Defective Cu2-xSe crystals for ultrasound-enhanced CDT of tumor therapy

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) uses endogenous H2O2 to produce toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for killing cancer cells, but it is hindered by low efficiency of Fenton reaction in tumor microenvironment (TME). Hereby, we have developed Cu2-xSe-PEG for ultrasound-enhanced CDT of tumor. Due to the inherent copper deficiency, the Cu2-xSe crystals generated abundant reactive oxygen (ROS) to induce tumor cells death under ultrasound (US) irradiation. Meanwhile, the ultrasound enhanced the Fenton reaction efficiency and thereby promoted CDT effect. Thus, this study opens an example of Cu-defective compound for noninvasive ultrasound-enhanced CDT for tumor.