A Tetradentate Chelator for Reducing Damage Caused by Uranium

The rapid advancement of the nuclear industry has precipitated significant challenges in nuclear pollution, with radionuclide uranium emerging as a formidable threat to human safety due to its potent chemical toxicity and radioactivity. The development of uranium chelators represents a pivotal strategy in mitigating the internal damage caused by nuclear exposure. While the US Food and Drug Administration has approved certain drugs for this purpose, issues such as low selectivity and high toxicity remain unresolved. In this study, a tetradentate chelating agent, MDDO was synthesized. Compared with the commercially available agent CaNa₃-DTPA, MDDO exhibits markedly lower toxicity. In addition, the addition of MDDO markedly reduced the extent of cellular damage caused by uranium. In vivo studies have shown that immediate administration of MDDO achieves removal rates of uranyl ions at 49.6% in the kidneys and 52.0% in the femurs. These findings not only underscore the potential of MDDO as a uranium chelator but also pave the way for the development of radionuclide decorporation agents, offering fresh perspectives in the ongoing quest to enhance nuclear safety and public health.