Nanoscale dual-enzyme cascade metal–organic frameworks through biomimetic mineralization as ROS generators for synergistic cancer therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has been critically challenged by insufficient H₂O₂ in cancer tissues and inefficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Herein, we have reported the facile synthesis of an efficient ROS generator (GOx@Pd@ZIF-8) that exerts synergistic anticancer activity by blocking glucose metabolism and producing ROS. Glucose oxidase (GOx) and palladium (Pd) cube nanozymes were incorporated in zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) by biomimetic mineralization. Systematic characterization indicated the successful entrapment and embedding of GOx and Pd during ZIF-8 crystal growth. The GOx@Pd@ZIF-8 composite showed favorable catalytic glucose activity and stable ROS production. In vitro experiments showed that the GOx@Pd@ZIF-8 composite effectively inhibited cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration and promoted apoptosis through the ROS-mediated signaling pathway, which was further confirmed by bioinformatics analyses of RNA-seq data obtained from in vitro experiments. Furthermore, the GOx@Pd@ZIF-8 composite inhibited tumor growth with few to no side effects on other tissues in vivo. This work provides a novel antitumor strategy involving the construction of a stable and highly active ROS generator that shows promise for the treatment of solid cancers.