Palladium concave nanocrystals with high-index facets accelerate ascorbate oxidation in cancer treatment.

ABSTRACT: Intravenous pharmacological dose of ascorbate has been proposed as a potential antitumor therapy; however, its therapeutic efficacy is limited due to the slow autoxidation. Here, we report that palladium (Pd) nanocrystals, which possess intrinsic oxidase-like activity, accelerate the autoxidation of ascorbate, leading to the enhancement of its antitumor efficacy. The oxidase-like activity of Pd nanocrystals was facet-dependent, with the concave nanostructure enclosed by high-index facets catalyzing ascorbate autoxidation more efficiently than the planar nanostructure enclosed by low-index facets. Our first-principles calculations provide the underlying molecular mechanisms for the facet-dependent activation of O₂ molecule and subsequent ascorbate oxidation. Further in vitro and

SUBMITTER: Chong Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6243004 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature