Issue 8, 2024

Oxygen self-supplying small size magnetic nanoenzymes for synergistic photodynamic and catalytic therapy of breast cancer

Abstract

In recent years, tumor catalytic therapy based on nanozymes has attracted widespread attention. However, its application is limited by the tumor hypoxic microenvironment (TME). In this study, we developed oxygen-supplying magnetic bead nanozymes that integrate hemoglobin and encapsulate the photosensitizer curcumin, demonstrating reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced synergistic breast cancer therapy. Fe3O4 magnetic bead-mediated catalytic dynamic therapy (CDT) generates hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) through the Fenton reaction in the tumor microenvironment. The Hb-encapsulated Fe3O4 magnetic beads can be co-loaded with the photosensitizer/chemotherapeutic agent curcumin (cur), resulting in Fe3O4-Hb@cur. Under hypoxic conditions, oxygen molecules are released from Fe3O4-Hb@cur to overcome the TME hypoxia, resulting in comprehensive effects favoring anti-tumor responses. Upon near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, Fe3O4-Hb@cur activates the surrounding molecular oxygen to generate a certain amount of singlet oxygen (1O2), which is utilized for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in cancer treatment. Meanwhile, we validated that the O2 carried by Hb significantly enhances the intracellular ROS level, intensifying the catalytic therapy mediated by Fe3O4 magnetic beads and inflicting lethal damage to cancer cells, effectively inhibiting tumor growth. Therefore, significant in vivo synergistic therapeutic effects can be achieved through catalytic–photodynamic combination therapy.

Graphical abstract: Oxygen self-supplying small size magnetic nanoenzymes for synergistic photodynamic and catalytic therapy of breast cancer

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
20 10 2023
Accepted
15 1 2024
First published
18 1 2024

Nanoscale, 2024,16, 4095-4104

Oxygen self-supplying small size magnetic nanoenzymes for synergistic photodynamic and catalytic therapy of breast cancer

X. Cai, T. Xu, R. Ding, D. Zhang, G. Chen, W. Zhao, J. Hou, H. Pan, Q. Zhang and T. Yin, Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 4095 DOI: 10.1039/D3NR05289C

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