Ultrasmall Rhodium Nanozyme with RONS Scavenging and Photothermal Activities for Anti-Inflammation and Antitumor Theranostics of Colon Diseases
Zhaohua Miao, Shanshan Jiang, Mengli Ding, Siyuan Sun, Yan Ma, Muhammad Rizwan Younis, Gang He, Jingguo Wang, Jing Lin, Zhong Cao, Peng Huang, Zhengbao Zha
Abstract
Colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC), in which chronic inflammation is a well-recognized carcinogen, requires concurrent anti-inflammation and antitumor treatments in the clinic. Herein, we report polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated (PEGylated) ultrasmall rhodium nanodots (Rh-PEG NDs) can serve as a metallic nanozyme with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) scavenging properties as well as photothermal activities for anti-inflammation and antitumor theranostics in colon diseases. Benefiting from multienzyme activities against RONS, Rh-PEG NDs can decrease the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), resulting in good anti-inflammatory effect on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. By virtue of high photothermal conversion efficiency (48.9%), Rh-PEG NDs demonstrate complete ablation of CT-26 colon tumor without any recurrence. Most importantly, Rh-PEG NDs exhibit good biocompatibility both at the cellular and animal levels. Our findings provide a paradigm to utilize metallic nanozymes for the potential management of colon diseases.