Transition-metal nanocatalysis represents a novel alternative
currently
experiencing flourishing progress to tackle the tumor microenvironment
(TME) in cancer therapy. These nanomaterials aim at attacking tumor
cells using the intrinsic selectivity of inorganic catalysts. In addition,
special attention to tune and control the release of these transition
metals is also required. Understanding the chemical reactions behind
the catalytic action of the transition-metal nanocatalysts and preventing
potential undesired side reactions caused by acute cytotoxicity of
the released ionic species represent another important field of research.
Specifically, copper-based oxides may suffer from acute leaching that
potentially may induce toxicity not only to target cancer cells but
also to nearby cells and tissues. In this work, we propose the synthesis
of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) nanostructures capable of triggering
two key reactions for an effective chemodynamic therapy (CDT) in the
heterogeneous phase: (i) glutathione (GSH) oxidation and (ii) oxidation
of organic substrates using H2O2, with negligible
leaching of metals under TME-like conditions. This represents an appealing
alternative toward the development of safer copper–iron-based
nanocatalytic materials with an active catalytic response without
incurring leaching side phenomena.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.