The Application of Biomedicine in Chemodynamic Therapy: From Material Design to Improved Strategies

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has garnered significant interest as an innovative approach for cancer treatment, owing to its notable tumor specificity and selectivity, minimal systemic toxicity and side effects, and absence of the requirement for field stimulation during treatment. This treatment utilizes nanocatalytic medicines containing transitional metals to release metal ions within tumor cells, subsequently initiating Fenton and Fenton-like reactions. These reactions convert hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into hydroxyl radical (center dot OH) specifically within the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. However, insufficient endogenous H2O2, the overexpressed reducing substances in the TME, and the weak acidity of solid tumors limit the performance of CDT and restrict its application in vivo. Therefore, a variety of nanozymes and strategies have been designed and developed in order to potentiate CDT against tumors, including the application of various nanozymes and different strategies to remodel TME for enhanced CDT (e.g., increasing the H2O2 level in situ, depleting reductive substances, and lowering the pH value). This review presents an overview of the design and development of various nanocatalysts and the corresponding strategies employed to enhance catalytic drug targeting in recent years. Additionally, it delves into the prospects and obstacles that lie ahead for the future advancement of CDT.

Automated summary

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an innovative cancer treatment approach that utilizes nanocatalytic medicines to release metal ions within tumor cells, inducing apoptosis specifically within the tumor microenvironment. However, the limited endogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), overexpressed reducing substances, and weak acidity of solid tumors hinder the effectiveness of CDT in vivo. Various nanozymes and remodeling strategies have been developed to enhance CDT, such as increasing H2O2 levels, depleting reductive substances, and lowering the pH value of the tumor microenvironment. This review provides an overview of the design and development of nanocatalysts and strategies for enhancing catalytic drug targeting, as well as discusses the future prospects and challenges of CDT.