Biodegradation-Mediated Enzymatic Activity-Tunable Molybdenum Oxide Nanourchins for Tumor-Specific Cascade Catalytic Therapy

J Am Chem Soc. 2020 Jan 22;142(3):1636-1644. doi: 10.1021/jacs.9b13586. Epub 2020 Jan 8.

Abstract

Recent advances in nanomedicine have facilitated the development of potent nanomaterials with intrinsic enzyme-like activities (nanozymes) for cancer therapy. However, it remains a great challenge to fabricate smart nanozymes that precisely perform enzymatic activity in tumor microenvironment without inducing off-target toxicity to surrounding normal tissues. Herein, we report on designed fabrication of biodegradation-medicated enzymatic activity-tunable molybdenum oxide nanourchins (MoO3-x NUs), which selectively perform therapeutic activity in tumor microenvironment via cascade catalytic reactions, while keeping normal tissues unharmed due to their responsive biodegradation in physiological environment. Specifically, the MoO3-x NUs first induce catalase (CAT)-like reactivity to decompose hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in tumor microenvironment, producing a considerable amount of O2 for subsequent oxidase (OXD)-like reactivity of MoO3-x NUs; a substantial cytotoxic superoxide radical (·O2-) is thus generated for tumor cell apoptosis. Interestingly, once exposed to neutral blood or normal tissues, MoO3-x NUs rapidly lose the enzymatic activity via pH-responsive biodegradation and are excreted in urine, thus ultimately ensuring safety. The current study demonstrates a proof of concept of biodegradation-medicated in vivo catalytic activity-tunable nanozymes for tumor-specific cascade catalytic therapy with minimal off-target toxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Catalase / metabolism*
  • Catalysis
  • Humans
  • Molybdenum / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Oxides / chemistry*
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Proof of Concept Study
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Oxides
  • Molybdenum
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Catalase