Folic-acid-functionalized Fe3O4@C@Pt nanozyme for synergistic catalytic-photothermal tumor therapy

Abstract

Nanozymes are enzyme-like nanomaterials that have attracted considerable interest because of their high stability, ease of preparation, and tunable catalytic performance, particularly in cancer treatment. However, ineffective accumulation of nanozymes at tumor sites results in low catalytic therapeutic efficiency and even affects synergistic therapy. In this study, we developed a novel core–shell nanozyme composed of a Fe₃O₄ core, a carbon shell, and Pt nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@C@Pt). This nanozyme exhibited excellent near-infrared photothermal properties and reactive oxygen species generation. Furthermore, it exhibited a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 42.92%, enabling photothermal therapy of tumors. Nanozymes targeting folic acid (FA) can achieve high enrichment in tumor cells and synergistically catalyze photothermal therapy (PTT) by combining the inherent photothermal properties and peroxidase (POD) catalytic activity of nanozymes. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that FA-modified Fe₃O₄@C@Pt can synergistically catalyze PTT to efficiently inhibit tumors.