MXene Loaded With Cu(2-x)Se Nanozyme for Nanocatalytic Tumor Therapy

Graphical The study innovatively combines etched/stripped monolayer Ti 3 C 2 MXene with Cu (2- x ) Se nanoparticles in a one-pot method. The synthesized Ti 3 C 2 /Cu (2- x ) Se nanocomposite has catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) -like activities combined with the excellent photothermal properties of MXene, which enhances the catalytic performance of Cu (2- x ) Se under near infrared (NIR) irradiation, and realizes the synergic photothermal catalytic treatment. Traditional tumor treatments (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc.) have certain limitations and can have serious negative effects, such as difficulty in cutting out tumors, damage to normal tissues, and complications. Ordinary nanozymes have low catalytic activity and require higher doses for treatment, which can increase in vivo toxicity and side effects. To address these limitations, we developed a Ti 3 C 2 MXene-based nanocomposite (Ti 3 C 2 /Cu (2- x ) Se) integrating Cu (2- x ) Se nanozymes with dual enzyme-mimicking activities (catalase and peroxidase) and MXene's photothermal properties. The Cu (2- x ) Se component catalyzes the decomposition of tumor-overexpressed H 2 O 2 into O 2 and cytotoxic ·OH, alleviating hypoxia while inducing oxidative stress. Simultaneously, MXene's high surface area and photothermal capability enhance nanozyme stability, biocompatibility, and catalytic efficiency under near-infrared irradiation. Notably, the photothermal effect amplifies enzymatic activity, enabling synergistic nanocatalytic-photothermal therapy. This synergy not only degrades glutathione to suppress tumor antioxidant defenses but also achieves targeted tumor ablation with reduced dosage requirements. Our work highlights a rational design of MXene-based nanozymes for enhanced multimodal tumor therapy, offering a paradigm for nanocomposite-driven disease treatment.