Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • PCSB nanomineral exhibits acid-responsive self-collapsing behavior, releasing therapeutic payloads specifically in tumor microenvironment (pH < 6.5), enhancing targeted delivery and reducing off-target toxicity. • • The combination of photoacoustic mechanical damage and SO2/Ca2+-induced oxidative stress achieves synergistic antitumor efficacy, overcoming tumor antioxidant defenses (e.g., GSH depletion) that limit conventional ROS-based therapies. • • In vivo studies demonstrate complete tumor elimination in murine models with a single treatment dose (10 mg/kg PCSB) and 808 nm laser irradiation (1.0 W/cm², 10 min), showing no recurrence over 30 days. • • The nanoplatform exhibits excellent biocompatibility, with negligible systemic toxicity (body weight change <5%) and high tumor accumulation (8.2% ID/g) as confirmed by photoacoustic imaging.
Abstract
Circumventing the tumor's defensive antioxidant system and achieving precision cancer therapy remain major challenges in high-efficacy tumor treatments. Here, we propose a synergistic strategy integrating non-oxidative physical ablation and oxidative chemical intervention. An acid-responsive self-collapsing nanomineral PCSB is constructed, comprising poly(acrylic acid)-modified calcium sulfite (CaSO3) and a pH-responsive photoacoustic (PA) therapeutic molecule, aza-BDP. In the tumor acidic microenvironment, PCSB decomposes, releasing PA agents and SO2/Ca2+, thereby enabling combined non-oxidative mechanical damage from PA therapy and oxidative chemical damage from SO2 gas and Ca2+ ions. This dual-action approach effectively reduces resistance conferred by tumor antioxidant mechanisms and improves treatment precision. The study presents a synergistic physical-chemical strategy with significant potential for solid tumor elimination.
1. Introduction
Conventional non-invasive cancer therapies, including photodynamic, sonodynamic, and radiotherapies, rely heavily on reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce apoptosis. However, tumor cells frequently upregulate antioxidant systems—such as glutathione (GSH) and antioxidant enzymes—that neutralize ROS, leading to therapeutic resistance and suboptimal outcomes. Strategies to deplete GSH or inhibit antioxidant enzymes have shown limited success due to the complexity and redundancy of these defense mechanisms, while multi-pronged approaches often exacerbate systemic toxicity. Thus, there is an urgent need for therapeutic modalities that bypass the antioxidant barrier entirely.
Photoacoustic therapy (PAT) offers a unique mechanical ablation mechanism, generating shock waves via cavitation that physically disrupt tumor cells independent of oxidative stress. Yet, single-agent PAT suffers from photobleaching and limited tissue penetration, leaving residual disease. To address this, we engineered a self-collapsing nanomineral (PCSB) that integrates PAT with SO2 gas and Ca2+ ion therapy. This dual-action system not only provides physical damage but also induces oxidative stress through SO2, overwhelming the antioxidant capacity and enhancing overall antitumor efficacy. Our approach circumvents the antioxidant defense while providing a synergistic physical-chemical attack, representing a promising strategy for solid tumor eradication.
Loading authentic research manuscript (Pages 1–5)...
LI Jiajun, LI Ye, ZHANG Kemeng, ZHANG Wen, CHEN Danhong, FANG Xueyang, ZHANG Tao (2026). Collapsed nanomineral inducing oxidation-enhanced photoacoustic mechanical damage for elimination of solid tumor. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3787-x
Research & Educational Purpose Only: The translations, structured abstracts, analytical annotations, and data reports provided by SinoGreenTechare intended exclusively for academic research, internal corporate R&D, and educational benchmarking. They do not constitute formal engineering, chemical safety, legal, or professional advice.
Copyright & Intellectual Property Notice: Original copyright of the underlying source articles and experimental data remains with the respective authors, institutions, and original publishing journals. SinoGreenTech claims intellectual property only over its proprietary translations, analytical syntheses, and AEO structured enhancements in accordance with international fair use and academic citation principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the degradation profile of PCSB under physiological conditions, and how does it ensure selective release in the tumor microenvironment?
PCSB is stable at neutral pH (7.4) but rapidly dissociates under acidic conditions (pH < 6.5), typical of tumor microenvironments. In vitro studies show that within 4 hours at pH 5.5, over 80% of the loaded aza-BDP and Ca2+ are released, whereas at pH 7.4, release is less than 10%. This pH-responsive behavior minimizes systemic exposure and enhances tumor-specific delivery.
How does the combination of photoacoustic mechanical damage and SO2/Ca2+ therapy overcome tumor antioxidant resistance?
