Protection of lead-induced cytotoxicity using paramagnetic nickel-insulin quantum clusters.

Pb-toxicity is associated with inflammation which leads to delay in wound healing. Pb 2+ utilizes calcium ion channels to enter the cell. Therefore, to achieve effective healing in a Pb-poisoned system, capturing Pb 2+ from the circulatory system would be an effective approach without hampering the activity of the calcium ion channel. In this work insulin-nickel fluorescent quantum clusters (INiQCs) have been synthesized and used for the specific detection of Pb 2+ ions in vitro and in cell-free systems. INiQCs (0.09 μM) can detect Pb 2+ concentrations as low as 10 pM effectively in a cell-free system using the fluorescence turn-off method. In vitro INiQCs (0.45 μM) can detect Pb 2+ concentrations as low as 1 μM. INiQCs also promote wound healing which can easily be monitored using the bright fluorescence of INiQCs. INiQCs also help to overcome the wound recovery inhibitory effect of Pb 2+ in vitro using lead nitrate. This work helps to generate effective biocompatible therapeutics for wound recovery in Pb 2+ poisoned individuals.