Breakthrough: Chiral Plasmonic Nanozymes

We developed chiral plasmonic nanozymes that integrate chirality into enzyme-mimicking nanoparticles, allowing them to interact with biological molecules like natural enzymes. D-Au (Right-handed gold nanoparticles) function like glucose oxidase (GOD), selectively binding to D-glucose to generate hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). L-AuPd (Left-handed gold-palladium hybrids) mimic peroxidase (POD), decomposing H₂O₂ into highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (∙OH) to destroy cancer cells.

These nanozymes are further activated by circularly polarized light (CPL) to enhance their catalytic performance: Right-handed CPL (RC) optimally excites D-Au, amplifying its GOD-like activity, while left-handed CPL (LC) activates L-AuPd, enhancing its POD-like efficiency.

By combining chirality-dependent substrate selectivity with light-controlled activation, this system significantly enhances reaction efficiency, reducing side effects and maximizing anti-cancer efficacy.

 Key Benefits of Chiral Nanozymes in Cancer Therapy

• Enhanced Selectivity: D-Au selectively binds to D-glucose, ensuring more precise and efficient catalytic activity.
• Optimized Reaction Control: The sequence of GOD and POD reactions can be precisely regulated using light polarization, resulting in higher yields and fewer toxic byproducts.
• Improved Cancer Treatment: Mouse models demonstrated that tumor shrinkage was maximized with light-controlled chiral nanozymes, outperforming conventional non-chiral nanozymes.