Catalytic Nanomedicine for Cancer Therapy

Catalytic nanomedicine harnesses the power of nanomaterials endowed with enzyme-like activities or loaded with natural enzymes to trigger site-specific chemical reactions within tumours. These systems often combine glucose oxidase (GOx) or other biocatalysts with inorganic nanozymes or metal–organic frameworks to initiate cascade reactions that deplete essential nutrients, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and overcome intrinsic barriers such as hypoxia. By exploiting the acidic and reductive tumour microenvironment, catalytic nanomedicines selectively convert endogenous substrates into cytotoxic species—such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and hydroxyl radicals—while sparing healthy tissue. Beyond direct tumour cell killing through starvation and oxidative stress, advanced platforms integrate imaging reporters for real-time monitoring, and co-deliver immunomodulatory agents to recruit antitumour immunity. Recent innovations have addressed stability, targeting and on-demand activation, paving the way for translation into multifunctional nanotheranostics that combine therapy, diagnostics and immunotherapy in a single construct.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Early proof-of-concept work demonstrated that dendritic silica nanoparticles co-encapsulating GOx and iron oxide nanozymes can sequentially deplete glucose and catalyse Fenton-type reactions to produce hydroxyl radicals selectively within tumours. Building on this foundation, three-dimensional multispectral photoacoustic imaging has been applied to visualise in real time the dynamic cascade between a palladium-based nanozyme and GOx, enabling feedback-guided therapy and confirmation of ROS generation in vivo. In parallel, metal–organic framework nanoreactors co-delivering GOx and an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase inhibitor have been engineered to respond to tumour-associated reactive oxygen species by disassembling and releasing both cargoes. This approach not only intensifies tumour starvation and ROS-mediated oxidation but also strengthens antitumour immunity by reversing metabolic immunosuppression and promoting effector T-cell infiltration.

Catalytic Nanomedicine for Cancer Therapy publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in catalytic nanomedicine for cancer therapy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Catalytic nanomedicine: The use of nanomaterials that mimic or carry enzymes to catalyse therapeutic reactions selectively within disease sites.

Nanozyme: An inorganic nanoparticle exhibiting enzyme-like activity, such as peroxidase or oxidase mimicry.

Cascade catalysis: Sequential chemical reactions in which products of one catalytic step serve as substrates for the next, amplifying therapeutic effects.

Fenton reaction: A chemical process in which iron ions catalyse the conversion of hydrogen peroxide into highly reactive hydroxyl radicals.

Tumour microenvironment: The local cellular, molecular and biochemical milieu surrounding a tumour, often characterised by acidity, hypoxia and elevated ROS.

Metal–organic framework (MOF): A porous coordination polymer used as a tunable nanocarrier for enzymes, drugs or immunomodulators that can respond to specific stimuli.

References

1. Tumor-selective catalytic nanomedicine by nanocatalyst delivery. Nature Communications (2017).
2. In vivo three-dimensional multispectral photoacoustic imaging of dual enzyme-driven cyclic cascade reaction for tumor catalytic therapy. Nature Communications (2022).
3. Multifunctional metal-organic framework-based nanoreactor for starvation/oxidation improved indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-blockade tumor immunotherapy. Nature Communications (2022).
4. Automatic metabolism modulator for glycolytic intervention‐induced cascade cancer therapy. BMEMat (2024).
5. Hyperbaric Oxygen Activates Enzyme‐Driven Cascade Reactions for Cooperative Cancer Therapy and Cancer Stem Cells Elimination. Advanced Science (2023).
6. Engineering a triple-functional magnetic gel driving mutually-synergistic mild hyperthermia-starvation therapy for osteosarcoma treatment and augmented bone regeneration. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2023).