Multivalent metal ions (Plutonium, Americium, Thorium, Uranium, Copper, Iron, and Calcium)

This target group encompasses a diverse array of divalent and trivalent metal ions that serve as the focus of chelation therapy in cases of toxicity or metabolic disorders. It includes essential physiological ions such as Calcium (Ca²⁺), Iron (Fe²⁺), and Copper (Cu), which are critical for signaling, oxygen transport, and enzymatic function but can cause systemic damage when present in excess (NIH, 2023). Additionally, the group includes highly toxic radionuclides and heavy metals such as Plutonium (Pu), Americium (Am), Thorium (Th), and Uranium (U), which pose significant health risks through chemical toxicity and ionizing radiation (FDA, 2004). Therapeutic strategies targeting these ions involve the administration of chelating agents that bind the free metals into stable, water-soluble complexes. This process prevents the ions from binding to endogenous proteins or generating reactive oxygen species, ultimately facilitating their excretion from the body via the kidneys or bile (PubChem, 2024).

Other names

Free metal cationsDivalent cationsTrivalent cationsRadionuclidesHeavy metalsMetal ions

Chelation therapy: Chelating agents function as polydentate ligands that sequester free metal ions by forming multiple coordinate bonds, resulting in stable, water-soluble complexes (chelates) that are subsequently excreted through the renal or biliary systems (StatPearls, 2023).