Photothermal effect enhancing graphene quantum dots/semiconducting polymer/nanozyme-mediated cancer catalytic therapy

Abstract Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with intrinsic enzyme-like activity have attracted great attention in the biomedical field. The application mainly focused on biosensing area, but the anti-tumor study was restricted due to the poor catalytic efficacy of GQDs. Herein, we introduce an enhancing nanozyme using graphene quantum dots/semiconducting polymer nanocomposites (GQD-SPNs) which provide enhanced nanozyme activity for tumor therapy through photothermal effect. Near infrared irradiation guide local temperature increasing at the tumor and boost the hydroxyl radicals (▪OH) generation, to synergize with generated 1O2 and heat for better cancer therapy in Hela tumor bearing-mice. The present GQD-SPNs may turn on great opportunities for the enhanced nanozymes to cancer catalytic therapy.