CeO2 QDs anchored on MnO2 nanoflowers with multiple synergistic effects for amplified tumour therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an emerging tumour-specific therapeutic technology. However, the relatively insufficient catalytic activity of CDT agents in the tumour microenvironment (TME) limits their biomedical application. In addition, severe hypoxia and glutathione (GSH) overexpression in the TME greatly limit the antitumour efficiency of monotherapy. Herein, a cancer cell membrane-camouflaged and ultrasmall CeO2-decorated MnO2 (mMC) composite is developed for amplified CDT, photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photo thermal therapy (PTT). Due to the homotypic targeting ability of cancer cell membranes, mMC nanoparticles preferentially accumulate in tumour tissue. In the TME, CeO2 acts as a highly efficient CDT agent to convert endogenous H2O2 to toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for killing cancer cells. Meanwhile, MnO2 irradiated with near-infrared (NIR) light displays prominent hyperthermia and ROS generation performance to perform PTT and PDT. Moreover, MnO2 can produce oxygen to ameliorate hypoxia and deplete GSH to relieve the antioxidant capability of tumours, which is beneficial to the simultaneous augmentation of PDT and CDT. Most importantly, the catalytic activity of CeO2 was greatly improved by hyperthermia. Consequently, a significantly enhanced therapeutic efficiency was obtained by the above multiple synergistic effects. This work provides a proof of concept for amplified tumour therapy by synchronously self-supplying oxygen, consuming GSH, and enhancing catalytic activity.

Automated summary

mMC composite enhances the therapeutic effects of CDT, PDT, and PTT simultaneously. CeO2 and MnO2 play different roles in enhancing CDT and PDT/PTT effects, while MnO2 can also alleviate hypoxia and deplete GSH.