Fe-coordinated carbon dots with single atom nanozyme catalytic activity for synergistic catalytic/chemo-therapy in breast cancer

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2024-12, Vol.283 (Pt 4), p.137776, Article 137776
• Main Authors: Lu, Mengke, Ding, Jianxia, Zhang, Yupeng, Gu, Xuan, Liu, Jiaying, Wang, Qinxin, Qiu, Xiaonan, Yu, Huijun, Du, Fengyi, Zhang, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Carbon - chemistry; Carbon dots; Catalysis; Cell Line, Tumor; Female; Humans; Iron - chemistry; Metal-phenolic coordination; Mice; Paclitaxel; Paclitaxel - chemistry; Paclitaxel - pharmacology; Quantum Dots - chemistry; Rutin; Rutin - chemistry; Rutin - pharmacology; Single-atom nanozymes; ZIF-8
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.137776

Single atom nanozyme (SAzyme) based on carbon dots (CDs) has showed great potential in oncotherapy via ultrasmall size-reinforced atomically dispersed catalytic sites. However, its curative effect is still unsatisfactory due to complex tumor microenvironment and intrinsic resistance. Herein, a coordinated carbon dots (CCDs)-integrated ZIF-8 nanoassembly (Ru/CCDs-PTX@ZIF) was constructed by loading paclitaxel and coating with rutin for synergistic catalytic/chemotherapy. Benefiting from inherited metal-polyphenol coordination, the CCDs exhibited superior peroxidase-like (POD) activity and served as a SAzyme to produce large amounts of hydroxyl radical, resulting in radical-dependent cell cycle arrest. With the assistance of GLUT receptor-mediated endocytosis, the Ru/CCDs-PTX@ZIF triggered the tumor-targeted killing and migration inhibition to suppress tumor progression. This study highlights a promising avenue to broaden the design and applications of CDs-based SAzyme in tumor treatment.