CeO2 nanoenzyme possesses multiple enzyme-mimicking activities and excellent biocompatibility. However, its weak peroxidase (POD)-mimicking property in the tumor microenvironment (TME) hinders its further tumor therapy application. To enhance CeO2 nanoenzyme's POD activity and overcome limitations of single therapeutic modality, a novel antitumor controlled drug release system (CCCs NPs) was designed using Cu doped cerium oxide nanoparticles (Cu-CeO2 NPs) loaded with clinical anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) as the core and the breast cancer cell membrane as the outer shell. Cu doping endowed CeO2 NPs' with significantly enhanced POD-mimicking activity in the TME due to a remarkably higher Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio. The cancer cell membrane coating enabled our nanomedicine with homotypic targeting property. Combined with chemotherapeutic drug DOX, a selective and nearly complete tumor suppression was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Remarkably, under physiological condition, CCCs NPs worked as a radical scavenger to protect normal cells from oxidative stress caused by anti-cancer drug DOX and OH generated via Fenton-like reaction. Collectively, our CCCs NPs offered a therapeutic potential for effective breast cancer therapy while being free of side effects.
Keywords: Cancer cell membrane; Cerium oxide; Chemo-chemodynamic therapy; Metal doping; Nanoenzyme.
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