Chemoreactive Nanotherapeutics by Metal Peroxide Based Nanomedicine

Abstract

The advances of nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine enable the triggering of in situ chemical reactions in disease microenvironment for achieving disease-specific nanotherapeutics with both intriguing therapeutic efficacy and mitigated side effects. Metal peroxide based nanoparticles, as one of the important but generally ignored categories of metal-involved nanosystems, can function as the solid precursors to produce oxygen (O 2 ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) through simple chemical reactions, both of which are the important chemical species for enhancing the therapeutic outcome of versatile modalities, accompanied with the unique bioactivity of metal ion based components. This progress report summarizes and discusses the most representative paradigms of metal peroxides in chemoreactive nanomedicine, including copper peroxide (CuO 2 ), calcium peroxide (CaO 2 ), magnesium peroxide (MgO 2 ), zinc peroxide (ZnO 2 ), barium peroxide (BaO 2 ), and titanium peroxide (TiO x ) nanosystems. Their reactions and corresponding products have been broadly explored in versatile disease treatments, including catalytic nanotherapeutics, photodynamic therapy, radiation therapy, antibacterial infection, tissue regeneration, and some synergistically therapeutic applications. This progress report particularly focuses on the underlying reaction mechanisms on enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of these modalities, accompanied with the discussion on their biological effects and biosafety. The existing gap between fundamental research and clinical translation of these metal peroxide based nanotherapeutic technologies is finally discussed in depth.

Silver Peroxide Nanoparticles for Combined Antibacterial Sonodynamic and Photothermal Therapy

“…As one of the important but commonly ignored categories of inorganic nanomaterials, metal peroxide nanoparticles are considered as an emerging nanosystem with intrinsic physicochemical characteristics and unique biological outcomes that satisfy diverse requirements of biomedical applications. [ 11 ] Composed by metal ions and peroxo groups, these nanomaterials can act as solid‐state precursors for hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and O 2 generation. Subsequently, H 2 O 2 is catalyzed by transition‐metals to yield detrimental hydroxyl radicals (•OH) through the Fenton‐like reaction.…”

A Tumor‐Microenvironment‐Responsive Nanocomposite for Hydrogen Sulfide Gas and Trimodal‐Enhanced Enzyme Dynamic Therapy

“…[11,12] However, hypoxia in the TME greatly limits its therapeutic efficiency because of O 2 consumption in the catalytic process. Notably, metal peroxides, [13] such as calcium peroxide nanoparticles (CaO 2 NPs) [14] and copper peroxide nanoparticles, [15] have been reported as alternative H 2 O 2 sources because they provide H 2 O 2 in acidic conditions.…”

Tumor microenvironment-responsive fenton nanocatalysts for intensified anticancer treatment

“…Metal peroxides can produce H 2 O 2 through a disproportionation reaction with water and can generate a strong oxidation effect through decomposition products (such as H 2 O 2 ) under acidic conditions [ 105 , 106 ]. Meanwhile, they can slowly release O 2 in water or under heating conditions.…”