A hemoglobin-based nanozyme with ruthenium-induced nanomotor ability exhibiting photothermal and chemodynamic responses


ÇOBAN ÇİFÇİ G., Çetin E. A., Gök İ. Y., Kaya N. B., Kapucu B. G., ONUR M. A., ...More

Microchimica Acta, vol.193, no.7, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 193 Issue: 7
  • Publication Date: 2026
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s00604-026-08176-3
  • Journal Name: Microchimica Acta
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biological Science Database (ProQuest), Engineering Source (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
  • Keywords: Chemodynamic therapy, Glioblastoma, Hemoglobin, Nanozyme, Ruthenium
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Ruthenium functionalized organometallic nanoparticles (Hb@Ru NPs) ca. 10 nm in size, containing crystalline Ru phases were synthesized by a new, single-stage hydrothermal protocol using hemoglobin (Hb) as the skeleton. Compared to currently reported nanozymes, Ru@Hb NPs demonstrated enhanced catalase- and and peroxidase-mimicking activities, produced superoxide (O2•-) and singlet oxygen (1O2) radicals and showed significant glutathione depletion. The maximum substrate consumption rates of 107.5 mM mg-1s-1 and 6.94 µM mg-1s-1, were obtained for catalase-like and peroxidase-like activities, respectively. Hb@Ru NPs exhibited ruthenium induced nanomotor behavior which was utilized to enhance the interaction between tumor cells and nanozyme. Photothermal conversion behavior of Hb@Ru NPs was demonstrated with the temperature elevations of up to 29 °C under NIR laser irradiation. Therapeutic potential of Hb@Ru NPs was evaluated using T98G glioblastoma and HepG2 cells. In-vitro combinatorial photothermal/chemodynamic therapy (PTT&CDT) with T98G cells achieved up to 92.7% cell death, with effective intracellular ROS formation and yielded an apoptotic rate of 63.32%, as determined by flow cytometry. TUNEL staining demonstrated that Hb@Ru NPs significantly induced DNA fragmentation in T98G cells by combined PTT&CDT via producing the most pronounced apoptotic response. PTT&CDT with Hb@Ru NPs also suppressed the migration and proliferation of glioblastoma cells, significantly inhibiting the wound closure in stratch assay.