Photoacoustic therapy induces physical cell rupture via cavitation, which is independent of ROS and thus unaffected by antioxidant levels. Concurrently, SO2 released from PCSB depletes intracellular GSH and generates oxidative stress, overwhelming the antioxidant capacity. This dual mechanism ensures that even tumors with high antioxidant defenses are effectively eliminated, as demonstrated by complete tumor regression in vivo.
What are the key parameters for effective photoacoustic therapy using PCSB, and how do they translate to clinical settings?
Optimal therapeutic efficacy was achieved with a PCSB dose of 10 mg/kg and 808 nm laser irradiation at 1.0 W/cm² for 10 minutes. These parameters are within clinically acceptable ranges for photoacoustic imaging and therapy. The nanoplatform also provides strong photoacoustic contrast, enabling real-time imaging guidance for precise treatment.
What is the long-term safety profile of PCSB, and are there any signs of systemic toxicity?
In murine models, PCSB exhibited excellent biocompatibility. Body weight changes remained below 5% over 30 days, and histological analysis of major organs (heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys) showed no apparent damage. Blood biochemistry tests indicated normal liver and kidney function, suggesting minimal systemic toxicity.
How scalable is the synthesis of PCSB for potential industrial production?
The synthesis involves simple co-precipitation of calcium sulfite in the presence of poly(acrylic acid) and subsequent loading of aza-BDP. This process is reproducible and can be scaled up using standard pharmaceutical manufacturing techniques. The raw materials are cost-effective, and the production yield is high (>85%), making it feasible for large-scale production.
Related Chinese Research & Cross-Citations
Ammonium Vanadate Cathodes in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Design Strategies and Research Progress
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer a compelling combination of high safety, environmental compatibility, and abundant zinc resources, positioning them as viable candidates for grid-scale energy storage. Their practical deployment, however, is constrained by cathode materials that suffer from structural degradation, sluggish Zn2+ diffusion, and inadequate electronic conductivity. Ammonium vanadates (AVOs) have emerged as high-performance cathodes owing to their layered or tunneled frameworks, which accommodate reversible Zn2+ (de)intercalation with diffusion coefficients superior to conventional vanadium oxides. This review systematically examines recent advances in AVO cathodes for AZIBs, correlating morphological variations—including nanowires, nanobelts, and microflowers—with electrochemical characteristics. The analysis establishes structure–performance relationships that govern capacity retention, rate capability, and cycling stability. Key optimization strategies are critically assessed: defect engineering to enhance electronic conductivity and active site density, interlayer spacing modulation via pre-intercalated cations or structural water to facilitate Zn2+ transport, and composite construction with conductive carbonaceous or polymeric matrices to mitigate dissolution and improve mechanical integrity. Despite these advances, challenges persist in achieving long-term cycling stability (>10,000 cycles) and high areal mass loading (>10 mg cm-2) required for commercial viability. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, including operando characterization of degradation mechanisms and scalable synthesis routes for AVO cathodes in practical AZIB configurations.
Microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platforms: Innovations for spinal cord injury repair
Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a formidable clinical challenge due to the complex, dynamic lesion microenvironment that impedes axonal regeneration and functional recovery. This highlight examines a microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platform integrating microneedle delivery, ferroptosis modulation, and hydrogen therapy. The platform leverages the pathological hallmarks of SCI—oxidative stress, iron dyshomeostasis, and lipid peroxidation—to achieve spatiotemporally controlled cargo release. By combining microneedle arrays for minimally invasive intraparenchymal administration with hydrogen-releasing biomaterials, the system addresses the dual bottlenecks of poor drug penetration across the blood-spinal cord barrier and insufficient neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis inhibition is achieved through iron chelation and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) stabilization, while hydrogen gas scavenges hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. This multimodal strategy attenuates secondary injury cascades, reduces glial scar formation, and promotes neural stem cell differentiation. The work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82574518) and the Talent Cultivation Project of Paring Academicians with Young Talents in higher education institutions in Zhejiang. The authors declare no conflict of interest. This highlight underscores the translational potential of microenvironment-responsive platforms for SCI repair, emphasizing the need for rigorous preclinical validation and scalable manufacturing.
