Metal-organic frameworks-based nanozymes for combined cancer therapy

Abstract

• This review summarized the recent progress in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-based nanozymes for cancer combination therapy. • The fundamental catalysis mechanisms and general synthetic strategies for MOFs-based nanozymes were discussed. • The progress was described with four new categories based on the characteristic factors in tumor microenvironment. • The current challenges and perspectives of these smart nanoplatforms on the future research directions were proposed. Nanomaterials with enzyme-like catalytic activity, named as nanozymes, have aroused wide research interest owing to their striking merits bridging nanotechnology and biology. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a novel class of porous inorganic-organic hybrid materials made from metal ions/clusters and organic ligands, and have shown great prospect in the construction of novel nanozymes, making the as-emerged MOFs-based nanozymes promising candidates for biosensing, biocatalysis, biomedical imaging, and therapeutic applications. In this feature article, we tend to systematically summarize the recent process concerning MOFs-based nanozymes for combined cancer therapy, which emerged as a new trend in clinical oncology in view of the synergistic therapeutic efficacy and reduced side effects originating from different treatments. Firstly, classic kinds of MOFs-based nanozymes are briefly described with representatives for catalysis mechanism analysis. Secondly, general strategies for construction of MOFs-based nanozymes are discussed. Thirdly, recent advances in the application of MOFs-based nanozymes for dual or triple combination of therapeutic modalities have been reviewed in detail with a particular emphasis focusing upon underlying synergistic mechanisms involved in each combination formulation. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives of MOFs-based nanozymes with a view to maximizing their great potential in the research of translational medicine are also discussed. It is highly expected that our demonstration on this evolving area will play a more important role in the field of the personalized nanomedicine in combating cancer.