Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2025
Synthesis, Functionalization, and Characterization of Fusogenic Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for Oligonucleotide Delivery
Published on: April 16, 2019
Dual enzyme-like Co-FeSe2 nanoflowers with GSH degradation capability for NIR II-enhanced catalytic tumor therapy
Jingge Zhang1, Enna Ha1, Danyang Li1
1College of Health Science and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518118, P. R. China. haenna@sztu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
Nanozymes mediated catalytic therapy can produce toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and destroy the metabolic balance of tumor cells, providing a new direction for cancer treatment. However, the catalytic efficiency of a single nanozyme is limited by the complexity of the tumor microenvironment (hypoxia, GSH overexpression, etc.). In order to overcome these problems, we designed flower-like Co-doped FeSe2 (Co-FeSe2) nanozymes by a simple wet chemistry method. Co-FeSe2 nanozymes not only exhibit high POD and OXD-mimicking activities for facile kinetics, but also effectively consume over-expressed glutathione (GSH), inhibiting the consumption of generated ROS and destroying the metabolic balance of the tumor microenvironment. These catalytic reactions trigger cell death through apoptosis and ferroptosis dual pathways. More importantly, under the NIR II laser irradiation, the catalytic activities of Co-FeSe2 nanozymes are boosted, confirming the photothermal and catalytic synergistic tumor therapy. This study takes advantage of self-cascading engineering that offers new ideas for designing efficient redox nanozymes and promoting their clinical translation.
Insights
Flower-like cobalt-doped iron diselenide nanozymes combat tumors by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and triggering apoptosis and ferroptosis. NIR II laser irradiation enhances this synergistic cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nanozymes offer a promising avenue for cancer treatment through catalytic generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
- Tumor microenvironment complexities like hypoxia and glutathione (GSH) overexpression limit single nanozyme efficacy.
- Developing advanced nanozymes is crucial for overcoming these therapeutic challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize novel flower-like cobalt-doped iron diselenide (Co-FeSe2) nanozymes.
- To investigate the enhanced catalytic activities and tumor-killing mechanisms of Co-FeSe2 nanozymes.
- To explore the synergistic effects of photothermal therapy and nanozyme catalysis for cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Simple wet chemistry method for synthesizing flower-like Co-FeSe2 nanozymes.
- Evaluation of peroxidase (POD) and oxidase (OXD)-mimicking activities.
- Assessment of glutathione (GSH) consumption and ROS generation.
- In vitro studies on apoptosis and ferroptosis induction.
- In vivo evaluation of synergistic photothermal and catalytic therapy under NIR II laser irradiation.
Main Results:
- Co-FeSe2 nanozymes demonstrated high POD and OXD-mimicking activities.
- Nanozymes effectively consumed GSH, preserving ROS and disrupting tumor cell metabolism.
- Co-FeSe2 induced cancer cell death via dual apoptosis and ferroptosis pathways.
- NIR II laser irradiation significantly boosted nanozyme catalytic activity, enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
- Co-FeSe2 nanozymes exhibited synergistic photothermal and catalytic effects for effective tumor suppression.
Conclusions:
- Self-cascading engineering of Co-FeSe2 nanozymes provides an efficient strategy for redox nanozyme design.
- Co-FeSe2 nanozymes show significant potential for synergistic cancer therapy, combining catalysis and photothermal effects.
- This approach offers new insights for advancing nanozyme-based cancer treatments and clinical translation.
