Litcius/Paper detail

Highly Expressive Bienzyme and Photothermal Effect Co-Enabled by the Co–O–Mn Bridge for Potentiating 1550 nm Light-Triggered Photodynamic Therapy

Chang Li, Shuang Liu, Jiating Xu, Jiawei Qu, Zhengyang Tang, Qiang Wang, Peiyao Wang, Yong Lu, Piaoping Yang, Jun Lin

2026Journal of the American Chemical Society5 citationsDOI

Abstract

Development of single-atom nanocatalysts with photoresponsive and enzyme-like properties has opened innovative avenues for improving the tumor photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect. However, their further application was restricted by the insufficient adsorption/desorption for multireaction intermediates and poor light tissue penetration. Herein, we constructed mesoporous silica-supported, O-bridged asymmetric cobalt–manganese (Co–O–Mn) dual-atom nanozyme, coated on the surface of 1550 nm-excited upconversion (UC) nanoparticles and modified with polyethylene glycol (denoted as P/U@CoMn DA ), for the PDT, thermal-enhanced enzyme dynamic therapy, and magnetic resonance imaging. Interestingly, the incorporation of Co–O–Mn sites not only selectively enhanced the catalase (CAT)- and oxidase (OXD)-like activities of the P/U@CoMn DA, but also suppressed the peroxidase-like reaction and endowed the nanocatalysts with a narrowed bandgap (1.25 eV). Experimental and theoretical analyses revealed that the incorporation of Co–O–Mn sites upshifted the d-band center and optimized the adsorption-dissociation equilibrium for the O-containing intermediates. Under the dual stimulation of 1550 nm irradiation and intratumoral acidity, the H 2 O 2 substrate was decomposed by CAT-like activity into O 2, which was reduced to ·O 2 – by UC-induced electrons and OXD-like activity, and further oxidized by holes to cytotoxic 1 O 2 . Leveraging its high photothermal conversion property (η = 52.8%) and bienzymatic cascade performances, P/U@CoMn DA exhibited desirable tumor growth inhibition (92.8%). This work established practicable paradigms for designing the biomedical nanozymes at the atomic level.

Topics & Concepts

ChemistryPhotothermal therapyPhotodynamic therapyNanomaterial-based catalystPhotothermal effectNanotechnologySubstrate (aquarium)Photon upconversionNanoparticlePhotochemistryPolyethylene glycolCatalaseCombinatorial chemistryElectron acceptorIrradiationMicroheaterHydroquinoneBiocompatible materialPhotosensitizerDegradation (telecommunications)Nanoplatforms for cancer theranosticsAdvanced Nanomaterials in CatalysisAdvanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques