Steering Piezocatalytic Therapy for Optimized Tumoricidal Effect

Abstract

AbstractPiezocatalysts, because of their mechano‐electrical conversion properties, are exploited for various medical applications, such as sterilization, tissue engineering, biosensing, and disease theranostics. In particular, based on the unique advantage of the piezoelectric effect, piezocatalytic therapy (PCT) has been developed as a novel and promising candidate for tumor therapy. To optimize the utilization of piezocatalysts in tumor therapy, a comprehensive understanding of the antitumor mechanism associated with these materials is imperative. Here, the piezocatalytic action principle is elucidated by investigating piezocatalysts, reactants, energy inputs, and products. Subsequently, the antitumor mechanisms of PCT have been extensively discussed and are recapitulative as follows: restraining cell proliferation, inducing cell programmed death, hindering tumor metastasis, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, and enhancing antitumor immunity. Additionally, the optimized therapeutic outcomes of PCT‐centric synergistic cancer therapy are systematically described. Finally, the main challenges and future research directions of piezocatalysis applied in cancer therapy are envisioned. It is believed that PCT will serve as a new‐generation ingenious tool for cancer treatment.