Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has aroused extensive attention for cancer treatment in the last five years, as it could suppress tumor progression through in situ detrimental oxidative stress of the tumor cells via the Fenton reaction. Under a tumor acidic microenvironment, the Fenton reaction can be initiated for disproportioning endogenous hydrogen peroxide into highly toxic hydroxyl radical. Taking advantage of the highly tumor-specific therapy modality, various Fenton nanocatalysts have been developed for CDT. In particular, iron-containing Fenton nanocatalysts with minimal cytotoxicity exhibit great promise for clinical translation. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of CDT based on iron-containing nanomaterials, including iron oxide nanoparticles, glassy iron nanoclusters, ferrocene nanoparticles, metal polyphenol networks, metal-organic frameworks, etc. We also discuss the challenges and perspectives for promoting CDT by rational design of iron-containing nanomaterials, highlighting their potential for precise cancer therapy.
Keywords: Fenton reaction; chemodynamic therapy; theranostic nanomedicine; tumor microenvironment.