Anti-Tumor Therapy through High ROS Performance induced by Ag Catalase from Boron Cluster with Halloysite Clay Nanotubes

Abstract Recently, nanomaterials, particularly catalase, have gained considerable attention in enhancing the outcomes of cancer therapy. To ensure the efficacious clinical application of catalase, a balance between its stability and biosafety is required alongside the maintenance of a high catalytic efficiency. Herein, halloysite clay nanotubes (HNTs) and dodecahydro-dodecaborate ( closo- [B 12 H 12 ] 2– ) with biocompatible properties were ingeniously combined and reduced in situ to obtain silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and single-atom nanozyme (SAzyme) composites (HNT@B 12 H 12 @Ag catalase) with significantly good antitumor effect and biosafety. This novel designed material (HNT@B 12 H 12 @Ag) can help avoid the elevated-temperature calcination that is typically employed as it prepares Ag SAzymes alongside AgNPs while maintaining ~ 100% efficiency of Ag utilization via the reducibility and coordination stabilization of closo- [B 12 H 12 ] 2− and HNTs. Moreover, we investigated the catalytic activity and antimelanoma effects of HNT@B 12 H 12 @Ag catalase, and the results revealed that it effectively suppressed melanoma growth in vitro and in vivo via toxic reactive oxygen species generated by mediating the catalytic reactions. This study provides a solid foundation for designing NP/SAzymes with promising clinical translation prospects.