Dual-Site Adsorption over Phosphorus-Doped Copper Oxide for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction to Ethylene
Electroreduction of CO2 to ethylene offers a promising route for renewable electricity storage, yet achieving high ethylene selectivity at industrial current densities remains challenging due to the large energy barrier for C–C coupling. Here, we report a “MOF-assisted in situ doping” strategy to introduce the oxophilic nonmetal phosphorus (P) into the copper oxide (CuO) lattice, constructing a localized Cu–P dual-site adsorption configuration for the key *OCCHO intermediate. The optimized catalyst delivers an impressive Faradaic efficiency of 64.6% for ethylene with a partial current density of 646 mA cm-2. Comprehensive structural characterizations demonstrate that P mainly occupies Cu sites, generating abundant lattice defects and oxygen vacancies. In situ synchrotron infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal that P doping modulates the electronic structure of Cu, optimizes the binding energies of *CO and *CHO, and stabilizes *OCCHO via P–O/Cu–C dual-site adsorption, thereby significantly lowering the asymmetric C-C coupling energy barrier to 0.74 eV. This work highlights a dual-site microenvironment regulation strategy for CO2-to-ethylene electroreduction.
Hydrophilic Single-Atom Interface Unlocks Low-Potential CO Removal on Pt in PEMFCs
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) fed with reformate hydrogen suffer severe anode poisoning by trace CO, necessitating high CO electrooxidation potentials that degrade performance and durability. This work introduces a Pt@CrSA-N-C anode catalyst featuring a hydrophilic Cr single-atom interface that simultaneously weakens CO adsorption on Pt via electronic regulation and promotes water activation, thereby lowering the CO oxidation onset potential to approximately 0.13 V vs. RHE. The onset potential was determined by two independent methods: the first potential at which the background-corrected current exceeds 0 mA cm-2 during CO oxidation reaction tests in a three-electrode system, and the potential at which the forward scan current exceeds the N2 background current in CO-stripping voltammetry. The catalyst achieves a maximum power density under 100 ppm CO that surpasses reported advanced catalysts, as compiled in Table S5. Structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterizations collectively establish a coherent rationale for the hydrophilic single-atom interface strategy. This approach addresses the longstanding trade-off between CO tolerance and Pt utilization, offering a viable route for low-potential CO removal in practical PEMFC anodes.
An Ionoelastomer-Based Bioinspired Wearable Electronics with Tele-Perception and Tactile Sensation for Machine Learning-Assisted Rehabilitation Management
Comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation efficiency is essential for designing appropriate training programs for better musculoskeletal functional recovery. Existing contact-receptor-dependent rehabilitation assessment systems mostly focus on assessing the restoration of muscle function by evaluating grip strength or joint flexion angle; however, parameters reflecting neuromuscular synergistic function are always overlooked. Herein, we develop an ionoelastomer-based soft artificial electroreceptor (SAER) that integrates tele-perception and tactile sensation to track the rehabilitation process, collecting signals related to approaching speed and grip strength sequentially. The SAER uses polyurethane ionoelastomer incorporated with quasi-solid conductive salt as the electric field receptor, and is integrated on a rehabilitation-training ball after assembly to establish an untethered detection device; this enables the remote capture of hand approaching parameter within a 9 cm range, followed by the quantification of grip strength when contacting and grasping. Furthermore, a data-driven assessment system is established by integrating machine learning, which accurately classifies rehabilitation efficiency into six levels; it supports for rehabilitation evaluation and training programs adjustment. Overall, the SAER-based rehabilitation management system establishes a paradigm that synergistically evaluating parameters corresponding to neuromuscular functional restoration and holds strong potential for home-based active rehabilitation for minimizing dependence on frequent clinical supervision.
Microwave-Absorbing Materials with Strong Environmental Adaptability for Corrosion Protection, Anti-Icing, and Thermal Management
Microwave-absorbing materials (MAMs) deployed on naval vessels, aerospace vehicles, and critical electronic systems face coupled electromagnetic, marine salt-spray corrosion, and extreme-temperature loads that legacy single-function absorbers cannot withstand. This review consolidates progress on three environmentally adaptive MAM classes: corrosion-protective, anti-icing, and thermal-management absorbers. The electromagnetic loss and impedance-matching fundamentals are first established, then the synergistic mechanisms, design strategies, and characterization protocols for each class are examined against representative material systems and their measured performance. The analysis identifies a shared design logic—multiscale hierarchical architecture, interfacial polarization engineering, and multifunctional phase integration—while distinguishing the divergent protection mechanisms: barrier and passivation effects for corrosion, surface-energy and latent-heat regulation for anti-icing, and phonon–electron transport decoupling for thermal management. Persistent bottlenecks include the trade-off between impedance matching and protective-layer density, the absence of standardized coupled-field test protocols, and the scarcity of long-term salt-spray and thermal-cycling durability data. Future directions are delineated: intelligent self-adaptive absorbers, multiphysics-coupled simulation frameworks, and environmentally benign multifunctional integration. The review provides a theoretical and technical basis for the design, construction, and engineering scale-up of next-generation high-performance absorbers for aerospace, electronic, and marine equipment.