Copper Nanozymes Starve Tumors and Trigger Cell Death

Lung cancer treatment faces two big hurdles: upsetting the tumor's environment and making sure it stays that way. Scientists tackled this by creating a special nanozyme called Cu2O@Au. It's like a tiny catalyst, breaking down glucose at the tumor site. This starves the tumor of energy and creates hydrogen peroxide, which then leads to a flood of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The nanozyme also targets and reduces antioxidants, like glutathione, and proteins that tumor cells use to take up nutrients. This further increases ROS levels, causing lipid peroxidation and ultimately leading to cell death, known as ferroptosis. Cool thing is, Cu2O@Au also has excellent photothermal properties, which can boost this effect even more. Plus, it can be seen with CT scans and photothermal imaging. By disrupting the tumor's energy balance and hitting it from multiple angles, these nanozymes show promise for effective cancer treatment.