Heterostructures with Built-in Electric Fields for Long-lasting Chemodynamic Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Sustained hydroxyl radical (⋅OH) generation is crucial for effective tumor treatment but remains a significant challenge.
• Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) offers a promising approach for cancer treatment by utilizing reactive oxygen species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a strategy for sustainable generation of ⋅OH for long-lasting chemodynamic therapy (LCDT).
• To design and synthesize a novel Janus-like Fe@Fe3O4-Cu2O heterogeneous catalyst for enhanced ⋅OH production.

Main Methods:

• A built-in electric field (BIEF)-driven strategy was employed to facilitate continuous Fenton-like reactions.
• Synthesis of a Janus-like Fe@Fe3O4-Cu2O heterogeneous catalyst.
• Evaluation of ⋅OH release duration and antitumor efficacy in vitro and in vivo.

Main Results:

• The novel catalyst achieved sustained ⋅OH release for over 18 hours, significantly outperforming existing catalysts.
• Sustained ⋅OH levels led to persistent extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signal activation in tumor cells.
• Demonstrated irreparable oxidative damage and irreversible tumor apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions:

• The BIEF-driven strategy enables sustainable ⋅OH generation for long-lasting chemodynamic therapy.
• The developed Janus-like Fe@Fe3O4-Cu2O catalyst shows significant potential for effective tumor treatment.
• This approach offers a promising platform for developing long-acting nanomedicines for various applications.