Summary: A research group led by Prof. WANG Hui from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science has developed a metal-free nanozyme based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for tumor chemodynamic therapy (CDT). By addressing the toxicity concerns associated with metal-based nanozymes, this innovative approach offers a promising and safe solution for cancer treatment.
Scientists have long been exploring the use of nanozymes based on metals as potential therapeutic agents for cancer treatment. However, a major obstacle in their application has been the risk of off-target side effects due to metal toxicity. In a recent study, a research team led by Prof. WANG Hui from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science has overcome this challenge by introducing a metal-free nanozyme based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for highly efficient tumor chemodynamic therapy (CDT).
The use of GQDs provides a cost-effective solution to address the toxicity concerns associated with metal-based nanozymes in tumor CDT. However, their clinical application has faced limitations due to their limited catalytic activity, particularly under demanding catalytic conditions.
To enhance the catalytic performance of GQD-based nanocatalytic adjuvants, the researchers employed a diatomic doping strategy, introducing both nitrogen and phosphorus into GQDs. This strategy generated highly localized states near the Fermi level, resulting in more efficient enzymatic activity compared to single heteroatom doping.
The GQDs derived from erythrocyte membranes exhibited impressive peroxidase-mimicking activity, making them highly effective at inducing apoptosis and ferroptosis of cancer cells in vitro. Furthermore, these GQDs demonstrated selective tumor targeting, achieving significant tumor inhibition rates of 77.71% for intravenous injection and 93.22% for intratumoral injection without causing off-target side effects.
This new metal-free nanozyme, developed through diatomic doping strategy, holds great potential as a safe and potent biocatalyst for cancer treatment. Its target-specific and biologically benign nature makes it a promising candidate for further research and development in the field of cancer therapy.
Journal Reference:
Hongji Liu, Zhiming Deng et al. Graphene quantum dots as metal-free nanozymes for chemodynamic therapy of cancer. Matter. DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2023.12.005
The source of the article is from the blog mivalle.net.ar