TY - JOUR
T1 - Ru Nanoparticles Ligated by an N-Heterocyclic Carbene Derived from Uracil Nucleoside as Selective Antimicrobial Agents
AU - Sánchez, Adrián
AU - Carrascosa, Luis A.M.
AU - Romeo, Giulia
AU - Orsini, Giulia
AU - Coppel, Yannick
AU - Santamarina, Sarela
AU - Rodríguez-Santiago, Luis
AU - Solans-Monfort, Xavier
AU - Petronilho, Ana
AU - Martínez-Prieto, Luis M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society
PY - 2026/2/16
Y1 - 2026/2/16
N2 - Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) effectively combat pathogens due to their nonspecific toxicity, reducing the chance of bacterial resistance. Natural-based stabilizing ligands enhance the stability and targeting of MNPs while minimizing toxicity to human cells. In this context, ura-NHC-stabilized Ru NPs (Ru@ura-NHC) have been successfully synthesized following an organometallic approach, employing Ru(COD)(COT) as the metal precursor and, for the first time, a zwitterionic uracil-6-yl-imidazolium betaine (ura-zwt) as the NHC precursor. The mesomeric properties of ura-zwt enabled its use as an air-stable NHC precursor for the one-pot synthesis of Ru@ura-NHC with 100% atom economy and without byproduct formation. A combined theoretical/experimental study was conducted to investigate the coordination of the uracil-based NHC onto the Ru surface, indicating that the coordination of the neutral form (ura-NHC) is preferred over the zwitterionic form (ura-zwt). Evaluation of the antimicrobial properties of Ru@ura-NHC revealed that the coated Ru NPs exhibit selective activity against Staphylococcus aureus, which is beneficial as it minimizes off-target effects and reduces selective pressure for resistance.
AB - Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) effectively combat pathogens due to their nonspecific toxicity, reducing the chance of bacterial resistance. Natural-based stabilizing ligands enhance the stability and targeting of MNPs while minimizing toxicity to human cells. In this context, ura-NHC-stabilized Ru NPs (Ru@ura-NHC) have been successfully synthesized following an organometallic approach, employing Ru(COD)(COT) as the metal precursor and, for the first time, a zwitterionic uracil-6-yl-imidazolium betaine (ura-zwt) as the NHC precursor. The mesomeric properties of ura-zwt enabled its use as an air-stable NHC precursor for the one-pot synthesis of Ru@ura-NHC with 100% atom economy and without byproduct formation. A combined theoretical/experimental study was conducted to investigate the coordination of the uracil-based NHC onto the Ru surface, indicating that the coordination of the neutral form (ura-NHC) is preferred over the zwitterionic form (ura-zwt). Evaluation of the antimicrobial properties of Ru@ura-NHC revealed that the coated Ru NPs exhibit selective activity against Staphylococcus aureus, which is beneficial as it minimizes off-target effects and reduces selective pressure for resistance.
KW - Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
KW - Coordination Complexes/chemistry
KW - Heterocyclic Compounds/chemistry
KW - Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry
KW - Methane/analogs & derivatives
KW - Microbial Sensitivity Tests
KW - Molecular Structure
KW - Nucleosides/chemistry
KW - Ruthenium/chemistry
KW - Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects
KW - Uracil/chemistry
UR - https://portalrecerca.uab.cat/en/publications/01a0a866-79e6-4729-a8df-fdddef7898e0
U2 - 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5c05649
DO - 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5c05649
M3 - Article
C2 - 41698874
AN - SCOPUS:105031488582
SN - 0020-1669
VL - 65
SP - 4580
EP - 4591
JO - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
JF - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
IS - 8
ER -