An Innovative Strategy for the Redox Balance in Breast Cancer with Wool Keratin-Stabilized Copper Nanozyme

Breast cancer, particularly the triple-negative subtype, poses a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive behavior and lack of effective therapeutic targets. Current treatments are generally limited by drug resistance and systemic toxicity. This study developed a WK peptide-guided copper-based nanozyme that targets the redox balance in tumor lesions. Functionally, this nanozyme exhibits peroxidase-like activity, converting endogenous hydrogen peroxide into cytotoxic radicals while depleting glutathione, thereby disrupting redox homeostasis through a dual mechanism. Mechanistically, in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that the nanozyme effectively induces a ROS burst in breast cancer cells, inhibits the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway, and triggers apoptosis, leading to significant tumor suppression. In summary, this work translates nanozyme technology into a promising therapeutic strategy with the potential to overcome treatment resistance in breast cancer.