Polyphenolic polymers for uranium decorporation with radiation protection effect.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Radiochemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Internal uranium contamination poses significant health risks due to its toxicity and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
• Effective decorporation agents are crucial for mitigating uranium's harmful effects.
• Existing treatments may have limitations in efficacy or biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel natural polyphenol-based polymer, EGCG-Arg, for uranium decorporation and ROS scavenging.
• To assess the in vivo efficacy and safety of EGCG-Arg in comparison to conventional treatments.
• To elucidate the binding mechanism between EGCG-Arg and uranyl ions.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of EGCG-Arg polymer via Mannich reaction.
• In vivo studies to quantify uranium removal from kidneys and femurs.
• Assessment of ROS scavenging capability and cytotoxicity.
• Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations for binding energy analysis.

Main Results:

• EGCG-Arg demonstrated significant uranium removal: 55.7% from kidneys and 43.5% from femurs.
• Kidney uranium removal by EGCG-Arg was 3.5-fold higher than CaNa3-DTPA.
• EGCG-Arg achieved 95% scavenging efficiency for uranium-induced ROS, restoring cellular levels.
• Low cytotoxicity and protective effects on cell viability were observed.

Conclusions:

• EGCG-Arg is an effective agent for uranium decorporation and ROS scavenging in vivo.
• The polymer exhibits superior performance compared to CaNa3-DTPA.
• EGCG-Arg shows potential as a biocompatible therapeutic for internal uranium contamination.