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

Abstract

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 MoO₄^2-. 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.

Keywords: Chemodynamic therapy; Hydrogel; Photothermal therapy; Starvation therapy; Tumor.