Tumor microenvironment self-regulation: Bimetallic metal nanozyme-derived multifunctional nanodrug for optimizable cascade catalytic reaction-synergetic anti-tumor theranostics

The tumor microenvironment (TME) responsive multimodal theranostic nanoplatforms have attracted great attentions for precision medicine. To design well-defined cascade catalytic therapy and achieve the synergistic effect of different components in a nanoplatform, herein a spindle-shaped nanodrug termed as FeCu-GOx PNzyme-MTO was constructed by in-situ growth of bimetallic metal nanozyme (FeCu PNzyme), and simultaneous encapsulation of glucose oxidase (GOx) as well as fluorescent and chemotherapeutic mitoxanthrone (MTO). Interestingly, the obtained FeCu-GOx PNzyme is able to efficiently upregulate endogenous H(2)O2 level and down-regulate acidity via inducing the catalytic decomposition of intratumoral glucose to gluconic acid and H2O2 in TME, which is benefit to the cascade catalytic reactions for chemodynamic therapy (CDT). After efficient loading of MTO, such intelligent nanozyme triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in situ with tumor stimuli, self-augment ROS level upon intrinsic photothermal-conversion efficiency (53.05%) and glutathione (GSH) depletion, and specifically TME-responsive release of MTO to achieve high chemotherapeutic efficacy and biosafety. Both in vitro cellular assays and in vivo tumor-xenograft experiments proved that the tumor-specific cytotoxicity, biodegradability and potent antitumor efficiency of nanodrug, with co-contributions from highly cytotoxic ROS generated and precise drug delivery within tumors. This work thus presents the friendly construction of biocompatible FeCu-GOx PNzyme-MTO as effective nanodrug to provided a promising strategy for a new perspective on effective tumor therapy.

Automated summary

The construction of a well-defined nanodrug with tumor microenvironment-responsive properties has been achieved in this study. The nanodrug demonstrated tumor-specific cytotoxicity and potent antitumor efficacy, highlighting its importance in effective tumor therapy.