The role of astaxanthin Cu2+ in stabilizing glycated human serum albumin for type 2 diabetes mellitus management: a computational approach

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) leads to the non enzymatic glycation of proteins, resulting in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which contribute to diabetic complications. Human serum albumin (HSA), a major plasma protein, undergoes structural alterations upon glycation (gHSA), reducing its stability and biological functions. Astaxanthin (ASX), a potent antioxidant, is limited by its instability and moderate binding affinity. In this study, we explore the use of copper (Cu²⁺) to form a stable ASX Cu²⁺ complex, enhancing the antioxidant properties of ASX and improving its interaction with HSA and gHSA. Utilizing computational approaches such as molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and free energy landscape (FEL) mapping, we analyze the stability and conformational changes of HSA and gHSA upon binding with ASX and ASX Cu²⁺. The residue interaction network (RIN) analysis reveals that ASX Cu²⁺ complexes create a more robust and interconnected network of non covalent interactions, particularly enhancing hydrogen bonding, Ï stacking, and ionic interactions. The ASX Cu²⁺ complex at a 1:2 molar ratio significantly improved the binding affinity and structural stability of both native and glycated HSA, reducing protein fluctuations and promoting a more compact conformation. These findings suggest that ASX Cu²⁺ complexes offer therapeutic potential for stabilizing albumin under glycation induced stress, with implications for managing oxidative stress and diabetes related complications. Copyright © 2026 THE AUTHOR(S). This article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 International license.