Interfacially Integrated DNAzyme-Hydrogel Architectures for Eradicating Postoperative Breast Cancer Residual Disease via Tumor-Anchored Pyroptotic Antigen Amplification
Postoperative residual disease and insufficient antigenicity after surgical resection are major causes of breast cancer recurrence and metastasis. Pyroptosis enhances antitumor immunity by releasing intracellular antigens but is limited by tight intracellular Ca 2+ homeostasis and short reactive oxygen species (ROS) lifespan. This study develops a membrane-confined pyroptotic catalytic platform coupling ROS generation with TRP channel-gated Ca 2+ influx to induce pyroptosis and amplify antigenic stimulation in postoperative residual disease. The system comprises a bifunctional DNAzyme (GH) and a CaO 2 -loaded calcium alginate hydrogel (CaO 2 -SA). Preoperatively, GH anchors to tumor membranes via nucleolin recognition; postoperatively, CaO 2 -SA provides sustained H 2 O 2 and Ca 2+ at the resection site. Membrane-localized GH catalyzes H 2 O 2 into hydroxyl radicals to oxidatively damage membranes, activate oxidant-sensitive TRP channels, and drive sustained Ca 2+ influx. This triggers mitochondrial Ca 2+ overload and Caspase-3/GSDME pathway activation, inducing potent pyroptosis. The resultant damage-associated molecular patterns amplify antigenicity, addressing insufficient postoperative immunogenicity in breast cancer.
Authors
- Jixi Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3460-0867)
- Yuxin Jin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7291-2015)
- Yunyun Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1536-1488)
- Shuang Jin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4090-6299)
- Li Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4636-9487)
- H. He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3906-2037)
- Hongrui Zhu
Institutions
- Chongqing University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Materials Letters
- Published
- 2026-06-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00403
- Primary Topic
- Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Chongqing University
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation