Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 22, 2026

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
Self-Amplifying Cascade Enzymatic Nanoplatform Orchestrating Metabolic Reprogramming and Oxidative Stress for
Yusheng Chen1,2, Qiang Liu2, Mengluan Gao1
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China.
Abstract:
Nanocatalytic tumor therapy utilizes nanomaterials to catalyze chemical reactions, producing cytotoxic species that kill tumor cells; however, the metabolic heterogeneity of tumor cells significantly compromises therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we developed a self-amplifying cascade enzymatic nanoplatform (ReS2@GOx) for nanocatalytic tumor therapy by orchestrating metabolic reprogramming and oxidative stress. This nanoplatform integrates rhenium disulfide (ReS2) nanozyme possessing trimodal enzyme-mimetic activities (catalase (CAT)-like, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidase (NOX)-like, and glutathione oxidase (GSHOx)-like activities) with glucose oxidase (GOx), enabling three interlocked therapeutic actions: (1) external energy-independent singlet oxygen (1O2) generation through ReS2-mediated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) conversion involving a superoxide anion (•O2-) intermediate; (2) attenuation of metabolic circuits through NADH oxidation and glutathione depletion; and (3) a cyclic cascade reaction driven by GOx-mediated glucose oxidation and H2O2 production, coupled with CAT-mediated H2O2-to-O2 conversion, sustaining glucose oxidation and NADH consumption. Mechanistic studies reveal a noncanonical 1O2 generation pathway involving electron shuttle-mediated •O2- conversion, establishing a redox loop fueled by endogenous substrates (e.g., glucose, NADH). The coordinated enzymatic triad achieves dual tumor suppression, including blocking adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by inhibiting glycolysis/oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and inducing lipid peroxidation. This work demonstrates a nanocatalytic tumor therapy strategy that orchestrates tumor metabolism to potentiate oxidative lethality, highlighting the therapeutic potential of metabolic regulation for tumor treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...