Chemodynamic therapy uses metal-mediated reactions to convert endogenous hydrogen peroxide into highly reactive hydroxyl radicals inside tumors. However, the approach can be limited by insufficient H2O2, rapid antioxidant removal of reactive species and inefficient regeneration of catalytic metal ions. These limitations have prompted interest in nanoreactors capable of sustaining redox reactions within the tumor microenvironment.
In a study published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, researchers developed a bio-based Fe-MOF nanoreactor using protocatechuic acid (PCA) as a natural redox-active ligand. The PCA–Fe(II/III) framework formed a flower-cluster-like structure and provided a catalytic scaffold for subsequent functionalization. Ultrasmall Au nanoparticles were introduced to facilitate electron transfer and oxygen reduction, while Cu(I)/Cu(II) species established a multimetallic Fe/Cu/Au redox cycle.
