MoS2-ALG-Fe/GOx hydrogel with Fenton catalytic activity for combined cancer photothermal, starvation, and chemodynamic therapy

Starvation therapy (ST) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) are emerging tumor therapy methods in recent years. In this study, a simple approach was reported to prepare MoS2 and glucose oxidase (GOx)-containing sodium alginate (ALG)-Fe3+ (MAF) hydrogel. In the hydrogel, there exists an enzymatic reaction to consume glucose to form hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and a redox reaction between Fe3+ and MoS2 to form Fe2+ and MoO42-. The formed Fe2+ could be oxidized to Fe3+, which reacts with MAF hydrogel again to continuously produce Fe2+. The consumption of glucose resulted in an obvious tumor ST. Moreover, the produced Fe2+ induced a Fenton reaction to enable the persistent conversion of H2O2 to cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals (·OH) for the CDT of tumors. Together with the high photothermal transforming capability of MoS2, the hydrogel was used for the combined tumor photothermal therapy (PTT), ST, and CDT. This work provides a window for the safe use of enzymes for achieving high tumor therapeutic efficacy.