Stimuli-Responsive Double Single-Atom Catalysts for Parallel Catalytic Therapy

Tumor microenvironment (TME)-induced nanocatalytic therapy is a trending strategy for tumor-targeting therapy, but the low catalytic efficiency remains to limit its therapeutic effect. The single-atom catalysts (SACs) appear as a novel type of nanozymes that possesses incredible catalytic activity. Here, we developed PEGylated manganese/iron-based SACs (Mn/Fe PSACs) by coordinating single-atom Mn/Fe to nitrogen atoms in hollow zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs). Mn/Fe PSACs catalyze cellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) converting to hydroxyl radical (center dot OH) through a Fenton-like reaction; it also enhances the decomposition of H2O2 to O-2 that continuously converts to cytotoxic superoxide ion (center dot O-2(-)) via oxidase-like activity. Mn/Fe PSACs can reduce the depletion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by consuming glutathione (GSH). Here, we demonstrated the Mn/Fe PSACs-mediated synergistic antitumor efficacy among in vitro and in vivo experiments. This study proposes new promising single-atom nanozymes with highly efficient biocatalytic sites and synergistic therapeutic effects, which will give birth to abundant inspirations in ROS-related biological applications in broad biomedical fields.

Automated summary

This study developed PEGylated manganese/iron-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) that possess incredible catalytic activity. These SACs catalyze the conversion of cellular hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radical through a Fenton-like reaction and enhance the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to cytotoxic superoxide ion via oxidase-like activity. The synergistic antitumor efficacy of these SACs has been demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo experiments. This study proposes new promising single-atom nanozymes with highly efficient biocatalytic sites and synergistic therapeutic effects for ROS-related biological applications in broad biomedical fields.