Tumor-selective catalytic nanomedicine by nanocatalyst delivery

Tumor cells metabolize in distinct pathways compared with most normal tissue cells. The resulting tumor microenvironment would provide characteristic physiochemical conditions for selective tumor modalities. Here we introduce a concept of sequential catalytic nanomedicine for efficient tumor therapy by designing and delivering biocompatible nanocatalysts into tumor sites. Natural glucose oxidase (GOD, enzyme catalyst) and ultrasmall Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (inorganic nanozyme, Fenton reaction catalyst) have been integrated into the large pore-sized and biodegradable dendritic silica nanoparticles to fabricate the sequential nanocatalyst. GOD in sequential nanocatalyst could effectively deplete glucose in tumor cells, and meanwhile produce a considerable amount of H₂O₂ for subsequent Fenton-like reaction catalyzed by Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in response to mild acidic tumor microenvironment. Highly toxic hydroxyl radicals are generated through these sequential catalytic reactions to trigger the apoptosis and death of tumor cells. The current work manifests a proof of concept of catalytic nanomedicine by approaching selectivity and efficiency concurrently for tumor therapeutics.The specific metabolism of cancer cells may allow for selective tumor therapeutics. Here, the authors show that a suitable combination of an enzyme and iron nanoparticles loaded on dendritic silica induces apoptosis of cancer cells in response to the glucose-reliant and mild acidic microenvironment.