Radical production by hydrogen peroxide/bicarbonate and copper uptake in mammalian cells: Modulation by Cu(II) complexes

Radical generation from H2O2/HCO3-/Cu(II) complexes was evaluated. Cu(II)-imine complexes produced low levels of reactive species in vitro, but are able to be uptake by mammalian cell causing its death, whereas Cu(II)-Gly-derived complexes and free Cu(II) ion, produced oxygen-derived radicals in significantly larger amounts in vitro but not being incorporated by cell.