Emerging Z-Scheme Heterojunction for Catalytic Cancer Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Oncology

Background:

• Semiconductor photocatalysis shows promise for tumor treatment but faces challenges with limited substrate availability and electron-hole recombination.
• Heterojunctions improve catalytic efficiency by suppressing recombination, yet optimizing band positions for redox potential is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fundamental principles and development of Z-type heterojunctions (Z-HJs) in catalytic tumor therapy.
• To explore Z-HJ design strategies targeting tumor microenvironment features and discuss advancements in AI-driven design and theranostics.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on Z-type heterojunctions for catalytic tumor therapy.
• Analysis of Z-HJ mechanisms, design strategies, and integration with AI and multimodal therapies.

Main Results:

• Z-HJs effectively suppress electron-hole recombination, enhancing catalytic efficiency for tumor therapy.
• On-demand Z-HJ designs can target specific pathological features like proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and immune suppression.

Conclusions:

• Z-HJs offer a promising strategy for catalytic tumor therapy by addressing key limitations.
• Future research should focus on AI-driven design, theranostic integration, and multimodal approaches for Z-HJ-based cancer treatments.