrate skin, after being oxidized on air. This issue was extensively researched in past century by Sorenson ( 1976, 1982, 1987, 1989). This belief had drawn attention to possible anti-inflammatory properties of copper ions and complexes. In folklore it is believed that wearing copper bracelets and jewellery can ease the pain in rheumatoid arthritis. This article reviews current trends in various fields of medicine, in development of copper based pharmaceuticals and medical materials. Continuous progress of nanotechnology made it possible to exploit novel physicochemical properties of copper-containing nanoparticles and molecules. Copper has several radioisotopes, five of them are particularly interesting for radiotherapy and imaging applications. Moderate amounts of metal ions that could be liberated from biological degradation or transchelation of Cu complexes can be managed by organism, as copper is an important microelement, in contrary to many other transition metals, whose leakage from their compounds can lead to accumulation and toxic effects. Administration of copper in a form of organometallic complexes can be done in order to selectively deliver copper ions or radionuclides to diseased tissues, or to modify pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics of ligands. From three known oxidation states, +1 and +3 are mostly unstable in biological systems, but on +2 state, Cu forms stable complexes with coordination number of 4, 5 or 6. Coordination chemistry of copper is well-studied and “straightforward” in comparison to many other elements. Generally, simple inorganic salts of copper are toxic, but as a transition metal, with unsaturated d shell, it forms a large number of complexes. There are several reasons that render this element so attractive for drug development. The number of publications concerning copper and its compounds for potential medical applications, have reached tens of thousands. ![]() With the progress in medical sciences, copper has gained a lot of attention. In humans, copper plays role as a cofactor for numerous enzymes, such as Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase, cytochrome c oxidase, tyrosinase, ceruloplasmin and other proteins, crucial for respiration, iron transport and metabolism, cell growth, hemostasis (Puig and Thiele 2002 Bertini et al. It is an important trace element for most organisms in all kingdoms. Copper (Cu) is a transition metal with atomic number 29, known since ancient times.
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