CaO2 nanomedicines: a review of their emerging roles in cancer therapy

Abstract

Abstract Metal peroxide-based nanomedicines have emerged as promising theranostic agents for cancer due to their multifunctional properties, including the generation of bioactive small molecules such as metal ions, H2O2, O2, and OH–. Among these metal peroxides, calcium peroxide (CaO2) nanomedicines have attracted significant attention due to their facile synthesis and good biocompatibility. CaO2 nanoparticles have been explored for cancer treatment through three main mechanisms: (1) the release of O2, which helps alleviate tumor hypoxia and enhances oxygen-dependent therapies such as chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy; (2) the generation of H2O2, a precursor for ·OH generation, which enables cancer chemodynamic therapy; and (3) the release of Ca2+ ions, which induce calcium overload and promote cell apoptosis (called ion-interference therapy). This review provides a comprehensive summary of recent examples of CaO2 nanoparticle-based cancer therapeutic strategies, as well as discusses the challenges and future directions in the development of CaO2 nanomedicines for cancer treatment.