Ultrasmall Alloy Nanozyme for Ultrasound- and Near-Infrared Light-Promoted Tumor Ablation

The therapeutic effect of chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is significantly restricted by the stern reaction conditions and slow reaction rate of the Fenton reaction (pH 3-4). Herein, we report an ultrasmall trimetallic (Pd, Cu, and Fe) alloy nanozyme (PCF-a NEs) possessing dynamic active-site synergism, thus exhibiting a cascade glutathione peroxidase and peroxidase (POD) mimicking activities in circumneutral pH. PCF-a NEs exhibit photothermally augmented POD property and high photothermal conversion efficiency (62%) for synergistic tumor cell apoptosis. In addition, ultrasound can also enhance the mass transfer at active catalytic sites of PCF-a NEs, in turn accelerating Fenton-like reaction for tumor-specific CDT. This work provides a strategy for engineering alloy nanozymes in a bioinspired way for the amplification of intratumor reactive oxygen species in response to external stimuli, demonstrating enhanced efficiency for the inhibition of tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.

Automated summary

The study presents an ultrasmall trimetallic alloy nanozyme that exhibits therapeutic effects at neutral pH, with accelerated tumor cell apoptosis through synergistic photothermal and ultrasound effects. This provides a strategy for enhancing the efficiency of chemodynamic therapy targeting tumors.