Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Author Spotlight: Innovative Cancer Therapies with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Glioblastoma Treatment
Published on: September 27, 2024
Recent Advances in Glucose-Oxidase-Based Nanocomposites for Tumor Therapy
Man Wang1, Dongmei Wang1, Qing Chen1
1Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Glucose oxidase (GOx) can react with intracellular glucose and oxygen (O2 ) to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) and gluconic acid, which can cut off the nutrition source of cancer cells and consequently inhibit their proliferation. Therefore, GOx is recognised as an ideal endogenous oxido-reductase for cancer starvation therapy. This process can further regulate the tumor microenvironment by increasing the hypoxia and the acidity. Thus, GOx offers new possibilities for the elaborate design of multifunctional nanocomposites for tumor therapy. However, natural GOx is expensive to prepare and purify and exhibits immunogenicity, short in vivo half-life, and systemic toxicity. Furthermore, GOx is highly prone to degrade after exposure to biological conditions. These intrinsic shortcomings will undoubtedly limit its biomedical applications. Accordingly, some nanocarriers can be used to protect GOx from the surrounding environment, thus controlling or preserving the activity. A variety of nanocarriers including hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles, metal-organic frameworks, organic polymers, and magnetic nanoparticles are summarized for the construction of GOx-based nanocomposites for multimodal synergistic cancer therapy. In addition, current challenges and promising developments in this area are highlighted.
Insights
Glucose oxidase (GOx) offers potential for cancer starvation therapy by depleting glucose and oxygen. Nanocarrier encapsulation improves GOx stability and efficacy, overcoming limitations for enhanced tumor treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Cancer Therapy
Background:
- Glucose oxidase (GOx) acts as an endogenous oxido-reductase for cancer starvation therapy.
- GOx depletes glucose and oxygen, producing hydrogen peroxide and gluconic acid, inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.
- GOx also modulates the tumor microenvironment by increasing hypoxia and acidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of glucose oxidase (GOx) in cancer starvation therapy.
- To review nanocarrier strategies for improving GOx stability and therapeutic efficacy.
- To highlight challenges and future directions for GOx-based nanocomposites in cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on glucose oxidase (GOx) applications in cancer therapy.
- Summary of various nanocarrier systems used to encapsulate and protect GOx.
- Analysis of GOx-based nanocomposites for multimodal synergistic cancer therapy.
Main Results:
- Natural GOx has limitations including high cost, immunogenicity, short half-life, and toxicity.
- Nanocarriers like hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles, MOFs, organic polymers, and magnetic nanoparticles protect GOx.
- These nanocarriers preserve GOx activity and enable controlled release for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
Conclusions:
- GOx is a promising agent for cancer starvation therapy, but its natural limitations hinder clinical application.
- Nanocarrier-based GOx systems offer a viable strategy to overcome these limitations.
- Further development of GOx nanocomposites holds significant promise for advanced multimodal synergistic cancer therapy.
