The protective effect of biomineralized BSA-Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles on HUVECs investigated by atomic force microscopy

Manganese-based nanozymes have been widely used in the field of cell protection due to their various enzyme-mimicking activities, but their effect on the mechanical properties of cells is not yet known. Here, bovine serum albumin-modified Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles (BSA-Mn₃O₄ NPs) with good biocompatibility were synthesized by a one-step biomineralization method using BSA as a template. BSA-Mn₃O₄ NPs possess scavenging activity against superoxide free radicals (O₂˙^-), hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The excellent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity of BSA-Mn₃O₄ NPs enables them to effectively reduce the intracellular ROS level, thus mitigating the damage of oxidative stress on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Subsequently, the intracellular antioxidant mechanism of the BSA-Mn₃O₄ NPs was further investigated. The results show that the BSA-Mn₃O₄ NPs could inhibit the depolymerization of F-actin, help cells maintain their normal morphology, and reduce the decrease in Young's modulus of cells caused by oxidative stress.