Development of copper based drugs, radiopharmaceuticals and medical materials

Abstract Copper is one of the most interesting elements for various biomedical applications. Copper compounds show vast array of biological actions, including anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, bio-cidal and other. It also offers a selection of radioiso-topes, suitable for nuclear imaging and radiotherapy. Quick progress in nanotechnology opened new possi-bilities for design of copper based drugs and medical materials. To date, copper has not found many uses in medicine, but number of ongoing research, as well as preclinical and clinical studies, will most likely lead to many novel applications of copper in the near future