Citation: Xiaoli Cai, Qihui Zheng, Yu Wu, Xin Cheng, Chengzhou Zhu. H₂O₂ self-supplying cascade catalysis based on single-atom Cu nanozyme for augmented cancer therapy[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(4): 111670. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111670 shu

H₂O₂ self-supplying cascade catalysis based on single-atom Cu nanozyme for augmented cancer therapy

Xiaoli Cai ^{a, *,} ,
Qihui Zheng ^a ,
Yu Wu ^b ,
Xin Cheng ^a ,
Chengzhou Zhu ^{b, c, *,}

a.
Academy of Nutrition and Health, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard, Identification and Control, School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, China
b.
State Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent, Biosensing Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
c.
College of Material Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China

xlcai@wust.edu.cn

czzhu@ccnu.edu.cn

Received Date: 1 February 2025
Revised Date: 20 June 2025
Accepted Date: 1 August 2025
Available Online: 5 August 2025

Figures(7)

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) based on nanozyme has received much attention for safe and effective cancer treatment. However, the catalytic ability of nanozyme and insufficient intracellular H₂O₂ levels severely limit their therapeutic effect. To overcome these limitations, we construct tumor microenvironment-responsive hybrid cascade systems, where single-atom Cu nanozymes (CuNC SANs) with high peroxidase (POD)-like activity were synthesized to immobilize glucose oxidase (GOx). To enhance their biological performance and stability, polyethylene glycol (DSPE-PEG-NH₂) is further modified. After endocytosis into tumor cells, the immobilized GOx of cascade systems reacts with intracellular glucose to produce H₂O₂ in situ. The H₂O₂ with elevated concentration can be further catalyzed by CuNC SANs and increase ROS yield after cascade reaction, thus amplifying the effect of CDT. In addition, the consumption of glucose cuts off the energy supply of the tumor, realizing starvation therapy. Significantly, the photothermal properties of CuNC SANs not only accelerate the cascade reaction but also enable photothermal therapy (PTT) for cancer treatment. This study proposes a promising PTT/CDT/starvation triple therapy strategy for high-efficiency cancer therapy.
- Chemodynamic therapy,
- Single-atom nanozyme,
- Cascade reaction,
- Starvation therapy,
- Photothermal therapy
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H₂O₂ self-supplying cascade catalysis based on single-atom Cu nanozyme for augmented cancer therapy