Peroxidase Mimetic Nanozymes in Cancer Phototherapy: Progress and Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Nanomaterials offer promising cancer therapeutics but often rely on oxygen, which is limited in tumors (hypoxia).
• Oxygen-dependent therapies like photodynamic therapy (PDT) and radiotherapy (RT) face challenges due to tumor hypoxia.
• Strategies to combat hypoxia include oxygen carriers and oxygen-generating nanomaterials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current landscape of peroxidase (POD) mimetic nanozymes for cancer therapy.
• To explore the mechanisms of POD mimetic nanozymes in generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxygen (O2).
• To discuss the future perspectives of POD mimetic nanozymes in oxygen-dependent cancer phototherapeutics.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on nanozyme-mediated cancer therapeutics.
• Analysis of POD mimetic nanozymes' role in converting hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in hypoxic tumor microenvironments.
• Examination of strategies for oxygen generation and ROS production by nanozymes.

Main Results:

• POD mimetic nanozymes can convert endogenous H2O2 into ROS and O2, addressing tumor hypoxia.
• Catalase (CAT) mimetic nanozymes are highlighted for O2 generation, while POD mimetic nanozymes produce ROS.
• The review synthesizes past, present, and future applications of POD mimetic nanozymes in phototherapeutics.

Conclusions:

• POD mimetic nanozymes represent a significant advancement in overcoming tumor hypoxia for cancer therapy.
• Their ability to generate oxygen species offers a promising strategy for enhancing oxygen-dependent treatments.
• Further research into POD mimetic nanozymes could lead to more effective clinical applications in cancer phototherapeutics.